Evening star., 1939-10-07
Novel Glass Bricks,
New Dumb-Waiter
Aid Home buiIdinq
Electric Lifts Have
,One-Direction Motor,
Far More Economical

New construction developments,
including sinplified electric dumb
waiter, novel glass bricks and deco
rative units, and numerous house.
hold and industrial fixtures are add
ing to the beauty and comfort Of
homes and industrial buildings, &C
cording to a research bulletin on
building materials and appliances
edited by the structural service de-
partment of the American Institute
of Architects from data provided
by the Producers Council.
In the past electric dumbb-waiters
have been propelled by reversible
motors for ascending and descend
ing motion. The new conveyor
does away with the reversible mo-
tor and its accompanying compli-
Gated control equipment and SUBJ
stitutes unidirectional motor, in
this way effecting a Is per cent
economy.
The simple device presents an
entirely new idea in vertical trans
portation, combining the best fea-
lures of the electric conveyor and
the conventional type electric dumb
waiter" the bulletin says.
'"The upward and downward
movement of the car is controlled
by an endless steel roller chain
drive which prevents any possibil-
ity Of overtravel. Gravity starts
the car in either direction, reduc-
ing the starting torque and cur
rent consumption and permitting
the use Of moderate-sized, COM
pact motor"
Electric Door Locks.
Accurate landings are made at
all times, the bulletin states, while
electric door interlocks prevent
opening of the doors while the car
is moving. Complete automatic ac-
ton is provided, touch of the
push button dispatching or calling
the car.
The use of the new motor elm
mates so per cent of the control
parts and 81 per cent of the NOV
ing parts and contacts previously
necessary. Moreover, the gravity
starting feature and more efficient
application of power permit the use
Of less power. An overall saving of
25 per cent is said to result from
these economies.
To meet the increasing demand
for modern structural glass in the
form of masonry unit. light
weight block is manufactured with
a glass front. porous concrete back
ing and metal binder.
The structural glass surface, a
waterproof adhesive and the con-
crete backing are laminated to-
gether, the adhesive being approxi-
mately one-eighth inch thick and
covering the entire back surface Of
the glass.
To secure further the bond be-
tween the concrete slab and its
glass facing. the glass is mechanical
ly anchored to the concrete by a rust
proof metal edge binder extending
around the entire 'perimeter of the
slab. Beside acting as a strength
ener, this metal edge is lined with
cork tape to prevent metal-to-glass
contact, and to give cushioned pro-
lection to the edge of the glass.
Constant spring pressure on the
cork tape provided by a new device
maintains the cork's grip on the
glass. The back edge Of the metal is
crimped and perforated and is cast
in the concrete after the metal edge
has been applied around the glass.
No part of the metal binder is ex-
posed on the finished structure, how
ever. The block is set into cement
mortar just like granite, limestone
and similar building materials, and
the metal is hidden from view.
Rich COlOrs Obtained.
Besides possessing the character
istic qualities of concrete, the block
embodies rich permanent colors, a
1ustrous surface, weather resistance
and easy cleaning properties. Deco
rative effects can be produced by
combining two different colored glass
plates, separated by a waterproof
adhesive, in one block.
Greater strength, lighter weight,
fire resistance, insulating and mois-
ture-proot properties, high joint
strength and large variety of sizes
and thicknesses are stressed as
further advantages of the new build
ing material. 1t may be used not only
for exteriors but for interior walls in
industrial and educational buildings.
New materials for the architect in
clude also a novel type of decorated
structural glass, plate glass and
mirror, the bulletin reports.
Appreciation for glass in its vari-
Gus forms, as a decorative medium in
itself and as background for mod
ern decorative design and orna-
ment," it was explained, has result
ed from the development of new
decorative processes and from the
fact that leading artists in Europe
and in America have given their at
tention to the design and execution
Of decorative subjects in glass"