The Luxfer Lighting Specialities.

A description of these specialities as exemplified in the Australian Parlour of the Franco-British Exhibition, of which we present an illustration, is of general interest. Messrs. H. Brooks & Co. write to us:—These products for introducing daylight into dark interiors have taken their position in the front rank of useful and valuable inventions, and have revolutionised the whole science of lighting buildings where there is limited access to daylight. All systems of lighting by "Reflected" daylight are being rapidly superseded by the Luxfer method, which is based primarily upon the laws of refraction and by which deep, dark rooms and basements may be flooded with daylight. Luxfer Prisms increase the daylight in a room from 5 to 25 times. They can be fixed in window sashes, transoms, stall boards, and canopies.

The Luxfer Roof Glazing is self-supporting in lengths of up to 10ft. between purlins. It combines simplicity, strength and durability. They are made in steel bars galvanised, or entirely lead covered, and we can supply bars to meet any and every requirement in connection with roof glazing, and the gratifying success with which they have been received by architects and engineers in England, where some of the largest car-sheds and generating stations have had them fixed, has encouraged us to put these more prominently before the architects of New Zealand, and we may say that we have two very large orders in hand at the present time.

LUXFER FIRE RESISTING GLASS.—A good deal of interest is now taken in fire resisting glazing. Among the many advantages usually considered in working fireproof buildings, a most important and most fundamental is obtained by so constructing the building is to make it "slow burning."

It may be asked, how can buildings be made "slow burning," if they are always to contain combustible material? A fire cannot burn without a current of air. If the fire is confined it is smothered, and this is the only way to make buildings "slow burning." In order to stop the spread of fire in the community, there is something more necessary than heavy brick walls, for the wall is almost never unbroken. It is cut up by windows, by light wells and areas of various widths, and it is through these openings that the fires usually spread. This happens not only in the case of light-wells, light courts and areas, but even across wide streets. In the case of the Lambton quay fire, the most serious of recent conflagrations in Wellington, the fire passed over an entirely open street with fearful effect.

THE LUXFER ELECTRO GLAZED WINDOW prevents the leaping of fire from building to building. It will resist heat until the glass begins to melt; it remains in position until the sash has burnt away. It is admirably adapted to complete and make perfect the fire-proof wall.

LUXFER ART GLASS—The important feature in this new process of electro glazing is that the deposited metal is so intimately connected with the edges of the glass that the copper and the glass become practically welded together, making the plate so strong that Saddle Bars may be entirely dispensed with. In addition to this, it is neater and more finished than any lead-light work.

We have lately put two very fine domes in Wellington, one for the National Bank of New Zealand, Ltd., and the other on the Bank of New South Wales, along with a very large quantity other Luxfer glazing. We have also the prospect of erecting three other very fine domes, two in Wellington and one in Auckland. The domes and other Luxfer art glass we have recently put in in the buildings in Wellington have been very much admired, as they are more artistic than anything that has ever been done in lead-light work, and have been a revelation of elegance and neatness to those who have seen them. Besides these features, they are fireproof and daylight distributing.

LUXFER PAVEMENT LIGHTS.—Since we have introduced these goods into New Zealand, we have found a steadily increasing demand for them. They are made ion more scientific principles, and therefore reflect more light than any others. The prisms are totally different and much superior, and taking them all round, there is nothing to approach them for light-giving qualities. The No. 46 MULTI PRISM is scientifically constructed to throw the light clear of the prism immediately in front of it, and therefore prisms can be put in every pocket, thus securing an enormously increased result. These No. 46 lenses are fixed in with cement, and no iron work at all shows on the surface. They thus present an absolutely smooth and non-slippable surface to walk on, and are a great improvement to any other pavement light on the market.

Any information can be obtained from Robert Martin, Ltd., agents, Wellington.