160 THE ALUMNI JOURNAL 



RESINITE COMPOUND. 



A NEW SUBSTANCE IN GERMANY REPLACING CELLULOID, IVORY, ETC. 



Ccnsul Thomas H. Norton, of Chemnitz, says that various art in- 

 dustries in Germany have found a number of useful applications for 

 a newly invented substance, termed "resinite," of which Ye gives an 

 account : 



This material is produced in a variety of modifications by the 

 union of formaldehyde and carbolic acid (phenol ) in connection 

 with certain metallic salts. The name is given on account of its re- 

 semblance in an important form to ordinary resin. This special 

 variety is used chiefly with porous materials, such as wood, paper, 

 pasteboard, etc., and renders them hard and impermeable. Thus 

 ordinary pine wood when thoroughly impregnated, becomes so hard 

 that it rapidly dulls a planer. 



In another form it can be poured as a liquid into molds. After 

 coagulation it is transparent, with ruby tint, infusible, and unaffect- 

 ed by ordinary chemical reagents. It is well adapted for making 

 ornaments, such as hat-pin heads, imitation jew^elry, and for most 

 purposes where enamel or enamel varnish are employed. For door- 

 plates, street numbers, signs, etc., it seems capable of rendering ex- 

 cellent service, being entirely unaffected by atmospheric action. 



A third modification is liquid, but upon the addition of a mineral 

 acid, it solidifies in a few minutes to an elastic, homogeneous sub- 

 stance, which can be easily cut, turned, polished, etc. In this form 

 resinite can replace for a multitude of purposes, horn, celluloid, vege- 

 table ivory, and similar substances. Buttons, knife handles, mosaic 

 designs, are some of the many objects made with this modification. 

 When competing with celluloid, it possesses the great advantage of 

 beinp; non-combustible. This property resinite shares in common 

 with another industrial rival of celluloid, viz., cellit (described in 

 Consular and Trade Reports in 1908). 



There is a large field for this new material in the glove manufac- 

 turing sections of Germany, where at present clasps are made chiefly , 

 from vegetable ivory. 



ALUMNI PIN. 



Only graduates are permitted to purchase and entitled to wear 

 this pin. It is distinct and different from a class pin, which can be 

 worn by any member of a class. The pin is made of solid gold 

 with blue enamel. Its style is shown on cover. Your name, year 

 of graduation, and the pin number will appear upon the reverse 

 side. The cost is $6 if delivered, or $6.15 if sent by registered 

 mail. Pins may be obtained upon application to Dr. George C. 

 Diekman, 115 West Sixty-eighth street, New York City. 



