Originally published in July 1914
“A French manufacturer makes its car bodies by a novel process of plastering—or maybe we should say modeling, because it requires more skill than that of the common plasterer. The framework of the car is made of wood, on which wire netting is tacked. Then the modeler begins operations with palette and trowel, daubing the wire netting with the plastic material. After the coating has set, it may be dressed down with a plane and sandpaper, just like wood. It is claimed for the new process that a very light and durable body is obtained.”
—Scientific American, July 1914
More gems from Scientific American’s first 175 years can be found on our anniversary archive page.
