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Dark Crystal: The Secrets of Swarovski

atlasobscura.com

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Re: Dark Crystal: The Secrets of Swarovski

#31

Post by knodi123 »

exarch wrote: post #30
knodi123 wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Went on a double date with another guy who was a PhD chemist. He made an offhanded remark about glass being a liquid, and trotted out that saw about ancient cathedral windows being thicker at the bottom. I explained that that was actually untrue, and explained the crown glass method, and that a small percentage of those panes are thicker at the top . He just gave me this scornful glance and said "I've got a doctorate…

The (scientist approved) test for determining basic matter phases is very rudimentary. Put the object/quantity in question in a can. Does it fill the whole space of the can, no matter what size can you use? Then it's a gas. Does it fill just the bottom of the can? Then it's a liquid. Does it instead retain its shape? Then it's a solid.

The urban legend says that it's like pitch; if you put it in the can, it will slowly fill the bottom of the can, but it will take many centuries since it flows so slowly.

This is not true, but it means your test would not convince anybody of anything.

Re: Dark Crystal: The Secrets of Swarovski

#32

Post by gwern »

eonw wrote: post #21
MoOmer wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apparently Pyrex is no longer borosilicate.

aren't pyrex and swarovski just patented 'recipes' for making glass?

Patents run out. Swarovski presumably is keeping it as a trade secret, which is riskier but probably far more profitable in the long run (especially if they've managed to keep the core secrets this long).

Re: Dark Crystal: The Secrets of Swarovski

#33

Post by stared »

smsm42 wrote: post #27
stared wrote: post #15

When looking at Wikipedia ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Swarovski ) I got some (possibly) conflicting information - that he was Jewish and an avowed Nazi party member. Especially given that some of the last edits looks unencyclopedic - could anyone more knowlegeble look at it and fix it? (I have tried to look at German Wikipedia and there was reference to Nazi party but not to Jewish roots, so the former loo…

There were people of Jewish descent that served in Wehrmacht, including in pretty high positions[1]. The service also protected from some of the anti-Jewish abuse initially, and some people of Jewish descent both felt much more connection to German service (even after Nazis took over it) than their Jewish roots, and were too useful, so Goering was noted to say "I am deciding who is Jewish and who is not". Also there'…

I am not saying its not impossible, but that unlikely things need strong backing (as of now, Wikipedia links to a single newspaper article on this matter).

Re: Dark Crystal: The Secrets of Swarovski

#34

Post by acqq »

Pyxl101 wrote: post #6

Submarine advertising? http://www.paulgraham.com/submarine.html "Swarovski, who celebrates its 120-year anniversary this year, is a steward of a centuries-old Bohemian tradition, making use of natural resources in the Czech Republic and Austria. It’s a phenomenally innovative design studio and an impressively creative chemical laboratory, all in one. And, of course, it’s the beneficiary of absolutely genius marketing…

And posted by the HN user whose only purpose is posting the atlasobscura links.

Re: Dark Crystal: The Secrets of Swarovski

#35

Post by stefs »

stared wrote: post #15

When looking at Wikipedia ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Swarovski ) I got some (possibly) conflicting information - that he was Jewish and an avowed Nazi party member. Especially given that some of the last edits looks unencyclopedic - could anyone more knowlegeble look at it and fix it? (I have tried to look at German Wikipedia and there was reference to Nazi party but not to Jewish roots, so the former loo…

the german version doesn't tell much more.

practically: "the swarovski family were avowed national socialists. swarovski joined the NSDAP before the annex when the party was still illegal."

the references though! there is one longer article titled: "in line with the NSDAP: the swarovski business in the time of national socialism".

there's no mention of him being of jewish origin neither in the german version of the wikipedia page nor in the referenced article.

Re: Dark Crystal: The Secrets of Swarovski

#36

Post by stared »

stefs wrote: post #35
stared wrote: post #15

When looking at Wikipedia ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Swarovski ) I got some (possibly) conflicting information - that he was Jewish and an avowed Nazi party member. Especially given that some of the last edits looks unencyclopedic - could anyone more knowlegeble look at it and fix it? (I have tried to look at German Wikipedia and there was reference to Nazi party but not to Jewish roots, so the former loo…

the german version doesn't tell much more. practically: "the swarovski family were avowed national socialists. swarovski joined the NSDAP before the annex when the party was still illegal." the references though! there is one longer article titled: "in line with the NSDAP: the swarovski business in the time of national socialism". there's no mention of him being of jewish origin neither in the german version of the w…

So I reverted this edit.

Re: Dark Crystal: The Secrets of Swarovski

#37

Post by exarch »

knodi123 wrote: post #31
exarch wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The (scientist approved) test for determining basic matter phases is very rudimentary. Put the object/quantity in question in a can. Does it fill the whole space of the can, no matter what size can you use? Then it's a gas. Does it fill just the bottom of the can? Then it's a liquid. Does it instead retain its shape? Then it's a solid.

The urban legend says that it's like pitch; if you put it in the can, it will slowly fill the bottom of the can, but it will take many centuries since it flows so slowly. This is not true, but it means your test would not convince anybody of anything.

It should be convincing, because the test specifies a time limit in the range of a couple of minutes.

Re: Dark Crystal: The Secrets of Swarovski

#38

Post by eonw »

gwern wrote: post #32
eonw wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

aren't pyrex and swarovski just patented 'recipes' for making glass?

Patents run out. Swarovski presumably is keeping it as a trade secret, which is riskier but probably far more profitable in the long run (especially if they've managed to keep the core secrets this long).

without their amazing marketing ability, having the same glass really isnt that useful, so i guess trade secret does make more sense in this light.
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