ACETYLENE GAS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXIX, Issue 12287, 23 December 1897, Page 2

ACETYLENE GAS.

Sunlight at Night. In bis lower shop on Friday night (Christmas Eve) Mr A. D. Willis intends to exhibit, by means of a model generator, a couple of jets of acetylene gas, one ef the latest illuminants of the age: Mr Willis has been appointed local agent for the New Zealand Acetylene • Gas Company, of which' Mr W. Tyree, ot Nelson, ' is the managing director. ■ Acetylene is a hydrd-carbon gas. Speaking of ita illuminating power, Mr W. H. Walmealey, who we understand is an authority on the subject, and who, aooording to the British Journal Photographic 41manao, has devoted icnoh attention to It, says :— The quality of the light is simply perfect --"a chunk of ; sunlight," as some one has aptly termed it; It is, indeed,' daylight. The spectrum ia almost identical with that of the sun; the most delicate colours are unchanged beneath its rays; and can be as readily distinguished as by daylight. It is more diffused than ijny other other artif|oial illumihant, tbie comers of i, room beiug lighted equally with 'the immediate circle about the burners in its centra. For reading and writing it is idea'ly luxurious; brilliant but soft (when properly shaded) causing no feeling of weariness or discomfort from the most prolonged usuage. The flume, however, should not be gazed upon by the unprotected eye, being too brilliant for comfort or safety, and should always be shaded in some manner. The light being of suoh potency that a very small burner, consuming not over one. eighth cubic foot per hour, will give the light of twmty.five candles, it may be burned in a great variety of shapes and devices hithorto used only with eleotrio inoandescent lamps. No other illuminating gas can be thus used, and many new features in artistic lighting become possible with it." Continuing, the came; authority states: " Pare acetylene gas is not explosive, and cannot be made to explode under any oir« cumstances; but, if mixed with air in proper proportions, it will, in common with all other illuminating gases, explode with a violent detonation and destructive effeots." A most important feature in oonneo'ion with this gas is that it can be supplied to houses or business premises in towa or country on the principal of "one house one gas supply," so that every man oan make his own gas. A generator, rangiDg in size according to the amount of gas re. quired, a supply, of carbide, and the necessary piping and burners complete the outfit. On this point Mr Walmsley says " No skilled attendant is necessary. I can be set up and put in operation in five minutes, and dismantled in as many more. The light is absolutely steady, clear, uniform, white and satisfactory. Once started it requires no attention whatever until the olose of the exhibition. In short, it will prove (nay, even now is) a most formidable competitor of both lime and the electric arc. lights* the Welabac iDcandesoent gas light bears no comparispn with it, while as to the foul smelling and altogether unsatisfaotosy coaU oil lamp— it is a thing of the paat, dfead be* yoncl resurrection. Mr Willis, who has taken a considerable amount of interest in the matter, is confident that acetylene will be the light of the very near future, and from a private exhibition of the model he has scoured, we should say ha had some very good grounds for his confidence The model can be put in full working order in less than two minutes, and provides two beautifully clear lights. However, our readers will be able to judge for themselves to-morrow evening, when the generator wiU be pubholyexhibUecli *