The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-12-30
REDUCING RUBBER.
HOW ARTICLES OF USE ARE MADE
FROM THIS VALUABLE PRODUCT.

ton OF HOW BulDs TOT SyrlnRet anu
Atonizers Are Made.
Rubber is one of the most staple and
useful articles in modern use. There are
but few uses to which the wonderful
product cannot be put 1t can be made
as pliable as putty or as hard as wood,
and is just as adapted for use as hair
pin as for golf ball or waterproof
jacket. Few people, however, are as ia
miliar with the process of manufacture
as with the product itself.
The larger part of our rubber goods
comes from Brazil, which is the great
est rubber producing country in the
world. Here, Of course, rubber workers
handle their elastic material with an
ease and CELEBRITY which is a revelation
to the man who has wasted the greater
part of forenoon trying to mend hole
in his punctured tire. Although the
larger part of rubber manufacturing is
done by machinery there is still consid- |
cradle done by hand. In making up
goods for druggists, stationers and sur !
gical supplies the best grades Of Para
rubber the best in the world, are gen
orally used.
The ordinary commercial rubber is
gray, but its coloring is an easy matter.
This is done by mechanically mixing
with the rubber, after it is washed and
dried, different kinds Of pigments-ox
ide of zinc for white, lampblack for
black, golden sulphuret of anthony for
yellow and vermilion for red. The rub
Der mixed with the pigment is run
through heavy steam heated rollers into
thin sheets.
The making of rubber bands is a sim
pie process. Thin sheets of pure gum
are wrapped around form until it is
! shaped into flat tube of the required
! thickness. This tube is then vulcanized,
when it is shipped off the form and run
through machine, which cuts it cross
wise into strips.
Rubber erasers contain finely pow
dered pumice stone or emery dust. The
abrasive materials are mixed with the
rubber mechanically, which is then
nodded into shape and vulcanized I'M
der steam heat.
One of the most interesting processes
in the manufacture Of rubber goods is
that of bulbs. Long bulbs, such as syr-
inges and atomizers, are made from two
pieces of rubber, but round bulbs, such
as pumps and balls, are made from
three pieces. For cutting the rubber
zinc or galvanized iron patterns are
used. Considerable care is necessary
in this, as the strength of the seam de-
ponds upon the smooth fitting of the
edges. The three parts for hollow balls
may, however, be cut with die. If the
bulb has neck, small pegs Of iron are
first prepared by being cemented and
wound with strips of rubber as nu-
cleus.
After the rubber is cut into the proper
parts it is then brushed with cement the
whole length of the skived edges and
thoroughly heated. The bulbmaker then
takes the softened rubber, and tax
ing a prepared peg places the neck
on one piece on one side Of the rubber
core and another neck piece on the OPP
posite side, then presses them firmly to-
gether, and, rolling the whole tube
shaped piece between thumb and fore.
, finger, has finished the neck of the bulb.
| The next process is that of knitting the
edges which form the seam. This is
done by holding the finished neck to-
ward the operator in his left hand,
while with the thumb and forefinger q
= the right he pinches the edges firmly
: together for nearly the whole distance
= around. Into the side aperture, which
. is left open, is poured a little water o.
liquid ammonia. The opening is theI
made still smaller, and as final toucl
the maker puts his lips to the orifice anC
> blows full and hard into the bulb. Thu
softened rubber under this pressure eX
pands, the flattened shape is lost i'll
fuller and more rounded outline, Will
= the operator, with "a quick nip of hi
Il teeth, closes the opening, the imprisoned
+ air and water holding the sides apart il
: symmetrical corpulency.
= The partly made bulb is now passet
= en- to the turner's, who, armed with scis
+ sors with curved blades, carefully circl
}, the seams, cutting away all unevenness
till the whole exterior is ready for tn
mold
: The bulbs, as soon as they leave tn
e trimmers' hands, are laid in shalloy
pans filled with chalk. When take
from here, they are carefully duste
!. with tale, so that the rubber will DC
IS adhere to the inside Of the mold. !
o mold worker then takes one-half Of tn
q mold in his left hand and with his righ
> gently forces bulb into it, Gaping
with the second half. Each bulb, if tn
- pattern worker is skillful, will fit il
e mold otherwise the finished bulb is az
S to be imperfect
e Tho molds are run upon small TRACK
n into the vulcani2er. After they hay
f. been cured a sufficient time the vulcal
Is izo1s are opened ana the cans are ~
g under an ordinary shower bath, whic
. quickly ccols them. IEey are then III
= keyed, the molds twisted open and til
a bulbs taken out, If tie work be we
ID done, the swelling Of the liquid With
n its rubber prison has CXCrtCd SO intuns