Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1865-05-31

cupy, more especially as the price OF the new
substance is much lower than india-rubber or
gutta-percha. Linoleum can also be desolV-
ed into varnish or cementin the same man-
ner as india-rubber,, and in this form can be
employed in the manufacture Of materia! for
waterproof clothing. As varnish or paint
for protecting iron or wood, or for coating
ships bottoms, it is said to be admirably
adapted, as it dries rapidly, in fifteen or
twenty minutes, and adheres with singular
tenaeity. As a cement for uniting substan-
stances, such as wood with iron, or wood
with wood, it is very effective, and has SINH
lar properties TO the marine glue made from
india-rubber and shellac. Singularly enough
linoleum can also be vulcanized or hardened
by exposure to heat. By this means it is
make as hard as the hardest woods, and rem
dered capable of receiving high polish with
out the aid of varnish or any other eXtrane-
Gus substance. In this condition it can be
filed, planed, or turned as easily as wood,
and employed in many Of the various ways
for which wood is used. Or it can be mould
ed in heated dies to any desired form, as, for
example, fax-spinners, bosses, sheaves for
ships blocks, surgical-instrument handles
picture frames, holdings, veneers to initiate
marble, ivory, ebony, and other woods
Combined with emery it forms a grinding
wheel having extraordinary cutting or abrs-
sive power. Very dissimilar are some Of
the uses to which the new substance can be
applied. Carnage aprons, cart-sheeting, sail
covers, reticules, tarpauling, printers blank
cts, gas-pipes, telegraph supports, washable
felt carpets, table-covers, paints for carriages
or tor printing foor-cloth, or enamels Of any
color for enameling papier-mache or metals.
These are only some of the many uses to
which linoleum may be applied.
The manufacture has, however, hitherto
been chiefly confined to the development ol
the floor-cloth trade, for which the new ma
terial has proved itself well adapted. Limo
leum hoor-cloth is produced by combining
the Iinoleum with ground or powdered cork
which i, rolled on to a stout canvas the back
of the canvas being afterwards water-prOOfed
with cement or varnish made from the sol
idifed or oxydized oil before referred to-
The combined fabric so manufactured is ther
printed by means Of blocks in every variety
of pattern, in the ordinary way. The floor
cloth thus produced is pliable. and compare
lively noiseless to walk upon. 1t washe
well. preserves its color, and can be rolled u
ike any ordinary carpet. Besides beinl
very dursble-the component parts being al
most indestructible except by fret vii
not decompose by heat or exposure to tn
sun or air, as is the case with lndia-rubber.-
1t is. therefore. better adapted than that sub
stance for hot climates. To the chemist, en-
gireer, and manufacturer, linoleum offer
quite new substance for experiment, ant
no doubt, as it becomes better known, tn
various uses to which it may be applied vii
be more fully developed and appreciated
The patentees, we understand, are prepared
to grant Hceuses for the manufacture of som
of its applications, such as varnishes, cements
and the hard compounds above mentioned
, Important results may therefore follow tn
introduction of this new and valuable sub
stance Mechanics Magazine.