Abstract: A method of making electrical brushes from thousands of hair-like fibers comprises wetting the fibers to hold them together in a bundle, placing the bundle in a tube and reducing the opening in the tube to hold the fibers therein.

Abstract: A powdered metallurgical procedure for forming chromium copper contacts used in vacuum interrupters, wherein by adding a small amount of copper powder to the difficult-to-press chromium powder, superior pressed properties are attained and a resulting chromium compact having higher green strength is produced. By practicing the teaching of this invention, vacuum interrupter contacts can be pressed to complex shapes. It is desirable to have a vacuum interrupter contact having an approximately 50% chromium composition. The low compacting pressure necessary to produce a 40% to 60% chromium powder concentrations yields a compact having a very low green strength which cannot be ejected from a die without falling apart; by adding a small amount of copper powder to the chromium powder before pressing a compact having a much higher green strength, which can be readily handled, is obtained. Using the disclosed process a press to shape contact having a variable density can be attained.