The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-12-04
Glass Cloth Made in Pittsburgh.

One of the chief characteristics of glass l
brittleness. "As brittle rs glass" is compari
son of such unlveIsality that there is scarcel,
j a civilized person living who has not at ont
time or another made use of 1t. Yet notwith
standing this marked characteristic OF glass
it Is susceptible of being spun and woven int
fabrics rs perfect, delicate, durable and hand
some rs the finest silk Glass has been spur
and woven in Austria for number OF years
but never until recently has this been under
taken III the United States. A prominent
Pittsburgh glass-manufacturing firm, Mcssrs
Atterbury g. Co., have provided themselves
with facilities for producing various kinds OF
fabrics from this ordinarily brittle substance
some of which they have already made
Among the articles they are prepared to ex
hlbt are napkin, a towel and table-cloth
The latter is about SIX feet square, and white
IN color, except the ends and SIDES which are
a delicate green, and the four edges are fringed.
The towel and napkin are the same as the ia.
bleclOth, except the ornamental border, which
in one is red and in the other pink. These
fabrics are as flexible and but slightly heavier
than those woven of fax, and the manufactur.
ers state that they can be washed and ironed,
like the ordinary table cloths and napkins.
Besides these articles the firm have a number
of large feathers made by them, which are
fashioned of variously colored threads of glass,
the base being a piece of brass wire. These
feathers resemble ostrich feathers, and are
wondrously beautiful in shape in color. These
goods Messrs a. Il Co. will place on the mar
ket just as soon as there is a demand for them
which they think will be In the early future.
The firm can spin 250 Of these fine threads
each ten miles IN length in one minute, the
process being much more interesting than the
spinning of cotton or other threads by the
usual methods. The weaving Is done with an
ordinary loom some Of the machinery Of
which the firm have adapted to the require
ments of the manufacture.
The fabric cannot be ripped or torn, and can
be sold at a less price than cotton, silk or what
ever other fabric initiated. The firm state that
the cloth, whether coarse or fine, when worn
as a dress, shawl, or other garment, Will be
just as warm, easy fitting and comfortable IN
every way as clothing of any otner kind.
In an interview the other day a member OF
the firm said that if the manager of Sara
Bernhardt would send them an order for a
dress, and send along with it the most elabo-
rate costume worn by her, they would agree to
match it with a costume of glass which would
be Just as brilliant in color elaborate in finish,
perfect in fit, and equal in It's smallest details,
even to the buttons, as the original.
1t is reported that the machinery used by
the firm in the manufacture of these novel
fabrics Is not in the city, but that the manufaC-
ture is carried on at Il point where there Is but
little chance of the methods employed being
discovered.
The firm are now fully prepared to receive
orders for glass garments of any description
American Manufacturer.