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oo i oo | SO Page A15, October 17, 1979 - North Shore News

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"WASHINGTON (UPI) -
Some. sompanies: might ‘not
admit it, but-a noted chemist
and inventor says serendipity

plays. a major ‘role jin the... . a wT SE Sg Ee 7 ee =
discovery: of..new- products co

‘peullins  minesouP QUALITY .. vosy SELECTION .. vey VALUE «25 ee 7
‘He's: concerned that - the. : = - - . rn ~ . ALWAYS THE BEST FOR THE PRICE!

trend toward specialization:
and: ‘increased reliance on . . ; oo : Se - . ceo
‘computers in. modern in- , ene :
* dustrial laboratories might"

reduce. the chance that

someone will. accidentally . . ‘ —— Lote _

stumble _ across something ‘ -

valuable. . . =
; DELUXE DINING TABLE

“Inventors who specialize
in one area are inclined to AND CHAIR SET .
observe only those Classic Danish, styling “in dining
developments related to elegance, this teak and tile table has
their. research,” says Dr. removable drop leaves (not shown), —
John J. D'Amico. “What and a‘selection of tile patterns. Four a = :
they don’t realize is that the matching chairs in a high quality, -¢€ pe ie el a7 ag
worthless... mousetrap-.they- ‘heavy weave fabric complete with | oe _ on me
just built could actually be the set.Previously offered at $1769. |

the best potato masher ever
developed.”

' Take penicillin, for - ;

example. D'Amico. told 4 TECUM PRICE NOW
recent. meeting of the
American Chemical Society
. that physicist John Tyndall
casually noted in 1895 that a
‘certain bluish-green- mold
had an anti-bacterial action.

t
i
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i
ea

Scottish —bacteriologist — a a

' Alexander Fleming made the | MATCHING SIDEBOARD, a ..
same observation almost 50 HUTCH, AND ; :

years later. The difference ADDITIONAL CHAIRS
was that Fleming recognized’ ayay ABLE AT

that he had _ discovered ;
something, and the result _ SIMILAR SAVINGS

was the widely used an- | . ,
tibiotic. -

a
age

D'Amico, who ‘works for - 7
the Monsanto Co. in St. ae a
. Louis, said. other inventors _ ; ot 7 oF .
were quick to recognize a . ae . .
lucky development _ when oe . , . .
they saw it. .

In 1839, Charles
Goodyear accidentally
dropped a glob of rubber and
sulfur on a stove, ruining an
experiment aimed at making

‘rubber more versatile. But
the rubber happened to cook
into a substance that wasn't
brittle at low temperatures
and didn’t soften at higher
temperatures. Goodyear
called the accidental process
vulcanization and a new
industry was launched.

DOMINO TEAK
WALL SYSTEM

8 feet of imported wail with style,
quality, and function. As shown
made up of 4 foot modules, this
system also offers 2 foot modules
and glass door options. Previously
offered at $1109.

TECUM PRICE NOW

A physician turned
chemist, Joseph C. Patrick,
was trying to make a cheaper
antifreeze in 1926. He failed,
but D'Amico said “one
sticky, smelly mess he
produced hardened into one
of the first useful varieties of
synthetic rubber”.

Another accident was
Teflon, the non-stick coating
for cookwear. In 1938,
DuPont chemist Roy
Plunkett, trying to make an
improved refrigerant, filled
several cylinders of various
mixtures of gases and stored
them in dry ice. The gases in
one cylinder had formed a
white waxy solid that didn't
dissolve in conventional
solvents or react to extreme
temperatures. Teflon was
discovered.

o

D'Amico said some U |
companies go to. cxtra
lengths to make sure the ,
fruits of serendipity aren't , a
overlooked.

FURNITURE CO.
“No one denies that the a Open a Tecum Teak Charge Account or use your MasterCharge or Chargex
kind of luck that brings new
things to light will continue 588 Rand Ave. 13774 - 104th Ave. 1950 Blanchard St.
to play a big part in the story Vancouver 261-3187 Surrey 684-1947 Victoria 382-7238
f ti i d
women cameo! Hlorth Wanceuver ...............-

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