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About Eugene register-guard. (Eugene, Or.) 1930-1983 | View Entire Issue (June 21, 1936)
3Lli Lung VTld35 nC XJUHU-llX J-J.ci jlo top W2w Live In Glass Houses Cav i low I brow dtones If 1 fhis f-irl holds a pack of fibrous glass as it is used for insulation for homes and buildings keeps the rooms warm in winter, cool in summer. By John Richard Finch ALONG time ago somebody (I don't know who and it doesn't make any difference nincovl uiJ "Ponnlo who Ihe 1H UlaSS llOUSeS i shouldn't throw stones", or words to that effect. Obviously, the waggish creator of this familiar proverb meant anything but a lfteral interpre tation of his cryptic advice, little realizing, no doubt, that in the year 1936, glass houses would be an actuality. With amazing rapidity homes, ipartments, office buildings, and even factories made of glass blocks are raising glistening walls to the sun, until the layman begins to wonder if soon to the "keep off the grass", "no peddlers allowed", and "use the rear entrance" signs, will not be added some caution about fragility or , stone throwing. But the men who manufacture the glass and una the houses say no. tsuiiuing giass ' "en more durable than wood or stone, and in addition allows the maximum of light, air, sun iline, and architectural beauty. r.iUD. ..i i i with stvle Miaao uiwaya hub UUUII aMui.in.v - and the new improved glass blocks, translucent but not transparent, that fuse the outdoors with He indoors without sacrifice of privacy, are im portant in the relentless trend for things more odern. Architects and builders, eager for new )le and utility appeals, have grasped quickly f advantages of glass'blocks to assist them in attaining their objectives. Not only are these Nocks being used for new construction, but they w unusuiilly adaptable for inexpensive and, at esame time, unique modernization of existing structures of all types. ASIDE from their decorative characteristics, dans Mnyl-c nf-tar mnnu utility advantages h as light transmission, insulation against kf and cold, light diffusion, and sanitation. ine resistant to fire, glass blocks reduce fire wards, providing greater protection of life '"inst ravaging flames. They prevent passage ir and gases, are impervious to attacks of Moisture, vprmin ' niH. and will not- absorb "r grease. Most interesting among the recent buildings Panned n. large schools in several of th bij "d-Western cities. Matintr ik. ',,... It,,.-inrr" raution V J" ridiculous is the boast of glass block mait "turers that the improved glass building ikJ' maximum strength sufficient to aVjf "1 Washington monument if built as a iliW Mue in the walls of that 555-foot structure . begin, to wonder if we are not approach fflt "glass age" when the any other usages hich glass is now being put with such ap """ Slic es, is learned. Among the newest diss in the world of glass is fibrous glass. 7i is produced in ihrre different forms for "'"it -ew uses. fibrous glass, one of the newest products of J "awakened world, and capable of vast po "l application in 1P36. Is the result of J"t process developed by one of Americas "Ml glass companies. Km, there is glass now being produced In J nuffy. almost snow-white mass which Is used J1 " insulator. It emerges from a furnace onto eonveyori deep continuous line of dowiV I l-f h . 77 .If (fofi? bey Want A ,. . ,x,n.nlc of the modern trend made possible by the use of glass blocks as This dinett "JXThe panel transmits daylight and provide, seclusion from street an exterior p noise. material about one yard wide ad four inches deep. It is cut to size by a automat.c ri.cer into packs which later are placed between walls and o floors In attics of new homes, forming a, enveloping blanket of protective wat.neJ that is fire, termite, and moisture proof. CCH insulation keep rooms wanm..' in win 5 t smd cooler in summer. TasU have shown .Tat law iiwalatoi kuildinsa not equipped with cooler f rtim- tn- nt Wa -n .m?r furnace, v.: t.i ivrninm the initial heating can be ns, t. W F)r home a" ad'? built, Ih'e insulation in'the form of tiny .1.?. pellets are forced between wall, merely ?U,,...?f"- . .m.ll h-sle to insert a hose con- n,eted with a blower machine. . . hi,-!, fibrous sr'ass is be ingput'u in g a7, air filters, the new pr.ee.. of nrnduces fibre about the size of a broom nr w ne f bre .re assembled into mat. about i' v.. Vhirlc and sprayed w th an odorless JHiw Prof-Hy en cd, they .rl insulled in warn, .if fum.ee, and ventilating syitem. generally. Warm air furnaces equipped with wch filter. The girl and her escort were photographed in a darkened room, ihe light coming from an adjoining room, separated by a wall of the type of glass block. Light rays are perfectly diffused. sands are now considered the clennest form of heat because air is cleaned of all dust, pollen and other foreign matter, eliminating soiled walls above registers, keeping home furnishings brighter, and In department stores, lingerie shps, dairies, and all establishments where dust i. such an unwelcome factor, the glass filter, have met with unusual success and acclaim. TESTS have shown, too, that hay fever suf ferer, are given definite relief in rooms .up plied with air through glass filters. They have proven of special benefit in bedrooms, enabling those with hay fever to obtain a good night's rest to build up reserve energy for the day to be spent in an unprotected atmosphere. The third use of fibrous glass, and perhaps the most interesting and unusual, i. the new process that make, it possible to draw ordinary glass into a fibre twenty times less in diameter than a human hair, and so glass enters into i.. ..tii. fiM fascinating new nossihility. Modern textile machines, without chnnging equipment, can now make 100 percent glass thread and yarns. Commercially, such thread and yarn is attract ing the manufacturers knit goods. Ascj nov elty, and a very attractive one, glas. is being used to crochet, knit, embroider and weave van ou. article, previously possible only with thread made of wool, cotton or silk. Hats, purses, dresses, curtains, carpets and a variety of dazz Secret Process Nov ProductFibrous Glass only new A modernist displays her glass hat and class bag. Glass thread and yarn is used to crochet, knit, embroider and weave thou of similar novemcs. ling and chic things for "milady" are now being made of this glass thread. One pound of ordinary glass can be drawn into a single fibre so small that more thnn one hundred are used to form a strand the size of ordinary No. 50 thread. Such a fibre drawn from a pound of glass would reach round the world at the equator. The usual ingredients for glass .and, sodn ash, lime, and certain costly chemicals-are used to produce such glass and the ordinary type or glass furnaces are used. In other words, glass yarn or thread, perfectly flexible, or felass for home insulation, soft and fluffy, is manufactured of exactly the same material from which milk bottles are made. However, the patented process brings into use the application of steam in some mysterious manner, a process most carefully guarded by the glass company holding the pat ent. IT IS interesting to note that the application I of steam as a motive power and glass were both discovered before the Birth of Christ, but it wasn't until thousands of years later that men discovered a way to bring the two together to create miracle, more fascinating, and far more practical, than Aladdin's fabled lamp. While the fibrous glass now used for novel ties is of a colorless silvery sheen, or its nntural state, one qf the laboratories of the company which produces this new product Is experimenting with glass thread and yarn in colors. Thus far, white, blue, black, and red fibres have been produced. The colors are fade proof, as they are neither dyed nor stained into the material. About fifty textile companies are conducting various types of experiments in the fabrication of glass fibre materials, and startling resuus urn iB predicted for coming months. For many years in Europe a fibrous glass has been produced by heating rods to a semi-liquid stute and then directing them upon revolving steel drums to draw the material into filnments. Centrifugal force limits the speed of production materially and has kept manufacturing cost too high for widespread use of fibrous glass. Hccentiy in America the technicians of a large glass company discovered a secret process which has been carefully guarded. They are now able to draw molten glass into long filaments. Each fibre Is only one twentieth the diameter of a human hair and is produced at the trte of more than 2tt),000 feet per minute, which Is fifty miles per minute or 3000 miles per hour. By comparison, the muzzle velocity of an army rifle bullet Is approximately 52,000 feet per minute. THE newly discovered process not only has th advantage of greatly reducing production costs as compared to the European process, but a fibrous glass of vastly improved quality is now possible. Fibrous glass produced In Eury for insulation weighs ix pounds per cubic foot, while the American-made glass weigh, only one and one half pound, per cubic foot. Another interesting property of the new glass 1. It. aSiu.tic.l qualities whrMShave attracted motion picture ound crew, m the West coast studios. Mats of Insulatjn glas. are used on Has Developed A the stages and moved from one place to another to soften sound. Being fire-proof, tho material is especially desirable at the studios. Many of the movie stars in Hollywood have gloaming creations for evening wear, made from fibrous glass thread. The effect is comparable to sequines, but the beauty of the woven thread fnr surpasses that of sequines. A woven, sandal type evening slipper has also been fashioned from the glass thread to go with tho gowns. When the technicians now working on the per fection of colored fibro thread complete their experiments, which they promise will be soon, and the new shade, made available to textile manufacturers, some unusual and spectacular creations in gowns for "milady" are predicted. Millinery hns also gone "glass". Turbans, pic ture hats, and various unique creations for af ternoon, evening and even sports wear are ap pearing in tho better stores. Purses and bags to match and in some instances scarfs of glass thread nre being shown. In the home, nriteles of fibrous glass have also made their appearance. Many modernistic homes, apartments and offices now have rugs made of glass yarn or thread. Being fire-proof these .rugs afford an added measure of safety as well as adding a touch of unique new beauty to the room. Curtains, drapes, chair covers, pil lows, and scores of other interesting and unusual homo furnishings nre being made of tho new fibrous glass thread. Remarkable new effects arc being gained in building, furnishings, clothing, and novelties from glass. GETTING back to the glass blocks for build ing which brought to mind tho proverb about stone throwing, there is a building now completed in Toledo, Ohio, which is tho first all glass, windowles. building ever constructed. Health authorities stated that workers in this new building, which is being used as a factory, have the maximum of natural light and sun shine, which penetrates through the translucent, but not trnn-.parent glass blocks: tho tempera ture and air conditioning nre at their best, due to non-moisture penetration and ease with which heat or cold may be kept in or out as desired, due to the peculiar properties of the glass; and that the sound-deadening qualities of the blocks, make for sorencnesB of the workers. In a largc factory of this type, the fire-resistance of glass is another important factor. It ...n..!.! k tinfittino. In (.lose Ihe storv of tho new era of "glass" without mentioning the un usnnl possibilities of night display of lights in and on these glass buildings. The (light adver tising and new merchandising ideas are endless. Due to the translucent but non-transparency of the blocks an entire solid wall mr.y bo illum inated without sacrificing privacy. As mucrjgfs 81! percent of exterior light can be transmiufd by the glass blocks the rays perfectly diffused. Picture a city of glass house and buildings, all illumlnntod at night, a veritable fairyland of dazzling gold buried In a backdrop of black, like a million diamond, sparkling on a swarthy velvet carpet. The cities of the future may easily be like this as n new ago moves up and wood, brick, and mortar give way to glass the new "King". PAGE THREE Ij
