The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-05-27
USEFUL sHAMs.
The Substitutes which HfibinS Inge-
nutty Has Made.

VI hOelOlA bllutS Is bU6 lUlIu6uS6 pro-
gress which has been made, and the
manufacturing ingenuity and scientific
, skill displayed in finding substitutes
for expensive or scarce raw materials
/, and articles in general demand. The
! fact is apparent beyond question that
art is fast invading the domain of ma
ture. Chemistry is enabling us to re-
, place animal and vegetable dyes, and to
form artificial gems, or creditable imi-
= tations; mineral oils replace animal and
vegetable ones for illuminating pur.
poses, and the electric light is treadlng
upon the heels OF gas.
The expensive outfits for the whale
fisheries are comparatively abandoned,
whalebone and blubber from the huge
marine mammals being less in request /;
coral insects may proceed with their
submarine constructions unmolested /;
the sea tortoise will be pursued less
eagerly for its carapace; the ostriches
OF the desert be less sought after; and
even the great pachyderms of India and
Central Africa can be spared to be more
usefully employed in extending the
march of commerce. Under our enlight-
ened civilization we can now manufac-
ture our own whalebone, coral, tortoise
shell, ivory and feathers, without the
need penetrating into wild jungles and
arctic or tropical seas for our supplies.
The extinction of whalebone in COM
merce will not deprive us of our UNI
brellas, or the female sex of their
parasols and corset busks. Rattans
have been converted into wallosin. and
horn shaped into pliable bones, while
steel ribs also do duty effectually for
baleGn.
| Ivory being an expensive material
and in continual demand, has formed
the subject of many patents for good
substitutes, but those tried have gen.
orally had more the appearance of an
opaque cement than the natural dentine.
The best and most effectual imitation,
which takes a good polish, is the
American substance passing under the
name of celluloid.
Celluloid is one of those inventions of
recent origin which has become sub
stltute for many natural raw materials.
1t is species of solidi6ed collodion pro-
duced by dissolving gun cotton in cam
phor with the aid of heat and pressure.
The applications of celluoid are now
legion. AS substitute for ivory it is
best known, and so perfect is the re-
semblance that close inspection i. re-
quired to distinguish the counterfeit
from the genuine; the absence of the
grain, or decussation, is the chief dis
tinction. Celluloid possesses not only
all the strength and elasticity Of ivory,
but 1t does not warp nor discolor with
age. 1t is much used in making combs,
backs OF brushes and hand mirrors.
frames for looking glasses aud portraits,
handles for knives and forks, piano and
organ keys, and billiard balls, which are
said to be equal in elasticity to those of
ivory. One advantage it has over ivory
Is That 1t may be nodded, so that the
most delicate and elaborate articles can
be made with it al a fraction of the cost
of true ivory. An endless variety of
colors can also be given to celluloid by
the admixture of proper pigments. In
imitation of tortoise shell it Is made into
such articles as com bs, card cases, cigar
cases, napkin rings, etc. The pink coral
so popular for jewelry is admirably
initiated with it, and so are malachite
and amber mouthpieces for pipes, cigar
holders and musical instruments.
Beautiful fancy ornaments are made
of artificial tortoise she'll, which ia
formed by melting gelatine at moder-
ate emperature with small amount If
metallic salts, running the whole into
molds,, and staining the mass with hy
drc 5u!phate of ammonia, so as to pro-
duce an imitation of the grain Unnatural
tortoise shell. The appearance of tor
toise shell may also be given TO horn by
brushing it over with paste made of
two parts Of lime and little soda lye,
which is allowed to dry. This forms
sulphuret of lead with the sulphur con-
tanned in the albumen of the horn, and
produces dark spots, which contrast
with the lighter colors of the horn,
Among minor products which have
hppn Itofo
schaum, horn and coral, by the pulp of
potatoes, turnips, or carrots, treated
with sulphuric acid.
Ostrich feathers, which, az the
coveted court plumes of fashion have al
ways been in demand at high prices.
are not only getting more plentiful by
the domestication of the bird, instead of
hunting it down in its wild haunts. bur
limitations of all kinds have sprung up-
those of spun glass sold at from two
shillings to eight shillIngs each instead |
OF ten shillings to twenty shillings;
those made of silk, etc. 1t has hereto |
tore been the custom to work up all the |
odds and ends of ostrich feathers into |
plumes, and even to make use of the |
feathers OF other birds. But it was left |
Tor Yankee ingenuity to get up an imi-
tatlon, the component parts of which |
are silk on a rattan or celluloid quill,
This sham " could be easily passed off |
on ladies as genuine, and almost defies
detection by others than experts.
Cloth, in imitation of furs and skins.
is now made from mohair or goats wool !
and the resem blance is so good that at n
few yards distance it is difficult to tell
it is real or imitation. II is
colored to resemble seal, beaver, otter
and chinchilla, and lately there has
been quite quantity made in imitation
Of ostrich feathers, and used very largely
for trimmings on dresses and mantIes,
At the last Paris exhibition there was
m imitation white squirrel shown.
shaded to a light fawn.
Artificial pearls have long been manu-
with the greatest skill and in.
genuity. and so close is the imitation
that alternate strings of false and gen
llne shown by jewelers. can scarcely be
distinguished. Mourning jewelry of
black glass has replaced the more ex-
pens We jet ornaments among the lower
classes.
Numerous patents have been issued
rom time to time for making imitation
marble, which in practice have been
more or less successful; by some of these
IN almost perfect imitation of the yari-
)us shades and coIors OF marble is OBJ
aimed, and slate is made to initiate
marble. Artificial stone is now made
10 any extent.
Gas bids fare to be replaced ere long
oy the electric light, Judging by the
progress Mr.. Edison has made with his