Light and strong, aluminum historically has been considered one heavy metal. Abundant but lodged in the Earth's crust and virtually unreachable, the element had to be isolated before it could be removed. This occurred around 1845, and the metal finally showed its shiny, exotic face at the Paris Exhibition of 1855. Thirty-one years later, electrolytic extraction made for large-scale aluminum removal and subsequent use of the substance in a variety of portable, decorative, and military objects. By the Twenties industrial designers adopted the metal, and it invaded the home in the form of streamlined toasters, chairs, vacuum cleaners, and more. Between the world wars the corrosion-resistant metal became more widespread, utilized in trains, trailers,... More >>>