Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1897-03-18
IMITATION GLASS.
Substitutes Used In Germany Which Ass
Cheap and Emcient,

Substitutes Used In Germany Which Ass
Cheap and Enacient.
There are several substitutes for
glass in use in Germany, the chief
among them being tectorium, fen
sterpappe and hornglas. Tectorium
consists Of a galvanized iron web,
covered with a gelatinous substance,
and is translucent, but not trans
parent. It Is described as a SUBJ
stance that can be bent without be-
ing broken and is both tough and
flexible. 1t is said not to be softened
by the rays of the sun, is nonsoA-
BILE and is not affected by severe
cold. It is a poor conductor Of heat
and is we'll adapted for roofs on ao-
count Of its extreme lightness.
When exposed to the sun, it loses its
original yellowish color in time and
becomes harder and more durable.
One advantage is that it can be east
ly repaired in case it is cut, does not
break and is we'll adapted for facto-
ry windows and skylights for hot
houses, market halls, verandas,
transportable buildings and for
roofing.
For ordinary hotbeds and forcing
houses, such as are used by most
florists and market gardeners, there
is another and cheaper substitute
for glass in the so called fenster-
pappe, which is tough, strong ma
nilla paper, that may be stretched
on large sashes or frames and satu-
rated by painting the exposed sur
face with boiled linseed oil until 1t
becomes translucent and impervious
to water. Light wooden frames, 40
inches in width and of any desired
length, T provided and covered
with the paper, which is fastened
by mailing at the edges, and then
painted with ordinary boiled linseed
oil until the paper is so saturated
that the last coat of oil forms q
smooth, glistening surface, like var
nish.
AS soon as dry the frame is ready
for use. 1t admits sufficient light
for growing plants, does not require
to be shaded In hot sunshine, is
light, durable, secure against break
age by hail or ordinary accident,
and, taking everything into account,
is said to be about 100 times cheaper
than glass. It is largely used by
florists and market gardeners in the
district Of Frankfort, and their gen
eral verdict is strongly in its favor,
although for handsome conserva-
tories, skylights, etc., it possesses
less durability and none of the neat.
ness and elegance of tectorium.
Finally there is a new product,
called hornglas, which has been re-
Gently patented and placed on the
German market. Hornglas resem.
bles tectorium in appearance, with
the difference that 1t is thinner and
consequently lighter in weight, and
the insoluble gelatin with which
the wire gauze is covered is whittier
and more nearly transparent than
tectorium, although it may be col
ored red, green, blue or any other
tint that may be desired for special
purposes. It is manufactured in two
qualities, one being of heavier wire
and with larger meshes than the
other. The special advantage claim
ed for hornglas is that it does not
soften under sun heat and is there
fore adapted to use in any climate
without the danger of becoming so
soft and adhesive as to retain dust
and dirt. It's uses and general char
acteristics are similar to those OF
tectorium.-Boston Transcript.