After the war , the sun will power our homes .
After the war , we ’ll haveplastic skyscrapers and frozen dinners .
After the war , life will be streamlined .
The June 24 , 1945 San Antonio Express ran an article by Associated Press science writer Frank Carey that looked at the futurist post - war products Americans were being promised . dissect a Labor Department report , Carey describes what it would take , with the terminal of the war , for these product to see the light of day .
I ’m most connive by the article ’s affirmative mindset on plastics , “ … and years after the war , we may even see automobile body made whole of charge plate . ” However , the report acknowledges that charge card ’s in high spirits price does n’t make it quite yet free-enterprise withsteel . Magnesium , plywood , atomic number 13 .. it ’s fascinating to await at what the great unwashed of the 1940s call back the future would be construct upon .
Carey ’s intact clause is below , but I ’ll leave you with one word about the future : plastics .
Dresses made of aluminum interlock …
Bathtubs made of plywood …
Transparent refrigerators made of plastics …
Automobiles with magnesium engine and organic structure parts …
Such visionary product of the post - war world are either in the design or experimental stage , or they ’re being talked about as possibilities .
But the extent to which they might follow into consumption depends upon various component . Not the least is the dollar house .
give-and-take of the post - war mind-set for such war - developed material as polastics , aluminium , magnesium , plywood and synthetic natural rubber , is contained in a report made by the Department of Labor ’s bureau of statistics to the Senate subommittee on state of war mobilization .
The latter group , a make of the Senate military affair citizens committee , describe the report as “ the first comprehensive statement of wartime developments . ”
The extent to which these raw materials will be generally take on is difficult to foretell , ” says the written report .
“ It is apparent that many of them will get hold larger grocery store than in the pre - war epoch menstruum , but it is also nigh certain that not all of the facilities built during the war for the production of these material will be call for . compare of costs of various materials , which have not been of the greatest signifcance during the war , will again become important when peace take . ”
And the report adds :
“ The costs of production for these newer materials will be influenced not only by purely economic factors but by many political consideration .
“ Of basal grandness will be the policy follow in the disposition of regime - owned adroitness . For some materials , notably synthetic rubber , much will depend on the policies assume with obedience to foreign trade .
“ Many of the young material will contend with each other as well as the older materials for finicky use — for example , plastics , aluminum , magnesium , and plywood . ”
The Labor Department ’s coup d’oeil into the future was part of a comprehensive study of some 1400 technological development made in various fields during wartime .
Of plastic , this picture was give :
particular timber of plastics , such as transparentness and impedance to chemic action , will fit them for varied enjoyment in industry , the research laboratory and the rest home . go along use of plastic for structural parts and other articles in aircraft and car is expected .
And years after the war , we may even see car soundbox made entirely of plastics .
On the other hand —
“ The future of the charge plate industry will be rule largely by economical constituent , ” says the report . “ The price per pound of most plastics remains higher than that of many materials with which plastics compete .
“ Despite the fact that article of plastics are usually light than those of metal and that economies may be affected in assembly , the price first derivative between credit card and , for example , blade is so great as to discourage big - scale of measurement substitution .
“ There nevertheless remains a the great unwashed of applications in which plastics are highly economical , because of special property not elsewhere attainable or because of heavy economy in lying time and cost .
The story points out that the product of Al and magnesium expanded hugely during wartime and tell both textile may follow into greater use in the future .
While the annual production of atomic number 12 before 1939 was 4,000,000 pounds , production in 1943 was 368,000,000 pounds and the nation has production capacity for much more .
indicate uses for aluminum , the theme says , are for buses , automobiles , rider ships and for the manufacturing of house appliances , article of furniture , bicycles and burial caskets . But most uses , it adds , “ are contingent upon a suitable modification of the Leontyne Price of aluminum comparative to that of unsullied blade , plastics , magnesium or other vie materials . ”
Desings have been get up for automobiles with much aluminum in locomotive engine and body , “ but the large - scale program of these designs will probably have to wait further development of inexpensive aggregative - production method of act with the alloy . ”
The outlook for plyboard in the post - war domain “ is promising ” says the study , but it , too , will have to cope with challenger . ”
Among possible usance are individual plane , lightweight corner - cars , prefabricated volaille houses and machine bodies .
This Emily Price Post primitively appeared atPaleofuture.com .
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