The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-12-18
Gbe Gnion &ypnrnaL.
Mandatory Of oil cloth Carpets in
Biddeford, -

Passing by tho largo building on tho Hol.
lis road, known as tho Carpet Mandatory,
We concluded to take o look at tho establish
mcnt. The main building, which Is about
100 Z 30 feet and four stories high, was built
in 1856 by tho firm Of Hooper & Folsom
Connected with tho main building thcro is
wing OF nearly the samo length, ono and
half stories, which Is used asa dry house, Of
6co, store house, and paint grinding room.
the item Of paints being Of largo Importance
in the manufactory of oil.cloths. The pros
ent propriotors Of this establishment arc A.
Folsom & Son, who have another manufac-
tory in Dover, N. H., with sales.room at %
Water street, Boston.
The carpets turned out by this firm arc tho
very best in tho market. They have boon
engaged in this business fifteen years, and in
experience rank second in New England, tho
firm Of A. Sampson & Son being tho Oldest.
Four hundred yards Of oil-cloth aro here man
ufacturcd per day. Number Of hands ON.
ployed, twenty-five. To finish $500 yards Of
carpcting requires eight bbls. of bcnsinc, 25,
do. whiting, 800 gallons Of linsccd oil, 1000
lbs. pure ground lead with oil tho moro cost
ly paints in proportion so our readers will
perceive that tho buying and mixing Of tho
very largo amount Of paints used, forms no
uncomfortable item in tho expense Of making
oil.cloth carpets. Mcssrs. Folsom and Son
arc now using six beautiful patterns which
aro entirely different from each other, each
presenting q pleasing contrast of coloru.-
These patterns are designed in Boston and
made in Dover, II. II ftho reader will cx-
anime any oi.cloth carpcting, hc will notice
that the figure is formed by raised jets, (for
50 wo distinguish i.-for want of better
word,) and on the position Of these "jots".
depends the accuracy Of the figure. A piece
of two inch plank. two feet square, is taken
of which to form tho pattern, one side being
planed perfectly smooth. On this side is
drawn the design in colors. A fno saw is
then run across the surface of tho wood, about
ono eighth ofan inch dccp, leaving tho surface
composed Of little upright pegs about tho
sizo Of matches. These pegs arc then all cut
out with tho exception of those which aro
colored that is, tho blue color has stamp
with only those "pcgs" left in tho stamp
which Is to form tho blue work upon tho car
pct, and SO Of each OF tho other colors.
Tho FIRST process Is to run tho mating
through rollers in an upright wooden ma
chine, hand pouring on mixture Of thick,
cheap paint meanwhile in front Of the rollers;
thence drawn on long paint rack to dry
When sufficiently dry II Is drawn out Of tho
rack and shaved smooth, when It is again run
through the rollers, and this operation is con-
tinued six times until the painted mating is
nearly twice as thick MS the original. II is
then ready to bc stamped. This Is donc by
means Of the stamp patterns which We havo
briefly described. Tho stamps rest on lap
stones on which Is placed tho color used for
that stamp. These lap-stoncs are arranged
upon large turn.tablo near tic stand Of tho
operator, over which stand passes the painted
mating. II the figure, which is always put
on in squares, is ofsix colorS, six impressions
Of tho stamps arc required. After tho stamp