The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-07-23
How Oil Cloths are Made.

such universal consumption. The BODY OF
them, as is well known, is coarse canvas,
made of flax, with more or less hemp inter-
mixed. 1t is always essential that this
cloth should be without seam, and its man.
ufacture, therefore is distinct branch of
business. 1t is woven of all widths, from
one to eight, or more, yards, and of any
convenient or required length. These webs
are rolled in bales and disposed of to the
I painters, as print cloths are to the calico
printers.
At the painting establishments the canvas
is taken first to what is called the frame
room," where stand number of upright
wooden frames arranged for stretching
pieces of canvas of various dimensions.
Before each frame is scaffold, with plat.
forms and ladders, which will enable the
workmen easily to reach any part Of the
cloth. A piece of this cut from the web,
of whatever dimensions may be required,
is first stretched tightly over a frame. Care,
however, is required that if this is done in
dry weather. the contraction, which occurs
in the hempen fiber when moistened, shall
not burst the canvas upon wet days, as it
has sometimes been known to do. This
tightening, and relieving the tension, is
easily effected by means of screws and roll
ers in the sides and ends of the frame.
To prepare for the paint weak solution
of glue size is first laid upon the back of
the cloth with brushes, and while yet damp,
rubbed IN with pumice stone. This smooths
Irregularities, and fills up interstices of the
cloth, so as to prevent the paint, yet to be
laid on, from penetrating too far; for this
would make the cloth brittle. When this
Dat is dry, another, made of oil and some
cheap coloring matter, somewhat thicker
than is used in house painting, follows.
| This is called "trowel coat" because it is
thrown on in "dabs with thick brush,
and then worked smoothly in with long,
elastic, steel trowel. After about two
weeks this becomes dry enough to admit of
another similar coat, which is worked and
smoothed with still greater care, SO as to
finish the work upon the back of the cloth.
But, meantime, similar operations have
been going on upon the other, or face side;
first the glue sizing, then "trowel coat"
rubbed in so carefully with the pumice
stone rs to smooth away every knot or IT,
regularity in the cloth. Then follow two
and when theselare dry, another coat care
fully laid ON with the brush. This is called
the "brush coat" The operation thus far
has consumed from two to three months,
and for the best goods the original cloth is
nearly quadrupled in weight by the materi-
ais put upon it. 1t is now cut down from
the frame, and, the face being carefully
protected, is carried to the "printing
ROOM"
In printing, each color is put on by itself.
The pattern is first carefully drawn upon
paper. This is then laid upon other sheets,
and all parts of the figure which are to be
laid on in any particular shade are traced
upon the under sheet by pricking through
the lines that bound them. This under
sheet is then laid upon the smooth face of
block of wood, which has been prepared
for the purpose, and finely pulverized color
ing matter shaken above it, which, scatter
ing through the perforations, traces the
lines upon the wood SO that the engraver
can easily cut that part of the figure upon
its face, A similar operation prepares a
block for each of the other colors, which,
altogether, make up the whole figure.
These blocks are usually not large-perhaps
about eighteen inches square; but the face,
at least, must be of some smooth, tough
grained wood, like the pear. Prepared with
SO much care, they are expensive, and in
most establishments they represent nc
small part of the capital required. In using
the blocks smooth, soft pad is prepared,
upon which the paint is freely laid with a
brush usually by boy, who stands neal
with paint pot, when the workmen puts
the face of the block upon this pad and
then transfers it to the oil cloth, which
has been stretched upon table near, and
, the particular spot prepared to receive til,
+ impression by being roughened with stee
: scraper and hard brush. Formerly the
7 workman struck his block few sharp blowi
with heavy hammer, so as to make hi
impression distinct. Lately he secures thu
I same result much better with screw-presses
T differing some what in construction in diff
S ferent establishments. Having put on hi
S portion of the figure he goes to the mex
square, always adjusting his block with tn
f greatest precision as he proceeds. He i
y followed by another workman, who puts OIL