VOA常速英语2015--耐热玻璃器皿诞生100周年（在线收听）

耐热玻璃器皿诞生100周年

One hundred years ago, a new brand of kitchenware named Pyrex entered the American market, firmly imprinting its name into the psyche of consumers. It is still being manufactured while the early models are now collectors’ items.

The characteristic sound of putting the lid on a Pyrex dish is recognizable to many, as it can be heard in kitchens all over the world.

将盖子盖在硬质耐热玻璃盘子上这种特有的声音地很多人来说都很熟悉，全世界的厨房里都能听到这个声音。

Heat resistant glass was invented in Germany at the end of the 19th century, but was used mostly in lanterns and in jars to hold telegraph and telephone batteries.

耐热玻璃是19世纪末在德国发明的，但当时主要用于灯笼和盛放电报、电话电池的罐子。

Its usefulness as cookware was discovered by accident. A scientist from the Corning Glass Works manufacturing company in New York brought his wife a sawed-off battery jar made of the so-called borosilicate glass, resistant to heat and mechanical abuse.

耐热玻璃做厨具是偶然发现的，纽约康宁玻璃制造公司的一名科学家给妻子带了一个用所谓硼硅酸盐玻璃制作的蓄电池壳，能耐热和机械冲击。

“She proceeded to bake a cake, a sponge cake, in this battery jar. And she discovered that the baking was much more efficient, and much more even than baking in ceramic or metal was.”

“她就用这个蓄电池壳烘焙了一个海绵蛋糕，然后发现这样的烘焙效果更好，甚至比在瓷器和金属器皿里做的更好。”

Kelley Elliott, of the Corning Museum of Glass says that when it finally appeared on the market in 1915, Pyrex dishware became an instant hit.

康宁玻璃博物馆的凯利·艾略特说，当硬质玻璃厨具于1915年最终面市时，很快就成为抢手货。

At first, dishes were made of clear glass, but the company soon started offering it in colors popular at that time.

最初，盘子都是由透明玻璃制成的，但该公司很快生产了颜色盘子，当时就流行起来了。

Owner of the vintage homeware shop Aunt Katie’s Attic, in Scotia, New York, Kate Halasz, said these retro-colored dishes are much sought-after among collectors.

纽约复古家具用品店凯蒂“阿姨的阁楼”的老板凯特·豪洛斯说，这种复古的彩色盘子是收藏家们追逐的对象。

“It's kind of crazy! But the popular patterns are the pinks, the turquoises," said Halasz. "The friendship pattern is a pattern that came out in the 70s. That's highly collectible.”

“是有点疯狂，但流行的图案是粉色和青绿色，70年代生产的那种图案很有收藏价值。”

Because it is not affected by temperature changes, borosilicate glass is also being used for astronomical instruments, such as the 5.1 meter telescope mirror at Mount Palomar Observatory.

由于硼硅玻璃不受气温变化的影响，所以也被用在天文仪器上，比如马山天文台上5.1米的望远镜反射镜。

As for Pyrex dishes, they are still being manufactured by companies that bought the rights to this recognizable brand name.

这家生产出这个知名品牌的公司现在仍在生产这种耐热盘子。