Architecture - Construction - Design - Housing

Jun. 06, 1956 - Automixture In Building - Productivity Competition: A British product which speeds up building and reduces material and labour costs, equivalent to a saving of20 in a three-bedroom houses, was entered in a productivity race in London today, which was started by Lord Silkin of Dulwich. Two races were staged together, one between two equally skilled plasterers, the other between bricklayers. The former competed to see who could apply the greatest area of cement wall rendering in ten minutes, the latter to see who can lay more bricks in ten minutes. In each race new and traditional methods of mixing were in competition. The traditional mortar for bricklaying consists of 1 part cement, 1 part hydrated lime, 6 parts sand. One bricklayer used this mix and the other a mortar of 1 part cement, 6 parts of sand and the new material Feemix Admix. For the plasterwork the traditional mix of 1 part cement and 3 parts sand were opposed to a mix of 1 part cement to 6 parts of sand with Febmix Admix. This new product is a plasticiser which makes mortar spread faster and easier - hangs better together and retains it plasticity. The elimination of lime in mortar represents a saving as well as a revolution in building. Febmix Admix, the invention of Mr. A.G. Elliott of Feb (Great Britain) Ltd. has been successfully tested by the Building Research Centre, used in important contract work for Government departments and is being made available for export throughout the world. Photo shows Lord Silkin Of Dulwich, seen laying a brick to start the productivity competition today

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Apply Available Bricklayer Bricklayers Bricklaying Bricks Cement Competed Consists Contract Costs Departments Dulwich Easier Elimination Entered Equally Equivalent Export Faster Hangs Hydrated Latter Lime Methods Minutes Mixing Mortar Opposed Plasterers Plasterwork Productivity Reduces Rendering Represents Retains Saving Silkin Skilled Speeds Spread Staged Successfully Tested Throughout

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