The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-02-26
ssHERR,s YOUR RUBBERs.J

| IL. 1o laciuudge tn1s process the rubber,
which comes in Jumps resembling in size
and shape soldiers canteen, is cut into
thin slices by means of large circular
knife, revolving with great speed and con-
stantly wetted. Then these slices are cut
into small pieces by means of chopper
q machine which resembles in its action O
| common hay cutter --and afterward 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 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 sur
face; 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 to the drying
room, where they remain about three
months, to admit Of the complete evapora-
ton 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 it is sufficiently
dry, the watery particles will expand under
hoo of
tens.
After the gum is sufficiently dry it is car
ried into the grinding room, and fed into
machines called grinders, where passing
between heavy iron rolls, heated with steam,
is softened so as to permit of the adnix-
ture of the vulcanizing material. The call
for low priced goods has led to extensive
cheapening, by which less expensive ma
terial than rubber is added to lessen the
cost. Coal tar, lampblack and other cheap
and bulky articles are thus sometimes used
rhe gum is then run into long sheets be-
tween calenders, the sheets are delivered
from the calenders, after being cut into con-
venient lengths are carried to the cutting
machine and cut into uppers and soles by
means of patterns and sharp wet knives ia
the hands of skilled workmen. The uppers
and shoes are now ready to be lasted.
Meanwhile in another department, the lin
ings-whether of purple stocking cloth for
shoes. or of woollon feecy cloth for "Arc-
tics" or ofheavy felt for boots are coated
on one 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
nesses at once, with dies in drop press.
are distributed to those who make up the
boots and shoes.
After afaxing various Strengthening pieces
of cloth, stiffenings, &C., the rubber upper
is carefully laid on sticks fast to the rubber
IN the cloth with light pressure and
smoothing moment Of the hand. No peg
ging or sewing is required. The edges are
then trimed, the sole is put on and rolled
down firmly, SO as to adhere closely in
every part. The shoes are now collected
and carried to the varnish room, where
coot Of elastic varnish ID quickly applied, |
and the shoe, now Of a greenish brown
color; is hung in the heater This varnish,
besides impartiug the lustre and finish,
protects the rubber from being injured by
the intense heat of VIII aniEation, and fur
ther protects the shoes when in use from
the effects Of the atmosphere. It is found
that goods which are made up with dull
finish, and not having the protection of the
varnish, do not last so long as the vanished
goods. The heater is large fre-proof
room. heated by means of large number
of steam pipes. In tie evening, when the |
heater is full of goods the doors are closed, |
the steam turned on and the baking begins.
The heats gradually run up to nearly three
hundred degrees, under the supervision of |
experienced hands, who remain all night |
carefully watching the progress of the bak-
atG' oo ihOASooCd W UacIluOlu6bSTS uuQg I'D |
inside but visible through small windows in
the wall of the heater. Too much heat
renders the rubber brittle and rotten. and
notquite enough heat detains the sulphur in
the shoe, and causes it's appearance after
ward-when they become what are called
white" goods. These white or sulphur
Gus goods are really much better to wear
than those completely cured During vul-
canization the gum becomes very soft and
runs together into one homogeneous mass
and finally, when higher point is reached,
it hardens again. After remaining in the
heater 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, glittering
rows on the tables Then comes along the
inspector, who examines every pair very
closely and passes iudgment accord;n.