The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-07-01
ARTIFICIAL SILK.
A Recent Consular Report Describes
the MannfnetuYa IN ANitzerlRnd.

the Manufacture In switzerland.
Council Meeker in his report, explains
the principle of the Invention of Arts-
ficial six m Switzerland, and describes
the process of manufacturing, as far
as 1t is made public, SO comprehensively
thai no further elucidation is required.
DIR. Lehner, the Inventor of the pro-
cess of production to be employed in
the factories of the company, of which
he seems to be also the principal stock
holder, director and manager, IS not
only thoroughly convinced of the utsl-
ity and value of his invention, but also
very hopeful of success. He admits that
the principle of the invention Is not new
but claims originality and superiority
In regard to chemical composition, as
well as improved mechanical appliances,
whereby he is enabled to produce the
article much cheaper than has formerly
been possible. In WHAT particulars
DR.. Lshner's invention Is original, !
am not able to state, but I~tamsinformed
that. while heretofore. only an 5 per
cent workable solution of cellulose-
the chemically prepared material from
which the artificial silk is produced
was obtainable, DR.. Lehner has sue
ceeded In securing a perfectly fluid and
workable solution of u per cent. Be-
sides this advantage, the value of which
If actual. needs no further demonstra-
ton. DR.. Lehner claims that he has
succeeded in making the product unin-
fiammable, and that, by a contrivance of
his own, spinning n twisting can be
done In one operation. In these points
at least, the Chardonnet system of pro-
ducing artificial silks which has been
tried for years, is expected to be out
rivaled by the new process, though both
are based upon the same principle. The
fact that the world scarcely knew that
such a thing as the Manufacture of
artificial silk was going. on seems to
prove that rhe process heretofore was
nov may partly be due to the pre-
use Of the artiaciai product; later I'm
e euetion. may ehs feana To d sas e1s' p% re- i ptoe
There is a factory, working under the
Chardonnet patents, in operation at
spristenbaeh. Canton Aargau Sw' NJ
Castor de Coral. representing the de
Coral Company. If / am correctly in
formed. this is the remnant Of a com
pany formed some years ago with a very
large capital at Besancon, France, which
after many vicissirudes is now running
scale. The principal obstacle in the way
of q more general use or the prodncs
of this company seems to be the price of
the article. which, / am informed, 10 not
long as this is the case, the artificial ma
terial, being of greater gravity, and at
best only an imitation of the genuine ar
ticle. can not successfully. compete with
II. If the claims Of the Lehner company,
hat they are enabled to produce an arti-
Gle as good or better than the Chardon-
net at a much lower price, are Justified,
it is not only possible. but very likely,
that their product will find a market
kinds of goods, in which, attractive ap-
pearance is more desired than lasting
qualities, such as. fringes, braidss, neck
t~ies,etc. This. at least. Is the opinion q
who have experimental with the Char
donnet silk. and who lave furnished me
with the enclosed sample Of artificial
silk thread and a piece OF SILK tissue,
hal Of a,, which in t Is a atSsss half Of the na warp
is natural and the filing artificial silk,
as marked on the piece.
DR.. Lehner himself does not claim
that his Invention will replace the SIX
ally compete with the natural silk He
freely admits tina the artificial silk has
not the strength of fiber of the natural
silk, but. he holds that, on account OF It's
mixtures with cotton and other cheaper
hbers, especially for changeables, fur
nishing goods. etc. In fact, he claims
company will be able to, produce for a
long time is. engaged beforehand ny
cotton manufacturers n fringe drill.
lers, and that there is every prospect OF
a steady increase OF IT'S
Whether his expectations Will be real
izea remains Y WM NJ seen +. KBMMLER,