, 1875-10-02
THE OLDEST PAPER
Rates of A,,YCriIsiup
BaStie'S Glass,

II ms tempered or t1Ughyned glass has re-
Gently attracted great attention in Europe.
Many believe that it Is destined 70 reyolu-
tionue the manufacture Of glass. and TO come
soon into every day use. We are indebted TO
the Bosom Jo,J1lIl # Chemistry for many Of the
following statements respecting It. Il has
already been made in sufficient experimental
quantities 70 prove It's applicability 10 all
purposes for which glass Is now used, and 70
many others fer which II would have been
employed were it not for its fragiIity. YES
SelS manuiacturci Of the toushcned glass,
though not distinguished in appearance from
those now IN use, may be tl.rawn about with
the utmost carelessnesS but no ordinary acci-
dents viii iujure. The inventor proposes es-
pecIallythe manufacture Of plates and dishes,
cups and saucers, and such Ike articles,
either transparent or onamcIl-d. But this is
not the only way in which this glass is likely
10 prove OF great utility. II viii stand any
amount Of heat, and vessels made OF II can be
placed on the Ere without danger. Conse-
quently lis employment IN chemical factories
in the place Of lead, earthguware. platinum
and silver is question of time only Glass
pipes may, perhaps. replace those Of Lead for
the oonduction Of water and for other rur-
poses, and thus diminish the chances Of lead
poisoning. Indeed, It Is difficult 10 anticipate
the limits Of application of tins very remark
able discovery.
The process consists essentially in heating
glass nearly up to the softeniug point, and
then pIunging it into a bath Of oil or grease
But 10 bring 1t to perfection has required the
patient experience of seven years. N. Bastie,
Who IL IL gentleman of fortune, Is SAID to
have made his discovery first some seven
years ago. This was after many years Of IN
vestigation. Bat although he seemed TO
have succeeded for the moment, it took two
years more Of continual experiment before ho
could repeat his success.
There are, however, some uses TO which
this glass cannot be applied; indeed it is
quite possible that the properties Of the mate
rial have been somewhat exaggerated \
writer IN the Scientific -1RrasR, who seems to
be thoroughly well posted On this subject,
gives some valuable information concerning
it. The glass is not malleaHe, and is not
claimed to be 50 ty the invrntOr, although it
has been frequently so-ealled by Others. Il
Is not unfreakGbIe. althuugh II is much
tougher than common glass, and viii have
stronger impact There Is no piece which
cannot be broken, and many specimens are
purposcly fractured at every exhibition. 1t
cannot be cut and engraved Ike ordinary
glass. Flint aud other glass can De ground
and cut ON the wheel or by the sand-blast
throughout its entire thickness Now, al
though . few specimens exhibited were
ground by the sand-bIast TO "a very slight
depth, vet If the blast goes beyond Il certain
depth, IT viii break into a thousand pieces,
Just a RupeTts drop Is sLivcred when
ground. Il does not preserve It's traEsparen,
after temperIng, being generally only trans
lucent II cannot b. cut with a diamond,
making it of little or 10 value for window
glass or photograph uses, both Of which pur-
pU--s frequently require the pieces 10 be cut
NOR, than once before exactly fitting This
glass =, at all events, 4 great scientific Curl
osltv. II seems 10 be an enlarged Rupert's
drop, exhibiting many of It's optical and
crystalline properties