San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1881-10-27
LUMINOUS PAINT.


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strikias E6ssts Prsdsssa h IL Dsrk-Ciseh
Faces, Powder Magazines snd Csnpassss
Illustrated By Ia Uss.
About Q year ago an English chemist
discovered : process BY which . phos.
phoresoent powder could be inootpora-
ted with oil 90 as to. produce spaint
which, applied to various substances.
would render them not only visible in
the dark, but cause them to emit o
considerable amount Of difused light.
A paint Of this description has been
for some time manufactured by Q we'll
known paint house here, and il has
been applied to several useful purposes.
tits not as we'll adapted to general use in
as great variety Of forms as it was at
first expected. II is believed, however,
that improvements can be made in its
composition !, and application which
will make II Of great value.
A reporter called at once to the house
in question in order to investigate the
matter as far as possible, and was shown
number of interesting experiments
with the luminous paint. A perfectly
dark room has been made in the build-
ing for the purpose Of exhibiting the
peculiar effects produced by the paint.
In the ceiling Of the room are trap
doors and various appliances for the
better display Of practical tests.
The gentleman in charge of this de.
partment, after first explaining that the
compassionate the paint was e secret,
gave a description Of the method Of
it's application and Of the theory Of its
diffusion fof light as follows: GSI
The powder, which is the. basis Of
pigment, may be mixed either in oil'or
distemper,g II is prepared in the latter
form for application TO the wallis of
rooms, plaster busts cor statutes, etc.
Il may be applied when mixed in oilto
wood, stone, or iron. or any ordinary
solid substance. The object painted
with it is first given q coat Of a chemi-
cal mixture which retains the phos-
phorescent properties of the luminous
paint of which three or four coats are
then applied. Before commencing to
diffuse light the paint must be exposed
to the sunlight for few moments.
The principle upon which it is sup
posed to act is this: The solar rays are
supposed to disintegrate or disturb
more or less, according to time for
which it is exposed, the molecules of
the exterior surface, which gives off at
once rays Of light. When it is taken
into the dark Che surface gradually re-
turns to its normal condition; hence
the lightldiminishes during the night,
becomming fainter and fainter, though
still perceptible just before daylight.
The, first experiment was the lower
ing of a large canvass stretched on a
framework and covered with the lumin-
GUS paint through hatchway in the
ceiling down into the perfectly dark
room, which it Immediately filled with
peculiar purplish light. At first
sight the impression given was pecu-
liarly weird and CHASTITY one, but as the
eye became accustomed to it, it became
even agreeable.
Then q large pane of glass was placed
in the hatchway and covered SO as to
exclude all natural light. This threw
down rays of light by which the walls
of the room and the various articles in
it were family indicated. Then
the hatchway was removed
and the light allowed to enter
through the glass. BY this means the
room was almost brilliantly lighted, rs
the paint is a remarkable conductor of
natural light, or rather the light has
the effect of exciting continually the
phosphoresence of the paint.
Next, plaster bust Illuminated by
the preparation was taken into the light
for 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
longer time, and upon all sides equally.
After this ifa apuearance in the dark