Boots Made Out of Seaweed.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 5, 29 July 1908, Page 41

Boots Made Out of Seaweed.

The soles of policemen’s boots made of goat’s-hair, seaweed, 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 Woodlane, Shepherd’s Bush, London. Fourteen years ago Mr. Campbell began experiments - with, old rubber, but these he discarded some time ago, and now he has perfected and patented a substance whicK, in a fluid, pliable, or hard state, can be used for a very large variety of purposes. From seaweed, carpet dust, goat’s-hair, Irish mpss, gums, and a chemical process which is his secret, Mr. Campbell has already made the following astonishing list of commodities: — Policemen’s boots (outer soles and heels), picture frames, Ornamental mouldings (for railway carriages), Partitions (to resemble wood), belting (for machinery), upholstery, bobbins (for cotton spinning), electric switchboards, flooring, golf balls, fountain pens, “marble” in all colours, chess-boards, bookbindings, “ivory” combs. An “Express” representative visited the laboratory, which will shortly give place to a factory, and examined many of the samples. Mr. Campbell makes no startling claims for his invention, and admits that his composite is not equal to materials of the highest quality, but he says that in the case of leather, for instance, it produces an excellent for instance, it provides an excellent which could not bear the price of the best hides. “The product has been tested by policemen and postmen, and the soles and heels 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 bo 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 be adopted for electrical apparatus. In its hard state it

is a good substitute for vulcanite, and is less than a quarter of 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 turned out in any colour or design, are made of seaweed, moss, carpet dust, gums, and chemicals, hydraulically pressed.

“A beautiful marble floor can be obtained by pouring the composite in a fluid state over a 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, and in its pliable state the substance can be used in the same manner as linoleum.” JX JX