BOOTS FROM SEAWEED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9318, 19 August 1908, Page 2

BOOTS FROM SEAWEED.

• A CHEMIST'S ASTOUNDING INVENTION. The soles of policemen's boots made of goats' hair, eqaweed, dust and gum ! This is not a recipe from, " Alice in Wonderland," but, the composition of a substitute for leather, invented by Mr John Campbell, a chemist, long employed in the rubber trade, who resides at Wood Lane, Shepherd's Bush, London. Fourteen years ago Mr Campbell began experiments with old rubber, but these he discarded some time ago, and new he has perfected and patented a substance which, in a fluid-, pliable, or hard state, can be used for a very large variety of purposes. From seaweed, carpet dust, goata' hair, Irish moss, gums, and a chemical process which is his secret, Mr Camp-" bell has already made policemen's boots (outer fioles and heels), picture frames, ornamental mouldings (for railway carriages), partitions (to resemble wood), belting (for machinery)', upholstery, bobbins (ior cotton spinning), electric switchboards, ..flooring, golf balls, fountain pens, "marble in all colours, chess boards, book-bindings, "ivory" combe. ; Ah " Express" re present ativ-e visited the laboratory, which will shortly give place to a factory, aud examined many of the samples. " The product has been tested by policemen and postmen, and the soles and heelts are in good condition after nine months' wear," he said. "Two thousand feet of it are now in use as belting in machine shops, and the substance has been proved to be impervious to oils, acids, or atmospheric conditions. \ "It is absolutely non-inflammable. As it is made of waste products, the price is low, and being very light in weight it is specially suitable for railway purposes.' " I hope it will bo adopted fpr electrical apparatus. In its iiard state it is less tlian a quarter the price. " I obtain my seaweed from Devonshire, and the more expensive variety for the manufacture of marbles from Japan- Imitation marbles and woods, which can be turiifd out in any colour or design, arc made of seaweed, mess, carpet dust, gums and chemicals, hydniulically greased. " A beautiful marble floor can be ootuined by pouring the composite in a fluid fctato over v. floor and allowing it to set. The seaweed, which can be coloured or made to form any design, not only gives the effect of the veining shown in real marble, but the colour and veins go right through the material. "Any kind of wood can be imitated, «nd in its pliable state the substance can be used in the same mannor a 6 linoleum.'''