Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-11-12
#iseellanepits.
THE PROCESS OF MAKING RUBBER
SHOES. fo sr0

crude gum from the importer, is TO cleanse
it. To facilitate this process the rubber,
which comes in Jumps resembling in size
and shape soldiers caDteen, is cut into
thin slices by means Of a large circular
knife, revolving with great speed andcOn-
stantly wetted. Then these slices are cut
into small pieces by means OF q chopper
a machine which resembles in its action
common hay-cutter-and atterward the
pieces are reduced to minute PARTICLES In
another machine, which, at the same time,
washes out all the dirt and sand. Beside
the accidental admixture Of foreign sub
stances with the sap, the natives are IN the
habit of throwing in sand and ashes to in
crease the weight. This grit, unless COM
pletely removed from the gum, will show
itself in the shoe, impairing its smooth
surface; and hence much OF the fine
finish depends upon the care taken at this
stage. ...tgast 4 .selut y
The small particles of rubber, all clean,
are now shovelled into another machine
which rolls them together into rough
sheets. These sheets are then taken 10 the
drying-room, where they remain about
three months to. admit OF the complete
evaporation of the moisture. It is an i'm
portant point thoroughly to extract the
moisture of the gum, for il 1t is made up
into shoes before it is sufficiently dry, the
watery particles will expand under the
heat of vulcanization and cause blisters.
After the gum is sufficiently dry 1t is car
ried into machines called grinders, where.
passing between heavy iron rolls, heated
with steam, it is softened 80 as TO permit
Of the admxture Of the vulcanzing ma
terial The call for low-priced goods has
led to extensive cheapening. BY which less
expensive material than rubber ls added
to lessen the cost. Coal tar, lampblack
and other cheap and bulky articles are
thus sometimes used. The gum 10 then
run into long sheets between calendars.
The sheets, as delivered from the calen-
dars, after being cut into convenient
lengths are carried to the cutting tables
and cut into uppers and soles by means Of
patterns and sharp wet knives in the hands
OF skilled workmen. The uppers and
soles are now ready to be lasted, Mean
| while in another department, the hnings-
whether of purple stocking net for shoes,
or of wooden feecy cloth for '.Arctics, nor
heavy felt for boots--are coated on one
side with rubber, by passing . batch of
gum in company with the cloth between
heated steel rolls in another calendar, and,
after being cut into various Sizes, many
thicknesses at once. with dies ina drop
press, are distributed to those who make
up the boots and shoes.
After affixing various Strengthening
pieces of stiffenings, etc. the rub
ber upper is carefully laid on and sticks
fast to the rubber on the cloth, with light
pressure and smoothing movement Of the
hand. No pegging or sewing is required.
The edges are then trimmed, the sole ID
put on and rolled down firmly. so as to
adhere closely in every part. The shoes
are now collected and carriedto the varnish
| room, where a coat of elastic varnish Is
quickly applied, and the shoe, now of
greenish-brown color, is hung in the heat
er. This varnish, beside imparting the lus-
| tre finish, protects the rubber from being
injured by the intense heat Of vuicaniza-
tion, and further protects the shoes when
in use from the effects of the atmosphere.
1t is found that goods which are made up
with dull finish, and not having the pro-
| lection OF the varnish, do not last 30 long
| as the varnished goods. X nlsum03 sd
The heater is a, large frepreof room.
heated by means Of large number Of
steam pipes In the evening. when the
heater Is filed with goods. the doors are
closed, the steam turned on and the bak-
ing begins. The heat is gradually ran up
to nearly three hundred degrees, under
the supervisor Of experienced hands who
remain all night carefully watching the
progress Of the baking, as indicated BY
thermometers hung up inside but visible
through small windows in the wall of the
heater. Too much heat renders the rub
ber brittle and rotten and not quite enough
heat detains the sulphur in the shoe. and
causes its appearance afterwsrd-when
they become what are called white"
goods. These white or sulphurous goods
are better to wear than those completely
cured. During vulcanization the gum be-
comes very soft and runs together into
one homogeneous mass, and finally. when
d higher point is reached, it hardens again.
After remaining in the heater sufficient
time-about eight or ten hours in ah--the
shoes are carried, at an early hour in the
morning. into the packing room, where,
after being removed from the lasts, they
are laid in long glittering rows on the
tables. Then comes along the inspector.
who examines every pair very closely aud
passes Judgment according to the charac-
ter of the workmanship. Trade Circtsidr.