Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1881-10-26

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les are improvements Ia the manniae'
ture Of yuleani1ed india rubber IN its
various applications. which have result
cd Ia making II the best aud cheapest
msterial for superior and highly finished
combs, These combs, IN heEibility aud
durability, are equal 10 the best horn
and shell, and are now extensively man
uiaetured, The principal factories for
the making OF rubber combs arc located
In Connecticut"
The material produced by this new
process possessed peculiar properties,
II was more perfectly elastic than com,
mon eaouiehoue, resisted the action Of
the ordinary solvents OF that material.
was better able TO resist tho wear and
tear Of lis surface and preserved its lles'
Utility al all temperatures, Then Mel
son Goodyear patented process for
soliditying rubber, making II suscepli'
bic 10 any form OF process OF manuiae'
tufe,
The next invention Of any importance
was a pegging,machine pegged shoes
made by hand were manufactured IN
large quantities q long time before the
invention Of this machine hut tho man
uiactnre was, and II, confined chiefly TO
mems boots and shoes, aud TO the eoars-
or kinds Of ladies' shoes, Lynn, the
great center Of the manufacture OF
ladies' shoes, was never engaged 10 any
extent in tho manufacture Of pegged
shoes. The introduction Of this ma
chine largely increased the production,
and, Of course, diminished the COS tot the
product There have been many im'
proyemcnts In the stitching machine, the
product originally Of tho mechanical
genius Of Elias Howe, This machine
was first perfected In 1876,
A process has recently been patented
In tho United States by whish shot II
made at q low elevation by forcing q
strong current OF air upon II ~ II falls
into tho water Another important uso
to which lead IL put IL the preparation
OF oxide OF lead on white lead AZ n pig.
ment. In this branch Of the lead in
dustry, this country takes prominent
and probably u leading position, IA the
practice OF painting dwelling houses IL
moro common than In any other coun'
try,
The safety drum, another new inven,
ton, IL q safety device which guards
against accidents arising from such do.
rangement Ia elevator machinery,
or some obstruction IN tho hatchway,
whereby the ropes may be uncoiled from
the main drum OF the engine, while the
cur remains temporarily lodged NJ q
greater or less distance from tho bottom.
II IL also q ai,guard against the too
rapid descent Of the car, In ease the belt
or any part OF the gearing connected
with the engine should give way, or IL
run too fast by the carelessnoss of the
operator
Great improvements have been made
in tho methods OF construction used for
iron safes, making them imprcgnable to
almost any appliance in use by the most
expert burglars. The doors, which are
generally the weak point of safe, are
constructed of plates so dove.tailed and
fitting corresrondingly into tho iambs
that tho wedge, the most effective i'm
plement used by the burglar, is perfect
ly powerless against them, while the nc.
ouracy with which they fit offers no OPP.
portunity for any crevice into which
nitro-glycerine or any other explosive
fluid can be introduced. The body of
the safe being also constructed of alter
nate plates of iron, welded iron and
steel, carbonized and decarbonized
steel and crystal steel, fastened togeth-
er by bolts from the inside, effectively
prevents them being forced by sledge.
hammers, jimmies, jack,screws, or any
other burglarious instrument. Their
tire'proof qualities are also secured by
a flline of concrete, which makes them
absolutely proof against both fire and
damp. In addition to the fire.proof
filling, the safes are furnished with i'm.
proved combination locks, varied for
each safe, many of which are supplied
with an automatic rotary movement,
and consequently operated without any
arbor or spindle passing through the
door in the lock, rendering it impossible
to pick them by any process yet invent
ed.
In lS49 DR.. Gathny invented method |
of transmitting power by means of COM
pressed air driven through pipes. Up ,
to ten years ago his application for a
patent for this process from the United
States was rejected on the ground that
it was discovery and not an invention.
Patents have, however, been obtained
for it in Europe, and it is by means of
this method that the tunnel of Mont
Gents has been worked The process
was used in the work on the Hoosac
tunnel.
In 1872 DIR. Calling invented and
patented steam pillow, or earth pulver-
izing machine, to be propelled by steam
and animal power combined. The fail.
IRE of his health and the low price of
grain at that time prevented his bring
ing this invention into practical use.
DR.. Calling had devoted his time and
to improving the gun which
bears his name, and the success which
attended his labors seduced him from
the more congenial field of peaceful in
vention.
Inventive talent has also been brought
to bear upon soap. Several materials
have been avowedly and openly mixed
with soaps as improvements. The use
of resin has been utilized. Slick, either
as sand or in the form of "water-glass"
Or soluble glass (ritrate Of Soda, is one
of the most common, and soaps made in
this way are extremely efficient and
useful. Modified soaps for various
special purposes are now made by mix.
ing lirle.water, dissolved alum, ETC.,
with soap already made.
1t is a gratifying fact to note that in
ventors are taking advantage of the
great capabilities of iron for identifying
forms, as shown in its use for architec-
tural purposes. Its strength makes it
suitable for structures and tracery of
light and graceful effect, altogether be-