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