INDUSTRIES FAIR

Hokitika Guardian, 30 March 1935, Page 6

INDUSTRIES FAIR

MANY NEW BRITISH GOODS

AN UNUSUAL DISPLAY

LONDON, March 25

Her Majesty the Queen has set an example to the buyers, to the world and Ims paid three visits to the British Industries Fair.. These tours have coveiCd many miles. On two days she visited Olympia and on a third the White City, whore the fabrics arc" displayed. Nearly 140,000 foreign buyers are expected. The fair is the biggeet of its kind ever held in the world, exceeding the record display of last year by 9 per cent. Some idea of its size and of the great range of exhibits, which cover 12 acres, is given by the following facts: —

Twenty-one miles of canvas, six feet wide, are needed to cover the 1072 stands; 161 miles of electric wiring and 15,000 lights hav e been installed; 20,000 workmen have been employed in building and equipping the stands; the jewellery alone has been insured for £250,000; 'the furniture section covers double the area occupied by the entire fair 20 years ago. The section which occupies the largest space at Olympia is that devoted to toys and games, an industry which has been obliged by German and Japanese competition to use its originality and efficiency to the utmost. Although in many respects toy-makers are leaving little to the ingenuity of the young people, there are firms who recognise that the toy most appreciated is that which requires to be constructed or reconstructed by the owner. Special attention may callto a new line in constructing material. In this the lad is supplied with a machine for cutting iron, for shaping it to an angle, and for riveting pieces together. Then the lengths of metal and the angle lengths are supplied at a reasonable price. With the machines he can cut out and shape his material, and join them together just according to his fancy.

There is fireproof porcelain entirely heat-resisting. This section has the distinction of including what is probably the most beautiful exhibit at Olympia—six pieces of Spode dinner service, white and deep strawberry red, resting by themselves in a lighted window against a pale beige background. Novelties •in jhe toilet section include a non-spill face powdrr box; a floating bath thermometer; bath milk instead of salts; shaving brush with massage device; differently coloured sponges for each member of the family.

In the fancy goods section there is the marble reproduced on plywood by a process similar to photogravure and coloured bv a now synthetic lacquer.

There is a briar pipe which has a mouth piece with a “flat bite” arid palate rest, which removes strain from the teeth. A very delightful effect is obtained by a process of hand painting inside safety glass. The plies of glass are fixed together merely by creating a vacuum, and once so fixed can never ho taken apart. The painted figure inside therefore, is permanently protected.

In the printing, stationery, and office equipment section there ore many novelties. A Hew type of pencil has been evolved which contains enough lead to last thi*ee years on the basis of average use. Then? is the fountain brush-pen which enables the user to write or draw a stroke of several colours at the same tiirte, thus not having to wait for one colour to dry before applying the next. There is a rotary producer which does not use inks or stencils, and will reproduce any drawn, handwritten or typed document instantly in several colours at one operation. Scientific instrument makers yearly

improve in their work and reap the trade that previously went to foreign countries. There are lenses, for instance, for microscopes which are actually smaller than tlv? head of the shortest pin, and the curves are worked to an accuracy of 1-250,000 of a millimetre. There are balances used by chemists which are easily accurate to a three-millionth part of an ounce. So delicate are they that the difference

in weight of signatures on visiting cards can be determined. Then there are instruments for measuring irregularly shaped areas of plans, giving accuracy to the, minutest part of an acre. These instruments were previously made abroad. A camera that takes ordinary snapshots on moving pictures, and will also project them on to a screen has been invented and is to cost £2 10s. There is also a camera for instantaneous colour photography described as the first complet'dv practical instrument to be invented.