Tuesday 14 September 2021

Found on the Folly - Interesting Jeppe History - Can Glass be wired?

Yes, it can !!😁 I found this interesting glass shard on the Folly.

Piece of Georgian Wired Glass.  The wire mesh is actually embedded.

Initially I thought that this glass shard (with a square pattern) was a broken piece from a vintage fridge rack.

It is actually wired glass (safety glass).

Wired glass (sometimes referred to as Georgian wired glass or GW glass) was patented by Frank Shuman in 1892.  Wired glass typically has a grid size of around 12.5mm and is used as a low-cost fire resistant glass in which the wire holds the glass in place if high temperature causes it to break.

An example of wired glass

Frank Suman also built the world's first solar thermal power station in Egypt



Ironically they called it safety glass, it is actually very dangerous and the use banned in some countries

Dangers of Safety Glass

"American television broadcast company CBS reported on the dangers of wired glass during an evening news show, mentioning an aspiring basketball player who, after attempting to block a shot, ran straight into a wired glass window and put his hand through it. His injuries subsequently ended his basketball career as he lost the full use of his hand."

I'm not sure where this glass was used at Jeppe Boys in the past.  Luckily I haven't seen it anywhere else on the property.


Click on the links below to read more about the history of wired glass and the dangers.

Sources:

Kefallinos_kk2769_HP_Thesis_2013%20(1).pdf

ttps://sashwindowspecialist.com/blog/history-patterned-window-glass/

https://sashwindowspecialist.com/blog/history-patterned-window-glass/

https://tbspoly.com/alternatives-to-georgian-wired-glass/

https://www.glassonweb.com/article/shattering-myth-wired-glass

https://idighardware.com/2013/01/addressing-the-hazards-of-traditional-wired-glass/

https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/586593920197619090/                                

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