Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 December 1889 — New Substitute For Glass. [ARTICLE]

New Substitute For Glass.

The introduction of a material combining all the advantages of glass, with none of the corresponding disadvantages arising from its brittleness, will be hailed with interest by every class of the public who suffer daily in one form or another from the fragile nature of the article it is now sought to supersede. The transparent wire wove roofing, which is translucent, pliable as leather and unbreakable, has for its basis a web of fine iron wire, with warp and waft threads about one-twelfth of an inch apart. This netting is covered on both sides with a thicktranslueent varnish, containing a large percentage of linseed oil. The process of manufacturing is conducted by dipping the sheets into deep tanks containing the composition until the required thickness is obtained; the sheets are then dried in a heated chamber, and after being stored for some time till thoroughly set are ready for use. The sheet* can be made any color desired, and range from amber to pale brown. The roofing is very pliable, and. bending backward and forward without any injury, readily adapts itself to curves or angles in roofing. The new material is not only water proof, but is unaffected by steam, the heat of the sun, frost, hail, rain, or, indeed, atmoshperic changes of any kind. Being a non conductor, buildings, winter gardens and similar structures remain cool in summer and warm in winter.