Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 83, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 April 1918 — Optical Glass Playing a Big Part in the World Conflict -Needed by All Departments [ARTICLE]

Optical Glass Playing a Big Part in the World Conflict -Needed by All Departments

That every field of military endeavor depends upon the supply of optical glass is the statement recently -made by Prof. Edward W. Washburn of the department of ceramic engineering at the University of Illinois. “The war could not be conducted without optical glass,” said Professor Washburn. “Telescopes, binoculars, officers’ lenses and photographic plates for army and navy observation purposes, X-ray bulbs and microscopic lenses for the medical and sanitary corps and many other necessary implements of a modern army would be struck out if it were not for the ceramic industry,” explained the lecturer. ‘‘Previous to the “war,” Professor Washburn said, “Germany manufactured 100 different kinds of optical glass, an assortment which supplied the whole world. England boasted about twenty varieties of glass. The United States produced none whatever. England’s product was not nearly sufficient to meet the demand of the allies and Britain found it necessary at the beginning of the war to collect all field glasses and small'telescopes owned by citizens.” Doctor Washburn then told how America is meeting the same problem under the direction of a special committee on optical glass manufacture. “As a result of activities of this commission,” according to Professor Washburn, “American industry is now supplying all the optical glass urgently needed by the army and navy.”