Lamisilite

Peoples Gas Light & Coke Co., one of Samuel Insull's least troubled concerns, last week joined the parade of corporations getting into the "next big industry": air conditioning equipment. Dr. Robert G. Guthrie, chief metallurgist of the Chicago utility, announced the invention of a new chemical compound which he calls "lamisilite." "Lamisilite" is a silicate like silica gel (which certain new air conditioners use), quartz, opal, beryl, tourmaline, garnet, mica. Like silica gel, the new material is highly hygroscopic-- absorbs moisture, dehumidifies air. The mother ore of "lamisilite" is a trade secret. Victor Chemical Co., who will make the material for the gas-operated conditioners, knows of large deposits in North and Central America, some in South America, Central Europe, Russia. The ore can now be bought for $1 a ton and "lamisilite" produced at 50-c- per Ib. Victor Chemical wants to control as much of the ore deposits as possible before the ton price gets out of its control. Peoples Gas Light & Coke expects to profit from the sale of gas.

The manufacture of air conditioners, humidifiers and coolers, entrains a number of industries: motors, fans, sheet metal, ice, pipes, radiators, silica gel, plumbing, gas, electricity. Several concerns have already assumed leadership in the industry: Carrier Engineering Corp., Newark, N. J., Lewis Corp., Minneapolis; Doherty-Brehm, Chicago; A. C. Gilbert (toymaker), New Haven; Frigidaire Corp., Davton. Several are swinging in: York Ice Machinery Corp., York, Pa.; Western Tool & Mfg. Co., Springfield, Ohio; American Blower Corp., Detroit; Holland Furnace Co., Holland, Mich.; B. F. Sturtevant Co., Boston; Timken Silent Automatic Corp., Detroit.

At first the construction and installation of air conditioners was an expensive engineering feat indulged in by cinema "palaces," zoos, the U. S. Senate. Department stores quickly discerned an inducement to summer trade. Big department store installations include Hudson's in Detroit (a $1,000,000 job); Kern's, also in Detroit; Abbott's, Tulsa; Ayres's, Indianapolis; Filene's, Boston; Macy's. Manhattan; Sanger's, Fort Worth; Smith-Kasson's, Cincinnati; Strawbridge & Clothier, Philadelphia.

Baltimore & Ohio R. R. filters, washes and cools air in trains between Manhattan and Washington, will soon put the equipment on its New York-Chicago diners. The Santa Fe has its transcontinental express diners air-conditioned. Pennsylvania has conditioned dining cars in service. The Chesapeake & Ohio this week installs a conditioner on its Washington-Ohio run.

This "next big industry" expects a billion-dollar market within five years. The widest market will be in small theatres, stores, offices, homes. Small portable humidifiers cost from $15 to $100. Air washers, humidifiers and blowers built as one unit average $300 to $500 installed. Mechanical refrigeration for cooling pushes the cost to about $1,000.

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