The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-12
Manufacture OF Gutta Percha.


THE HUDsoN CoMpANY's WoRKs.-Among the
many recent and important discoveries that have
been made, are gutta percha and its application
10 various useful purposes. The article was hrst
introduced by DIR. w Montgomerie into England.
When on Guty at Singapore, assistant surgeon
to the English resdcncy there-himself an Eng
l.shman-he frat heard of the substance by acci.
dent, bat, making further inquiry, obtained
no definite inforrnation concerning It's properties.
Some time afterwards he observed piece OF II in
the hands of Malayan, which he procured, and
on investigation, was not long in discovering it's
many valuable qualities. No sooner was the dis
covcry known in En- gland than a large company
OF capitalists commenced manufacturing it into va
rious shapes.
Gutta percha is like India rubber, procured from
tree, but differs materially, in many particulars,
from this latter substance. The manner in which
it is extracted from the tree by the Malays is very
simple The tree is first cut down, after which in
cisions made in the bark at intervals of from
twelve TO eighteen inches apart, being pre-
viously taken to place under each mark or ncision
vessel for the reception Of the greyish white gum
| or gutta, which eIudes from the pores in large
quantities.
| As this method of procuring gutta would, in the
end result in the entire destruction of the percha.
tree, which Ia Of very slow growth, better plan
has been adopted Tor extracting the gum, by ring
ing the living tree which is generally about sixty
seventy feet in height, and two to three feet in
diameter, when 1t has attained its full size When
first extracted the gutta has smell closely
bling that Of leather which, however, disappears
when has been once reduced by the manufacturing
process Its great and valuable peeuarity is, that
by immersion in water at a temperature of one
hundred and fifty degrees Fahrenheit it is render
cd plastic AZ to be capable Of being moulded to
any shape or form, which is retained upon cooling.
Instead, however, Of expanding under the action Of
water at boiling temperatur, 1t, contrary to the
usual laws of heat, contracts both in length and
breadth
1t time after the use Of this article had
been generally established in England that one of
en,erprislng citizens, Mr.. Sam'l L. Armstrong,
of this city, determined introduce its manufac-
ture into this country. Making the necessary ar.
rangements with the English company first, he
applied himself to the construction Of the machine
ry required in its manufacture.
About three years ago. the mandatory in Wa
ter street, Brooklyn, but ehort distance from the
ferry was erected and the machinery put in order
The building is about hundred feet in length
by forty in depth, and s divided into three depart
ments. At the rear OF the building several cold
and hot water watts in which the guta ia frat cleared
Of its impurities by course of waahings
II Ia sent to the man factory from the mill where
1t has been subjected TO the process of mastcation
and packed in bale5 after the manner of cotton
When taken from the vats or tanks, it is placed in
what is termed grinding mills, which, in sha De,
strongly resemble those machines composed of two
heavy cylinders, used for crushing and refining su-
gar. The cylinders, which heated by steam
through the means of small connecting tubes or
pipes, can be removed to any required distance from
each other Through these the gutta is passed, and,
as 1t Is taken out IN thin sheets, all the impurities
consisting OF pieces Of bark and other foreign
stance, 10 shaken oil with case, 1t is now consid-
cred ht for all the purposes Of manufacture.
We should not forget 10 state that while passing
through It's hr-t stages Of publication in the vats
alkalis, Consisting lime and potash are mixed
with the water in which it is cleanscd. Beside the
grinding mill just mentioned, there are rolling
ullls Tor making bands or straps for driving ma
chlnery. Large masses of the gutta placed
between these rollers, which be easily adjusted
so as 10 give the required breadth and thickness 10
the band which passes along movable apron sew
erA ieet long, al the termination Of which il has
become cool enough TO admit Of Its being rolled up.
Hands OF any length may be thus obtained superior
TO those formed Of leather; either regards dura-
bility or strength. and having no Jennings.
The process by which pipes made is no less
simple than that of making bands. Large pieces
OF guttai having previously been thoroughly masd-
Gated aud purified, are placed in metal cylinder
Of the required dimensions, furnished with piston
which presses 1t down into an air. box heated by
steam. This box has at its lower end a number of
periOrauon-l somewhat like those in n colander,
through which the gutta is forced into receiving
bowl or cup. From this II again passss round a
core OF metal placed fairly in the centre of cyln
DER and coming cut into the desired tubular form,
1t II drawn through a cold water receiver, by
person IA attendance on the machine, completely
hardened hy this last process, and fit for all pur-
poses To which II may be applied. Thes, tub s, ar
estimation may be made OF any diameter or length,
have been found entirely suecessiul conduits,
and will, no doubt in course Of time, supecsedo
the present Ioa pipes, NJ the gutta IL entirely inn
peryicUs 10 water and resists the action of acioM
aAd fixed oiis
The manner in which bottle. are made of il IL
very simple. The gutts, il is passed in tubular
icTln through the cylinder, Is cut off in equal
lengths according ~ the size OF the articles re
CURED, and placed in an iron mould. pipe ia then
inserted inio the neck Of the mould, through which
cold is forced by pump, the hydraulic pres
sure thus distending the gutts TO the dimensions OF
the mould. The impression made Ia retained with
wonderful accuracy. As a conductor OF sound II
has been found to be superior to the tin speaking
pipes at prt sent in in large buildings, ii
ycys with perfect di-tincncss the slightest tones
Of the voice, to the distance Of three quarters Of
mile. IL will not. oxidize, like metals, and may
be employed substitute in numerous cases
where brass, iron, lead, tin, and leather used.
But as perfect repclant TO all marine vermin, so
destructive To vessels in southern seas invaoa
bic inside sheaihing for ships, buoys and bes-
cons, and all the various parts Of rigging.
II would bo a task of no little difficulty to enume-
rate the various TO which gutta pcrcha may
| be applied. We have some picture frames
cornices, mouldings, and other architectural orna-
/ mcnts, made from At, which were not inferior 10
those carved from wood or moulded in stucco.
For the manufacture Of the following articles il
has been found superior 10 the materiaL and sub
! stance, used: Machine belts and bands, gas
and water pipes, spcaking-pipes, the Insulating Of
elcgraphc wires, saddlss and harness OF all kinds
| trays, fancy boxes, tables, pumps, boxes, and
valves, book binding vellum, balls, water proof
/ roofing, inkstands, drinking cups, canes, whips
tiasks hats, caps, boots, shoes. clothing, dccora-
tons for houses and ship cabins chairs, lining for
bread casks Tor sea voyages alr-ught couns, I'm.
ing for water tanks, powder kegs for the transport
Of powder in water, soda fountains, gssorne-
tiers, bottles, pictures, and looking glass frames.
But az an agent in surgery, for binding wounds
and an application foS fractures, broken limbs
&c. II is deemed by those medical gentlemen who
have tested its virtues in these particulars ne in
valuable. $50 well does II mould itaelf To every
snuosity," says n celebrated surgeon ''thst it ia
more like giving the patient a new bone than
mere support."-N. Y Eosning Post.
| A Nnw ARTICLE or rCoNNEHcE.-Hsrring . Palm
Kernel Oh-Pam oil, II is well known, is an i'm.
| portant article Of commerce, and IL produced in