The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-03-15
Process Of Maintaining Rubber.


The first operation after receiving .ha
crude gum from the importer, is to cleause
il. 10 facilitate this process the rubber
which comes in Jumps resembling 10 size
and shape a soldiers canteen, is cut into
thin slices by means Of large circular
knife, revolving with great speed and con
stantly wstted. Then these slices are cut
into small pieces by means Of chopper
machine which resembles in It's action
common hay-cutter--and afterward the
pieces are reduced to minute particles ii
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 10 sand and ashes
to increase the weight. The grit, unless
completely 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 state.
The small particles of rubber, all clean,
are now shoyeled into another machine
which rolls them together into rough sheets.
These sheets are then taken to the drying
room, where they remain about thrce
months to admit Of the complete evapora-
tion Of the moisture. It is an important
point thoroughly TO extract the moisture
Of the gum, for if it is made up into shoes
before it is sufficiently dry, tho watery
particles will expand under the heat OF
yulcanizatiOn and cause blisters. After
.he gum is sufficiently dry it is carried
into the grinding room, and fed into ma
chimes called grinders, where passing be-
tween heavy iron rolls, heated with steam,
is soitened SO as to permit Of the ad-
mixture OF the yulcanizing material. The
call for low-priced goods has led TO exsen-
siye cheapening, by which less expensive
material than rubber is added TO lessen the
cost Coal tar, lampback and other cheap
and bulky articles are thus sometimes used.
Inc gum Is then run into long sheets be-
tween calenders. The sheets, as delivered
from calenders, after being cut into con
venlent lengths, arc carried to the cutting
machine and cut into uppers and soles BY
means OF patterns and sharp wet knives in
the hands Of skilled workmen. The up-
pers and soles are now ready to be lasted.
: Meanwhile, in another department, Innings
= whether Of purple stocking net for shoes,
or OF Woolen feecy cloth for "Arctics.n or
: OF heavy felt for boots---are coated on one
6 side with rubber, by passing batch of
gum in company with the cloth between
steel rolls in another calender and after
being cut into various sizes, many thick
e nesses at once, with dies in a drop press,
IS are distributed to those who make up the
u boots and shoes.
!. After afhxing various strengthening
y pieces Of cloth-stiffenings etc.--tle rub
70 Der upper is carefully laid on sticks fast
81 to the rubber on the cloth, with light
N pressure and smoothing movement Of the
e. hand. No pegging or sewing is required.
= The edges are then trimmed, the sole is
v put on and rolled down firmly, so as to
n adhere closely in every part. The shoes
are now collected and carried to the var
. nish room, where coat Of elastic varnish
le is quickly applied, and the shoe, now Of O
:, greenish brown color, is hung in the heat.
; er. This varnish, beside imparting tht
as luster and finish, protects the rubber from
or being injured by the intense heat Of yul
e. eanization, and further protects the shoe
ne when in use from the effects Of the atmos
d. phere. II is found that goods which ar.
W made up with dull finish, and not having
the protection Of the varnish, do not last
le SO long as the varnished goods.
Z The heater is a large freproof room
is heated by means of large number ol
steam pipes. In the evening, when the
le heater is full of goods, the doors are closed,
Of the steam turned on and the baking be.
y gins The heat is gradually run up to
nearly three hundred degrees, under the
N supervision Of experienced hands who re-
b main all night carefully Watching the
y progress of the baking, as indicated by
e the thermometers hung up inside but Wis
d ible through small windows in the wall Of
(, the heater. Too much heat renders the
It rubber brittle and rotten, and not quite
enough heat detains the sulphur in the
e shoe, and causes its appearance afterward
II when they become what are called
e white" goods. These white or sulphur
n GUS goods are really better to wear than
z those completely cured. During vulcani-
,, zation tho gum becomes very soft aud runs
Il together into one homogeneous mass. and
finally, when a higher point is reached, it
L hardens again. After remaining in the
n heater sufficient time about eight or
e ten hours in all--the shoes are carried at
II an early hour in the morning, into the
, packing room, where, after being removed
IS from the lasts, they are laid in long, gilt
n teriug rows on the table. Then comes
along the inspector, who examines every
., pair very closely and passes Judgment ae-
It cording 10 the character az tha s.,orb, 49,,