The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-11-16
Rubber Shoes.

The first operation, after receiving the
crude gum from the importer, is to cleanse
IT. To facilitate this process the rubber,
which comes IN Jumps, resembling in size
aud shape soldiers canteen, is cut into
thin slices by means of a large circular
knife, revolving with great speed and con-
stantly wetted. Then these slices are cut
into small pieces by means Of a chopper
a machine which resembles in its action a
common hay eutter-and afterwards the
pieces are reduced to minute PARTICLES in
another machine, which, at the same time.
washes out all the dirt and sand. Besides
the accidental admixture of foreign sub
stances with the sap the natives are 10 the
habit Of throwing in sand aud ashes to in
crease the weight. This grit, unless com
pletely removed from the gum, viii show
itself in the shoe, impairing its smooth
surface and hence much Of the fine finish
depends upon the care taken at this stage.
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 into the dry
ing room, where they remain about three
months to admit of the complete eyapora
tIon OF the moisture. 1t is an important
point thoroughly to extract the moisture of
the gum, for if it is made up into shoes
before 1t is sufficiently dry, the watery par
ticles will expand under the heat Of vul-
canlzatlon and cause blisters. After the
gum Is sufficiently dry it is carried into the
grinding room, and fed into machines called
grinders, where, passing between heavy
iron rolls, heated with steam, it is softened
so as to permit of the admixture of the
vnlcanized material. The call for low
priced goods has led to extensive cheapeu-
ing, by which less expensive material than
rubber is added to lessen the cost. Coal
tar, lampblack and other cheap and bulky
articles are thus sometimes used. The
gum is then run into long sheets between
calendars. The sheets, as delivered from
the calendars, after being cut into conYe-
nient lengths, are carried to the cutting
tables and cut into uppers and soles by
means of patterns and sharp wet knives in
the lands of skilled workmen. The up
pers and soles are now ready to be lasted.
Meanwhile in another department, the
linings-whether of purple stocking net
for shoes, or of woollen fieecy cloths for
"Arctics, or of 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 cal
endar, and, after being cut into various
sizes, many thickncsses at once, with dies
in drop-press, are distributed to those
who make up the boots and shoes.
After afixing various strengthening
pieces of cloth, stiffening, ETC., the rub
Der upper isscarefully laid on and sticks
fast to the rubber on the cloth, witha light
pressure and smoothing movement Of the
hand. No pegging or sewing is required
The edges are then trimmed, the sole is
put on and rolled down firmly, so as to ad-
here closely in every part The shoes are
now collected and carried to the varnish
room, where coat of elastic varnish is
quickly applied, and the shoe, now of a
greenish brown color, is hung in the heater.
This varnish, besides imparting the lustre
finish, protects the rubber from being in
jured by the intense heat of vulcanization.
and further protects the shoes when in use
from the effects of the atmosphere. Il is
found that goods which are made up with
a dull finish and not having the protection
Of the varnish, do not last so long as the
vanished goods.
The heater is a large fre-proof room,
{ fan hF~ ,4 L.
steam pipes. In the evening, when the
heater is full of goods, the doors are closed,
the steam turned on, and the baking be-
gins. The heat is gradually run up to
nearly 300 degrees, under the supervision
of experienced hands, who remain all night
carefully watching the progress Of the
baking, as indicated bv Thermometers hung
up inside, but visible through small win.
dows in the wall of the heater. Too much
heat renders the rubber brittle and rotten.
and not quite enough heat detains the sui
phur in the shoe, and causes its appear.
ance aiterward-when they become what
are called whit" goods. These white or
sulphurous goods are really better to wear
than those completely cured During vul-
caniZatiOn the gum becomes very soft aud
runs together into one homogeneous mass.
and finally, when higher point is reached,
it hardeus again. After remaining in the
heater a sufficient time-about eight or ten
hours in all-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 gIittering rows
on the tables. Then comes along the in.
speetor, who examines every pair very
closely and passes Judgment according to
the character off the workmanship Trade
Circular.