October 25, 1939
Mr. E. B. Coe
Rte. 3, Bx. 37
Visalia, California
Dear Mr. Coe:
A thin coating of silver, applied with the usual silvering solution, will convert a piece of glass into a semi-transparent mirror which behaves like a mirror when viewed from the side which is brightly-lighted but which is transparent when viewed from the dark side.
The new process of coating mirrors with aluminum does not involve painting but instead vaporization of aluminum in a vacuum.
I trust this supplies the information you desire.
Very truly yours,
Linus Pauling
LP/jr