The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-27
SOME LIQUID AIR TESTS
ARE MADE BEFORE THE AUDIENCE
AT THE GERMAN HOUSE.
Professor Marcus Forderick Conducts
the Tests-its Use rs Com
merciaI Agency.

The auditorium OF the German House
vas crowded last night with spectators in
terested in the practical demonstrations of
the many ways in which liquid air can be
used as a Iabor-saving and dollar-saving
agent
Prof Marcus Forderick. G. A. Bcdrich
and E. ]. Richards, representatives or the
Tripler Liquid Air Company, of New York.
are in the city for the purpose OF interest
ing the people of Indianapolis in liquid air.
With the hope that it might be introduced
into a practical use, "a test of its practical
bility and utility was given last night be-
fore hall full of expert mechanics and
electricians.
Professor Tripler, who is said to be the
first and only man to produce liquid air on
commercial scale, and the president OF the
Tripler Liquid Air Company, was TO have
been present and deliver a lecture to the
Indianapolis people, but was detained in
New York. Prof Marcus Forderick, who is
at present working with Mr.. Tripler in the
development of liquid air, announced to
the audience that he did not propose to lee
ture on liquid air, for he was not lecturer
by any means. but he said he would under
take to show some of the things for which
II could be utilized. He explained to the
audience that liquid air simply the air
that We breathe, only that II was COM
pressed to $500 pounds to the square inch.
and then through series Of sudden ex-
pansions il liquifies at a temperature of 312
degrees below zero. He then proceeded to
demonstrate the utility Of liquid air for
refrigeration by series of tests which
proved very interesting to the audience.
One Of the first things he did was TO mold
a hammer, with which he afterward drove
a nail into a table, out of mercury. He
first took piece of card board and made
a mold of it, the shape of a hammer, and
in this he poured the mercury. He then
poured the liquid air on top Of the mercury
and after an instant of time removed the
Dashboard and the mercury was solidified
into the shape of hammer. For the next
test the professor took beautiful bunch
of roses and, dipping them into a cup of
liquid air, drew them forth again, frozen
into beautiful crystals. One of the most
liquid air ice cup, in which the professor
melted a six-inch piece of steel without
melting the cup in the least By placing
cup of the liquid air on a cake Of ice the
overlooked. The reason for this lies in the
fact that the ice which is frozen at 80 de-
grees above zero is 344 degrees hotter than
the liquid air, which has a temperature of
In shipping fruit from California to the
East II requires five tons of ice for each
car, which costs about So per ton. The rep
resentatives OF the liquid air company
claim that fifty-five gallons of LIQUID air,
weighing less than 500 pounds, will accom-
plish the same result, and instead of pro-
| Gucing moist cold in the car, will produce
| q dry cold.
number Of tests showing the practical
bility and utility of liquid air as mo-
| tive power were also given. BY pouring
| a tablespoonful Of liquid air into the cylin-
| der OF one-eighth horse power wind-fan
| 1t was made to revolve fast that the cur
rent of air could be felt at the farthermost
corners of the hall. A small engine that
had been constructed as a model ran with
| great speed for at least fifteen minutes
| with just a teaspoonful of liquid air. The
company asserts that IL is confident OF
saving at least so per cent. in the cost OF
| general motive power. The professor saiC
| by placing a little of the liquid air on tor
| Of whisky. 1t converted 1t into a powerful
| combustible which would explode with
| great force II ignited by a match. He sait
| liquid air was almost pure oxygen, anC
| consequently would prove of great benefit
| In smelling OF iron and precious ores anC
| will be the means Of saving vast sums an
| nually TO the steel industries. In closins
| he said he did not have the time to illus
| trate the many ways in which LIQUID ali
| can be proftably employed, but thought h,
had demonstrated that ii was an agent O.
| ct