Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-03-14

FOR IVORY, SHELL, AMBER, CORAL,
| MALAHCITE, PARCHMENT, LEATHER AND
LISEN-AN INDUSTRY GREATER THAN
| MONSIEUR MApELEINES.
From the New York Evening Post.
at seems TO me-" remarked gentle
man the other day, THAT about every
thing we have now, except what we eat,
is made out of celiulod." An investiga-
ton of the subject almost tends TO per-
suade one that this statement is scarcely
exaggerated. Although celluloid was
invented nine or ten years ago iby two
brothers named HyatD, its perfected
manufacture has been regularly in prog
ress for only about five years, and is con-
sidered to be still in its infancy, yet I'M
mcnse quantities of the substance are
produced, it is converted into Il wonder
iul variety of forms. and new modes of
applying it are discovered almost daily.
CellulOid is n composition OF fine tissue
paper and camphor, treated with chemi-
Gals by patented process. A rather
common impression that it contains gun
cotton is 4 mistake which arises from con-
founding it with collodion. Celluloid, it
is said. is entirely non-eNplosivc, and
burns only when in direct contact with
flame. When crude it looks like trans
parent gum, and its color is Il light
brown. Ii can be made as hard as ivory,
but is always elastic, and can lie readily
modelled into every conceivable form.
With equal ease it can be colored in any
tint desired, the dye running through the
entire substance, and being, therefore, in
effaceble.
All the celluloid made is produced by
single company, with factories in New
ark, n. j. This company makes only
the raw material, which it sells to various
manufacturing companies for SO much
per pound and a royalty on their net sales.
No one can buy it unless the producing
company decides to give him Il license.
which is granted only ior the purpose of
making some new article that will not
interfere with the trade of the companies
already licensed. a number of large cor
porations are now engaged in the various
branches of manufacture Tor which cellu-
loid can be employed. Most of these
have their factories in Newark. but there
is one large establishment in Center
street, this city.
The cost OF the crude article 10 the
buyers is regulated by the producing
company according to the use TO be made
of ii and the competitor met with in other
materials. For instance, 81 or 81 per
pound are charged for celluloid which
is 10 be made into iewelry. while only 81
are charged il it is designed for umbrella
handles. though there is no difference in
the quality OF the substance. In conse-
quence of this system there is Il similar
wide variation in the cost Of the manu-
iactured articles
As 4 close imitation of ivory, celluloid
has made inroads in the business of the
ivory manufacturers. Its makers assert
that in durability it is much superior to
ivory. as it sustains hard knocks without
injury, and is not disculored by age or
use. Great quantities of it are used for
piano and organ keys, TO the manufacture
OF which one company is devoted. So
extensive is its use for this purpose that
the ivory manufacturers have reduced
their price for keys below that of celluoid, |
in the hope of checking the competion.
at is only question of who can hold |
out the longest" said 4 celluloid manu-
facturer; ''but we can make our own
elephants, and the ivory men have got |
TO catch theirs"
Billiard balls are made of celluloid at
half the price OF ivory, and are said to be |
.I"'ly eliolC' "hIIc hoic uul aoIc-
Large amounts are used for combs OF |
enJ e,J i1 ,a,ntl, i"r tlie oaehS VI brushes
,a;Ia, aHL .,;ni ,.tonI': anu ior an hinI's oi
~ eon E1o ',a,e'e' Mh,en IVORY Is e,iPi"se1
iui,ijis ~ nov '"ao''a u, ] .oi,,o i,"ao ,io, =,
iii, in Iarra ~, III ','i ,i 'oi' nanii'
y, hand orIasSoiP ~ .,;n., ,." ,'s t'lo 1,'e
onnrons m,, An, tne u'li'len,e NJ, III PlmG =
ono, h;oI coIi1,in;i % many otlei ni!i'ies r!