Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1889-05-21
USES OF ALUMINIUM.
The ACCESSIBILITY of Its Introduction fEtr
Various Manufactures.

The ACCESSIBILITY of Its Introduction IIto
Various Manufactures.
Architects can undoubtedly do somo-
thing toward assisting the introduction
of the metal aluminium into common
use. The present price of aluminium
is about eight dollars pound. or
about one-half that OF silver by weight.
while rs the specific gravity OF alu-
minimum is two aud one-half, while that
of silver is more than ten, one can
exchange piece of silver for one OF
aluminium eight times as large. For
many purposes this would make tho
cost of an article of solid aluminium
no larger than that OF one of brass
plated with silver, while the advantage
would be all on the side Of the former.
Many years ago drawing instruments
were occasionally made of aluminium
in place OF German silver; although
then very costly, they were so light
TO use, and 80 strong and hand
some that those who could af-
ford them thought their money well in
vested. At present prices the use OF
the aluminium should add only two or
three dollars to the cost OF an ordinary
pocliet-case OF instruments, and the in
terest on this outlay would be repaid
many times over by the superior deli
cacy which would be possible in hand
ling the lighter tools, the avoidance
OF much of the risk OF blotting valuable
drawings by the fall OF heavy dividers
from the fingers, and the lessening OF
the fatigue from which the hands OF
very busy draughtsmcn sometimes
suffer Opera-glasses are very COM
monty made OF aluminium at present,
for lightness in use, and drawing tools.
which are in the fingers all day, have
quite as much claim to be made light
as an object only held for few mo-
ments in the course OF an evening.
Besides articles for their own profess
sional service, architects could think
OF many building appliances for
which white, strong metal, not
subject TO corrosion, is greatly needed,
TO say nothing OF locks. keys, bolts.
hooks, chains, and other items OF
builders hardware. the portions OF
plumbing apparatus now commonly
formed OF brass, plated with nickel or
silver, would be very advantageously
replaced with aluminium. The brass
used for these purposes is soft and
weak, while aluminium is nearly rs
strong as steel, and is much better in
point of permanent beauty of appear
ance. As every one knows. silver
plating is soft and soon wears of by
polishing, while the fumes OF a match.
or even long exposure to the ordinary
atmosphere OF dwolling-houses turns 1t
black. Nickel-plating, while harder,
does not cling so tightly MS silver, and
sometimes pecls of. while lemon
Juice. or other acids. attack II ener.
getically. There are people enough who
can pay for the best material 10
be had, and arc willing TO do so, and
who dislike extremely to see the BASIN
cocks in their houses turning black
and yellow from corrosion and wear.
or the bath-tubs and pantry showing
red strealSs OF copper through the
lining. In one of the Vanderbilt houses
there is said to be bath-tub OF solid /
silver, and we have known an order
given for a pantry-sink of German
silver, so as to avoid the unpleasant
effect of wear. The cost of n Dnntry.
sink stamped out of sheet aluminium
would certainly be no more than one
cast in German silver, and would prob
ably be very much less, while an alu-
minium,bath would be Inexpensive COM
pared with one Of silver, and would be
better and handsomer. -Amcrfcdn dr.
rLiferf