The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-10-16
LUMINOUS PAINT.
Striking Effects Produced In the Dark
Clock Faces, Powder Magazines and
Compasses Illuminated by Its Use

Striking Effects Produced In the Dark
Clock Faces, Powder Magazines and
Compasses Illuminated by Its Use.
About year ago an English chemist dis
covered process by which phosphores-
cent powder could be Incorporated with oil
so as to produce paint which, applied to
various substances, would render them not
only visible in the dark, but cause them to
emit considerable amount of ditfused
light
A paint of this description has been for
some time manufactured by well-known
paint house here, and it has been applied to
several useful purposes. 1t is not as well
adapted to general use IN as great variety
of forms as it was at first expected. 1t is
believed however, that Improvements can
be made in its composition and APP
plication which will make it of great value.
A reporter called at once to the house in
question in order to investigate the matter
rs far us possible, and was shown number
of interesting experiments with the lumi-
nous paint. A perfectly dark room has
been made in the building for the purpose
of exhibiting the peculiar effects produced
by the paint In the ceiling of This room
are trap doors and various appliances for
the better display Impractical tests
The gentleman in charge OF this depart
ment, after first explaining that the.composi
ton Of the paint was q secret, gave a
description Of the method OF application,
and Of the theory Gifts diffusion OF light as
follows
The powder, which is the basis of pig
ment, may be mixed either in oil or dis
temper. It's prepared in the latter form
for application to the walls ofrooms, plaster
busts or statutes, etc. 1t may be applied
when mixed in oil to wood, stone, iron or
any ordinary solid substance The object
painted with it is first given coat Of
chemical mixture which retains the phOs-
phoresCent properties of the luminous paint
of which three or four coats are then
applied. Before commencing To diff
fuse light the paint must be exposed to sun
light for few moments. The principle
upon which is is supposed to act is this :
The solar rays are supposed to disintegrate
or disturb more or less according TO the
time for which it is exposed, the molecules
of the exterior surface, which gives off at
once rays Of light, When il is taken into
the dark the surface gradually returns to its
normal condition; hence the light dimin-
ishes during the night, becoming fainter
and fainter, though still perceptiblc just be-
fore daylight
The first experiment was the lowering of
large canvass stretched on framework
and covered with the luminous paint
through hatchway in the ceiling down
into the perfectly dark room, which it i'm
mediately filled with peculiar purplish
llgnt. At first sight the impression given
was a peculiarly weird and CHASTITY one, but
as tho eye became accustomed to it, il be-
Came.cven agreeable.
Then large pane Of glass was placed in
the hatChway and covered so us to exclude
all natural light. This threw down rays of
light by which the walls of the room and
the various articles III il were family indi-
Gated. Then the hatchway was removed
and the light allowed to enter through the
glass. BY this means the room was almost
brilliantly lighted, as the paint is remark
able conductor of natural light or rather
the light has the effect of exciting contin-
ually the phosphoresenCe of the paint.
Next, a plaster bust illuminated by the
preparation was taken into the light for a
moment and brought into the room. The
outline was quite distinct and there were
very natural shadows beneath the chin of
the head and near the principal features,
which gave it almost the appearance of life.
Then it was exposed to the light again for a
longer time, and upon all sides equally
After this its appearance in the dark was re-
markedly vivid, and the head stood out in
bold relief, like that of fine cameo, while
nothing else in the room could be seen.
The effect of such an appariton upon q
burglar, or upon a stranger unaccustomed
to anything of the kind, coming upon a
bust or statue treated in this way In dark
ROOM would be horrifying, The spiritual
lists might use the paint IN their invoca'
tons and materiali2ations of departed spir-
its in a highly startling manner, Next a
small elevator, covered with sliding box
was lowered into the room, and group OF
statuarp nearly Of life size was exposed to
view The surface exposed however wa:
so large that the form was less clearly de-
fined than in the bust, on account Of the
light diffused through the apartment.
1t has been suggested that the paint bc
used on posts along the sides of roads. OIL
life aud moving buoys, and in the interior
ofpowder magazines, collieries, or wher
ever 1t is unsafe to carry an ordinary light
For outdoor uses, however, the re-
porter was informed that II was of no great
value, as the diffusion of light is so gen,
eral, even at night, except on rare occasions
that the paint would have no effect. For
domestic use 1t may be applied TO nun.
Der OF small articles with convenient re.
suits. For match-safes it is useful, as indi.
eating their precise location. Watch faces
painted with it, enable the wearer to see tho
time in the dark. In sick rooms 1t might
be used with advantage from above, as in
the second experiment mentioned. Ii is
actually being employed in pilot-houses t.
illuminate the compass and in the steam.
ors Bristol and Providence TO show the indi
Gator, which gives the position Of the helm
When used in the pilot.house in this way
to the exclusion of ordinary light, u much
better lookout can he had.--New York
Mail.
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