How t lie Modem Mirror
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by R. A. Miller,
'PtttsUuryk Glass Institute
MlHtiflllfV AIIC than man they ofn go t»»ek to
for Narrit>H*if bonding ®\<*r hi® |km»l wn one <rf the earlieM
loot or ga*or*. If not Nareiasu®. sorely Nittir human luring. early in the
development of the human raee, tirM saw hi® reflection in a pool of
water ami nought Mnif mean® of producing a portable re Hector in
which he might see himself at will for the fascination of looking at
one® own reflection it an instinct, dependent not upon race, sea or age.
There is little doubt that the first
reflecting surfaces were developed by
men of the stone age by polishing
granite, obsidian and similar materials.
As man developed methods of produc
ing metals from ores, and in reason
ably flat sheets, he must have early
undertaken to polish these surfaces
and produce much more satisfactory
nvrrors than those previously avail
able. In later days, as metal workers
became more skilled, these metallic
mirrors became magnificent pieces of
art, reaching great heights during the
reign of Cleopatra. Unfortunately, the
only mirror which could be depended
upon to maintain it 6 beauty of reflec
tion was the gold mirror, naturally
difficult to obtain and very expensive.
Silver mirrors were satisfactory ex
cept that repolishing of the surfaces
always produced scratching which in
time impaired their usefulness. Steel
and copper were subject to this same
destruction of surface, and also broke
down rapidly through oxidation.
Mirrors of glass were introduced
some tim later, but for a long time
were inferior to metal mirrors due to
the difficulty of casting glass with a
true surtace. In fact it was not until
polished plate glass was made that
really satisfactory mirrors of glass
were possible, m.rrors which gave
track true and undistorted images.
For many years mirrors were made
by applying thin metallic films or foil
to the back of polished glass. About
1668, a tin amalgam as a mirror back
ing was a further development. These
methods brought glass mirrors into
more general use, in spite of several
disadvantage, caused by the shrinkage
of the mercury used in making the
amalgam. Cracks ar.d crazing of the
film occurred frequently and early,
and exposure to sunlight was sure to
destroy them. It w s not until about
1865 that the chemist Le Blanc found
Mirror* are used in homes to create
an appearance of spaciousness. They
hare become on important element in
interior decoration.
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The Mirrorer at he it quaintly raffed it
thoien in thit wood cm I of Horn Such
ten ( 156fj. Token from a contest* po
rory book describing oil profettiont
and trades. A poem J escribe* kit
act i lilies:
I make Dm bright mirror pint*
And bock it up with ktd
Taming Ikon the wooden frame
To which the diec will pan.
Than painting it with colon Iraa
Tine mirrors I produce
In which, truly and clear,
Tonr face, yea ondreiorted! see.
a method of precipitating metallic
silver against a glass surface which
gave a mirror with the reflecting
value of pure silver and is the method
still ustyd today. This basic layer of
silver is covered first by a coat of
shellac, then one of paint as protec
tion against exposure. As additional
protection and for use in very damp
rooms or climates, an added layer of
electro-copper plating over the silver
effectively seals the back of the mir
ror and indefinitely defers deteriora
tion.
Different chemicals for mirroi bach
ing are also used to produce different
color effects. Gun-metal mirrors are
..... \arrissus. port tty
the ftrsl
PIC
backed with lead sulphide, while gold
aad other shades of mirror are pro
duced with other types of backing.
Flesh-tint, blue and pale green mir
rors mrf made from glass which is of
dote respective -dors. Water-white
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The mirror it on indispensable port as the theatre . . . hot this girl at bem Yorh't
Paradise Reottmrami also keeps m mirror-bached thermometer on her dressing table*
gltM fashions tbr crystallex mirror,
ao-called because of its pure and ac
surate reflection of colors ,and espe
dbUr adap.ed for make-up or dr ess
lac table use.
The so-called X-ray or transparent
mirror has aroused considerable curi
osity on the part of the public. Ap
parently an ordinary mirror on one
aide, it can be seen through from the
other. The explanation is relatively
aanple. They are made by depositing
• aery thin layer of metallic silver
Upon a piece of glass. Such films may
he made so thin as to transmit con
siderably more than 10% of the light
so that they are partially transparent
when viewed from the darker side of
At glass. The transmission of light is
ao ssnall, however, that the reflections
hen objects on the darker side of the
ghn are wot sufficiently intense to
again penetrate the glass and produce
S sensible image on the retina of the
ape, hence a mirrored reflection. This
Batons, of course, that in nse, the side
toward the more intense light is the
toirror side.
Hew uses for mirrors arc on all
sides creating great interest. Scarcely
a new shop or restaurant is being
built that does not include wide areas
of mirror as an important feature of
the decorative scheme. Architects and
decorators are stressing their impor
tance for home use. Whole or partial
walls of mirror are used to double
the size of small rooms. M irrors arc
being installed to bring light to dark
corners and to repeat decorative
motifs. Entire doors which would
make an unsightly break in a wall are
camouflaged with mirror. Table tops,
book shelves, over-mantels and screens
are but a few of the many places where
mirrors are finding wide use in the
home.
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