THE LARGEST PLATE GLASS IN THE WORLD
A silhouette of the Queen Mary compared with the Brabazon hangar to give an idea of the great size of the latter,
On the north side of the Brabazon hangar there is a glazed expanse 1,052 feet long and 50 feet high. This is the largest composite plate glass window in the world and it consists entirely of Aluminex sidewall glazing by Williams & Williams, Ltd., of Chester, England.
Not only this window but all the lights in the roof and the sidewalls of the Brabazon hangar are fitted with Aluminex glazing.
The reasons why the Architect, Eric Ross, F.R.I.B.A., and the Consulting Engineers, Brian Colquhoun and Partners, chose Aluminex can be seen from the following list of the conditions required for their exacting tasks:
1. Must give maximum light for meticulous work of
assembling the Brabazon.
Must not corrode-visibly or in hidden places,
2.
Must stand up to 30 m.p.h. Atlantic gales.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Must be cheap and easy to maintain in good condition. Must be of proved durability.
Must be of good appearance when paired with plate glass, with clean lines in keeping with the Architect's conception.
ALBI="R"
Aluminex glazing provided the complete solution to the problem. To-day the Brabazon hangar stands with its gigantic north window and its other sidewall and roof lights as an outstanding example of brilliant design and sound construc- tion-and also as the largest show piece of Williams & Williams glazing craft.
Other recent examples of Aluminex glazing are to be seen in the new strip mills for the Steel Company of South Wales, the new factory for the British Insulated and Callender Cables of West Kirby (Lancs.), the National Cash Register Company's factory at Dundee; Central Station, Brussels; Tricolux Factory, Brussels: Ford Factory, Antwerp; Melotte Factory, Gembloux; Hangars at Lisbon Aerodrome; Tata Steel Works, India; British Insulated Cable Factory, New Zealand; Dublin Chassis Factory for Eire Transport Commission; Anglo Iranian Oil Company, Kuwait; Turner & Newall Factory, Montreal, and many sites on Pacific Coast and elsewhere in the U.S.A.
The local agents for Williams & Williams, Ltd. are Davie, Boag & Co., Ltd.
THE PAINT THAT STOPS FIRE
The deserted site where the concentration camp once stood at North Point was alive with activity on the afternoon of 14th April when more than 200 spectators gathered to witness the demonstration of a new fire retardant paint.
Among those present were Mr. W. M. Smith, Chief Officer of the Fire Brigade, Mr. C. W. Brand, Deputy Chief Officer. Mr. W. E. Hollands of the Public Works Department, Dr. G. Ingram Shaw, Deputy Director of Health Services, Mr. G. Graham-Cumming, Dr. G. Willis, Mr. J. Hooper (Superinten- dent of Health Services), Mr. A. Foster, Mr, E. C. Drown, Mr. A. Taylor, Insp. B. Wheeler and H. G. B. Dewar of the Police, as well as representatives from insurance companies, godowns, dockyards, bus companies and the press.
Before the demonstration, Mr. J. C. M. Grenham gave a short talk about the discovery and uses of Albi-“R”. He remarked that the Colony's fire losses during the last year had been very severe, and would have been more severe but for the high efficiency of the Colony's fire fighting services. This new fire fighting chemical in the form of a cold water paint, which needs only to be mixed in cold water and applied by brush or spray method, will give effective fire protection tu combustible materials such as wood, wallboards, and insulation boards. The Colony can now paint it's way to safety from fire hazards, with this paint that retards fire.
Two soundly constructed wooden buildings resembling sentry booths were then filled with wood shavings. kindling and cotton waste, and drenched with two gallons of kerosene. One of these buildings was of a flat white colour somewhat resembling whitewash, while the other was of naked timber Both buildings were ignited with matches.
Within a few minutes, the flames fanned by the strong brisk breeze raged furiously through the two structures. The immense heat was felt for some distance away.
As to be expected, when a fire is started in a kerosene soaked room, it would not take very long for the fire to spread and destroy the whole structure and this was what happened to the structure of naked timber. However, the white building which was painted with two coats of Albi-"R" withstood the hungry flames until they at last gave up.
As the impressed crowd watched, the Chief Officer of the Fire Brigade together with others approached to inspect the buildings. The fire was still burning inside the painted struc- ture, but they found that the outer side of the structure was not very hot, and they could touch it with bare hands. The inner walls of the structure had on it a heavy black spongy substance which had formed from the Albi-"R" paint whilst the fire was underway.. this was the black magic insulat- ing mat which retarded the fire so successfully. With pieces of wood, part of this mat was scraped off, and to the astonish- ment of the spectators the boards of the structure were as sound and strong as before the fire, and not even scorched.
Said a representative from the Fire Brigade, the test was highly satisfactory, and, a fire in a treated house would not spread, which would give the inmates time to get out. He said that in his opinion all tenement houses should be painted with Albi-"R", but more especially the wood stairs and wooden flooring types of houses.
The Sole Agents for the fire retardant paint is Thoresen & Company, Limited, of Queen's Building, Hongkong.
The two buildings during the course of the fire.
T
80
The two buildings after the fire had died down; that painted with "ALBI-"R" is unharmed.
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