Masonry Magazine October 1969 Page. 24
Roadrunner Crane Solves Problem
Handling 700 to 1,300-pound stone facing slabs calls for smooth, precise control to avoid damaging edges and speed erection. The Albany Crane Service of Albany, N. Y., solved this problem when it used a small self-propelled crane to spot stone facing on the front of the new municipal building in its capital city.
The Roadrunner, a 5-ton, self-propelled crane made by RO Products, Olathe, Kans., was chosen for the job, because in addition to its full-pressure, full-metering hydraulic controls which allow the operator extremely precise control of both speed and motion, the crane itself is extremely compact.
Only four feet wide in travel position, it was the only crane that had both the capacity to safely handle the stone slabs, and the maneuverability to move freely among stacked material on the roof. The smaller crane was also used to dismantle and lower the tower crane to the ground. For further details contact RO Products, Inc., 550 E. Highway 56, Olathe, Kans.
Glass Bricks Withstand Torture Test
A recent series of torture tests on solid glass bricks has confirmed what architects and building and masonry contractors have been finding out for several years. "This is practically indestructible," said Police Chief Leonard Villani, who supervised the tests.
Chief Villani and Captain George Maioli of the Bridgeville (Pa.) Police Department were given a panel of Pittsburgh Corning solid glass bricks brick and asked to destroy it by any means possible. The 250-lb. test panel consisted of 16 individual 8 x 8 in. solid glass bricks joined with mortar. Made of 3-in. thick glass, solid glass bricks are used in masonry construction particularly as a vandal proof window material.
The officers threw baseballs, rocks and even fire-bombs at the panel. None of the bricks could be broken. The firebombs left the panel smudged but undented. Wielding sledge hammers, the officers succeeded in inflicting surface damage but were unable to break any of the glass bricks even after repeated blows.
Solid glass bricks were introduced in 1956 by Pittsburgh Corning Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., as material for fallout shelters. They are the only solid glass masonry masonry units on the market, and are available in 5 x 5, 6 x 9 and 8 x 8-in. sizes.