20 OCTOBER 1923, Page 26

MATERIAL REVIEW.

A WHITE CEMENT.*

Ax invitation to a trade cinema show demonstrating certain uses of cement and the technicalities of stucco work (with lecture accompaniment) at eleven o'clock in the morning is just the kind that one accepts without enthusiasm or much intention of going. Mr. Coleman has, however, attracted good audiences to his Thursday lectures at the West End Cinema simply because he is a good showman of a good thing.

With cinema and slides he illustrated the different methods of applying cement rendering and stucco to slab or framed buildings so as to produce a variety of pleasant finishes. He showed too how ably the Americans exploit their concrete surfaces by washing away the cement film and exposing the stone aggregate—often multi-coloured and sparkling.

The actual application of the cement and the deft trowel work by the old plasterer " featured " in the film were a'

• The Adamite Co., Ltd. (Atlas White Non.Stalning Portland Cement), Regent. 'House, Regent Street, Loudon, W.I. delight to anyone with an eye for craftsmanship. But still more impressive was the quality of the buildings that are now being carried out in concrete and stucco in America, these materials being apparently given just as honourable employment as natural granite and freestone.

The use of a special white cement produced in America largely accounts for the high esteem in which cement products are held, as clear, clean colours as well as a glistening white are possible with such a basis. A large part of the prejudice against the use of cement in this country comes from the fact that the grey cement is ugly in itself and makes muddy any colour which is used with it. 'White cement can be used for garden statuary and ornament. The Adamite Company offer sculptors special'facilities -for experiment along these