JF Ptak Science Books  Quick Post

[Source: Scientific American Supplement, August 31, 1918]

There’s an unusual article in the August 31, 1918 issue of the Scientific American Supplement on the economics of recycling.  This recycling, however, was goods of war, and with that, mostly regarding the re-use of artillery casings. Since there were millions and millions used, that is millions of pounds of brass, which means there were also millions of pounds of copper. Seeing that copper was so much in use in so many other areas, it was established to recover as many casings as possible.  

[Source: Scientific American Supplement, August 31, 1918]

Recycling was important because as the article points out the expense of the war was limitless, while the economics of the countries involved were not–hence, the recycling.  And as we can see int eh photos accompanying the article, the supply for recycling was mountainous.  Curiously there was no mention of the women performing a bunch of these tasks even though they are prominently displayed in the photos–perhaps by this point in the war, fours years on and just a couple of months from ending–the role of women in reserve and the home front was already deeply established enough to let a particular mention of them go unmentioned.  

[Source: Scientific American Supplement, August 31, 1918]