Smyrna times., 1881-11-02

American inventions have been wonder
iully prolific in important results. To say
nothing of the telephone, the phonograph,
the electric light and the system of auto
matte and quadruplex telegraphv. all of
which have been SO fully described that
principles are perfectly familiar to the
general public, there has been numerous
discoveries and improvements which. in
their way, have brought about revolutions
in the arts and sciences, The agent said :
Amongst the most important of recent
discoveries are improvements in the man.
utacture of vulcanized rubber in its va
rous applications, which have resulted in
making 1t the best and cheapest material
Tor superior and highly finished combs.
These combs, in flexibility and durability
are equal to the horn and shell, and are
now extensively manufactured. The prin-
cipai factories for the making of rubber
combs are located in Connecticut"
The material produced by this new pro-
cess possessed peculiar qualities. 1t was
more perfectly elastic than common caout-
chouc, resisted the action Of the ordinary
solvents of that material, was better able
10 resist the wear and tear of it's surface
and preserved its flexibilty at all temper
atures. Then Mr.. Nelson GOODYEAR pat-
ented a process for solidifymg rubber,
making 1t susceptible to any form or pro-
cess of manufacture.
The next invention of any Importance
was pegging machine. Pegged shoes
made by hand were manufactured in
large quantities long time before the in
vention of this machine; but the manu-
1acture was, and is, confined to mems
boots and shoes, and to the coarser kind
OF ladies' shoes. Lynn, the centre of the
manufacture of great ladies' shoes, was
never engaged to any extent in the manu-
tacture of pegged shoes. The introduc-
ton of this machine largely increased the
production, and, Of course, diminished the
cost OF the product There has been
many improvements in the stitching ma
chine, the product originally of the me-
chanical genius of Elias Howe. This
machine was first perfected in IS45.
A process has recently been patented
in the United States by which shot is
made at a low elevation by forcing a
strong current Of air upon it as it falls
into the water. Another important use
to which lead is put is the preparation of
oxide of lead or white lead as a pigment.
In this branch Of the lead industry this
country takes prominent and probably
leading position, as the practice of paint
ing dwelling houses is more common than
in any other country.
The safety drum, another new inven-
ton, is safety device which guards
against accidents arising from such de-
rangnments in elevating machine, or some
obstruction in the hatchway, whereby the
ropes may be uncoiled from the main
drum of the engine, while the car remains
temporarily lodged at greater or less
distance from the bottom. 1t is also a
perfect safeguard against the too rapid
descent of the car, in case the belt or any
part of the gearing connected with the
engine should give way, or if run too fast
by the carelessness of the operator.
Great improvements have been made in
the methods of construction used for iron
safes, making them impregnable 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 dOvetailed and fitting cores
pondingly into the jambs that the wedge,
the most effective implement used by the
burglar, is perfectly powerless against
them, while the accuracy with which they
fit offers no opportunity for any crevice
into which nitro-glycerine or any other
explosive fluid can be introduced. The
body of the safe being also constructed OF
alternate plates of iron, welded iron and
steel, carbonized and decarbonized steel,
fastened together by bolts from the inside,
effectively prevents them being forced by
sledge hammers, jimmies, jack-screws or
any other burglarious instrument. Their
fire proof qualities are also secured by a
filing of concrete, which makes them alb
solutely fire-proof and damp. In addi-
ton to the fire-proof filling, the safes are
furnished with improved 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 il
impossible TO pick them by any process
yet invented.
In 1S49 Dr. Gathny invented a method
Of transmitting power by means of com.
pressed air driven through pipes. I'm tc