Science: Marvels

In Manhattan’s sombre old Grand Central Palace, through whose innards move dozens of expositions every year: whirring, clanking, buzzing, gurgling machines, bottles of queer-looking powders, crystals and liquids—the Exposition of Chemical Industries. … In Manhattan’s far-from-sombre Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, under soft lights, on soft rugs, with lyrical commentary, comely models in dazzling clothes: a special show of synthetic fabrics for the Congress of Industry. . . . The scenes were dissimilar but the purposes were the same: to extol the marvels of modern chemistry.

Some marvels at Grand Central Palace:

> Dyhydrol, a paint vehicle made by dehydroxylation of castor oil, to compete with imported tung oil.

> Stretchable patent leather.

> Lignin plastics and vanillin made from sulphite liquor, onetime waste product of the wood-pulp paper industry.

> Sodium hexametaphosphate, 16 lbs. of which in 1,000,000 gals, of water will prevent scale formation in pipes.

> Nitroparaffms. Last spring Chemist Henry Bohn Hass of Purdue announced production of two new explosives, “nibglycerol trinitrate” and “nibglycol dinitrate,” by combining steam, nitrogen from air, methane and ethane from natural gas (TIME, April 17). Now dozens of other nitroparaffins similarly formed are available for making plastics, dyes, textiles, cosmetics, floor waxes, rubber.

At the Waldorf-Astoria:

> A dinner dress made of glass fibre.

> A stiff, lustrous hostess coat from natural gas, coal oil, salt and air.

>An exiguous bathing suit, from coal (see cut).

> A day dress made of casein, protein ingredient of milk.

> A complete outfit, from black velvet dress to handbag, swagger stick and costume jewelry, made of synthetic fabrics or plastics.