Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1896-09-11
THE ALUMINIUM AGE.
Wonders That Are Being Done
with the New Metal
A Is Entering Very Largely Into Many
OF the Industries and Arts and has
Before 1t wide Range
OF Usefulness.


1t was discovered by Frederick Wohler,
German professor, in 1927; but to st.
Clair Deville, Frenchman, belongs the
honor of being the founder of the
aluminium industry.
The first article made Of this metal
was in compliment TO Louis Napoleon
who had helped I:eville-a baby rattle
for the infant prince imperial.
In 1855, when the first aluminium com
pany was formed. the cost of pound of
the metal was about $780, In 1889
Charles NJ. Hail, of Oberlin, o., patented
an electrolytic process. He with few
of his friends then started a small plant
X on the bank of the Allegheny river. 1s
miles above Pittsburgh. The first year
the company produced IS pounds of
aluminium day, which they sold at
$3.50 a pound In 1895 a company built
large plant at Niagara falls, and this
year they are building additional works.
When these are completed they will
have an output of 1000 pounds daily.
This win put the United States in front
as the largest aluminium producing
country in the world.
Aluminum's weights is about one-third
that of iron, and only steel of the high I
est quality and she best aluminium
bronze will give greater strength for /
given weight than aluminium. It
stands high in the list of malleable met
ais, and can be drawn into wire 1-250th
of an inch in thickness. 1t is an eX-
eellent conductor of electricity, and
would at 20 cents pound take tire
place of copper for all electrical pur-
poses.
In Germany two army corps are
equipped with aluminium, which in
cludes chevrons and every article of
metal carried on the person, even the
buttons on the clothes and the pegs in
the shoes The sword bayonets, scab-
bards and contents are also made of
the metal. In Paris there is a cab made
of aluminium, and some of our best
racing recordshave been made by horses
wearing aluminium shoes and pulling
aluminium sull,es. For decorating pur-
poses it is better than silver, because
the air, which blackens silver so quick
ly, has no effect on it. The president of
one of the largest palace car companies
in this country is said to have remarked
that the price alone kept aluminium
from being used entirely in car decora- =
ton. A short time ago an enterprising j
firm in Ohio built several aluminium
ducbing boats, as well as number of +
Towboats They found they were very
successful, especially the ducking boat. n
as this craft was extremely light and !,
non-sinkable. =
Price has been the only drawback to \
the general use of aluminium, but that -
will soon be such that the rich and poor ,,
alike will be able to enjoy the great n
advantages which the metal offers. 1t n
seems likely that the year 1897 will see
aluminium selling at less than 35 cents g,
a pound =,
Thus the growth of this wonderful h
metal has been spreading out in all di- Va
rections. A few weeks ago an alum m
mum bicycle was shipped to an eminent s,
politician in England, Mr.. Balfour ".
Here again its beauty and non-tarnish- 81
able qualities. together with its light III
ness, make it most desirable. Ne
Cooks of the twentieth century will III
no doubt demand that their employers w
supply them with aluminium cooking
utensils, as the metal is an excellent OK
conductor of heat, and it is almost inn
possible to scorch anything while cook nj
ng. Dentists are already using it in tr
making plates, as aluminium has it's adj M
antages over gold. for on contact with wi
metallic substances no disagreeable m.
lectric current is set mp. For scientific We
such as sextants, transits, clf
cvels, etc, where the inertia of heavy
moving part is to be avoided aluminium oc
5 the metal par excellence. Pho tor
ographers find aluminium flashlight an
owder better than the present mag tai
esium, as it is cheaper and not so liable wa
o explode in preparation and produces
one of the white fumes so disagree we
bic in the use of magnesium. Among bri
Their uses for aluminium are keys, III,
'atches, musical Instruments car An
Dofs, ice and roller skates, and many
Their articles which lack of space pre-
ents mentioning.
The substitution of aluminium for On,
'pper and nickel coins has long been n
inject of debate, and bill is now be a
IRE the house of representatives au- ma
orizing the secretary of the treasury iici'
make trial of aluminium coins The the
lvantages of aluminium for coinage riOl
e; side
1. It takes fine impression when talk
amped. and
?. 1t wears remarkably well. INV
.. 1t resists corrosion better than cop thel
r, bronze or any of the common thel
etals. Besides this, if it does corrode r
ghtly, the salts formed are harmless, mar
lich is more than can be said of any org'
her metal. Her
T. Weight for weight it is cheaper of d
an copper, and only slightly dearer teri'
an nickel alloy. men
). Lightness. AT present." to quote III
OF. Richards, "the people of the miel
.ited States are carrying around prob losis
ly 5000 tons of minor coins" Alum eties
ms weight is about one-third of islns
1t Of copper or nickel, so we could re- fore
&c that weight 1000 tons by adopt ity.
( aluminium. shap
iorseless carriages, which are at nleii
citing so much attention now, could man
most advantageously built of alum erO o.,
N, thereby making them not only
ch lighter, but much stronger. ny
gical instruments are being made iiius'
aluminium. The harmlessness of the we"
al makes it exceptionally desirable possi
use in surgery, and when a man i ~
10 be braced up he will find alum lne
n a great npmfort.-N. Y. Sun. '--'S
Old Soldiers Turned Ont.