New-York tribune., 1891-05-24
VULCANIZED RUBBER.

A. Randolph writes thus to The Tribune:
The article under Home and Society" referring To
rubber goods is so misleading to prompt TO take
the liberty of correcting some Of the statements 1t con-
tans The claim that all rubber excepting the hard.
vulcanized kind, used in the manufacture of ewelry
years ago, becomes disntegrated spoiled by age,
defect which cannot be prevented because Of the fact
that rubber is vegetable matter and no process has
yet been discovered TO overcome this, is mistake
The process of steam vucanizaton' Of rubber goods,
such waterproofs, mackntoshes, ETC., was adopted
several years ago and is being used by several manu-
acurers In this country This process absolutely over
comes the trouble complained OF in your article, giving
all goods manufactured under 1t durability unknown
heretofore. "Steam vulcanization" means curing rub
by heat ranging from 240 to 260 degrees, al
which temperature the sulphur mixed into the rubber
mets and assimilates. This process Of curing pro-
duces rubber fabric absolutely not affected by any
change in temperature, stopping all dfsntegration or
spelling by age. All kifIs Of rubber goods excepting
gossamers waterproofs and mackintoshes, are and al
ways have been, made under this process which was
the invention Of Charles Goodyear In the manufact
ure Of gossamers waterproofs and mackintoshes the
process of curing by the heat Of the and by
vaporzed acids substituted, simply because 1t is
much less expensive. Large competition and hence
desire to cheaper the cost OF production naturally
tempted manufacturers to use these processes, and
large majority of rubber garments still being made
in this way but the steam vulcanized" rubber gar
In order to obtain durable and perfectly satisfactory
waterproof garment, the purchaser needs only TO
to it that the garment Is steam vuIcanizcd in
its entirety after the garment has been made
and not only that the material Of which the gar
ment is made has been cured. In rubber
garment steam vulcanized after IL has been mado.
the rubber cement used in Joining the seams as wen
as the rubber cement used In attaching the strappngs
which the the inside OF macNhtosh
will thus have been steam vulcanlzed-wMcn Is hoo
the case when the cloth simply has been SO curea'
prior TO making into garment.
steam vucanization, in addition TO giving the
rubber waterproof durability also makes the garmene
absolutely odorless and enhances the value OF Its
waterproof qualities European manufacturers OF
rubber waterproof garments connne themselves almost
exclusively to the acid process, and hence their
nroducts do not compare In point Of quality TO the
products of manufacturers In this country who con-
fine themselves exclusively to the process OF steam
vulcanlzation although, in justice to the English
manufacturers l am compelled to admit that one o.
two have very recently adopted this process OF steam
v,lcanization, or rather claim TO have adopted it,
being forced TO this by the superiority of the goods
produced by American manufacturers. Rubber shoes
are entirely cured by steam vulcanzaton, and the
onIv reason that this class Of goods proves often
unsatisfactory TO the purchaser is because the article
Is OF a low grade, containing but little rubber. the
material used being largely rubber shoddy,' made
from catof rubber boots and shoes ground over and
other mineral ingredients. FIRST quality rubber
shoe made by reputable manufacturer win give uni
form satisfaction TO the purchaser and not become
spoiled by age.