Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-02-20
NEW LOCAL INDUSTRY.
rno chicago wire Co. to Manuaotu

huDpei nose ny an improved hethous
Probably the most valuable and i'm
portant invention every produced in
Wilmington was lust been developed by
the Chicago Electric Wire Co. Of Della.
ware and SO great has been its success
that the company has decided 10 dis
continue the manufacture of insulated
wire and devote all its energy to further
development of the rubber hose bust
ness, which is 80 rapidly coming into
prominence.
A few months ago the company put
in large and extensive rubber plant
for the purpose of making rubber com
pound used in manufacturing insulated
wire. 1t was soon found, however,
that tine wire business could not take
all the product of the rubber mill, and
the company began looking about for
: new novelties to manufacture.
IL. Is. Cobb, the general manager of
the company, suggested the manufae-
ture of rubber hose, and he WAS in
structod by William Weightman of
Philadelphia, president of tho com
pany, to go ahead and SEE what could
be done in that line. Mr.. Cobb had
never seen rubber hose made and knew
nothing of the method of manufacture,
which evidently was beneficial, as he
would have undoubtedly followed the
ordinary methods of manufacture.
But he set about 1t n his own way,
and utilized the machinery already on
hand. The result was the invention of
a process that will undoubtedly revolu-
tionize the manufacture of rubber
hose, for us now manufactured hose is
gs. ,s,s. r.. a - 4.
work is done almost entirely by hand
and is built up on mandrels, which,
owing to their unweildly nature, con-
fines the length of hose to about 30
feet.
Under the process invented by Mr..
Cobb the hose is made entirely by ma
chinery aud, being continuous
method, it is possible to make the hose
mile long, but for convenience IL is
manufactured and put upon reels in
lengths of about 800 or 600 feet.
The hose was at first made only in an
experimental way. Samples werc shown
to some of Wilmington's dealers, and,
. influenced by their favorable opinions,
the company began manufacturing
about l,500 feet per day, 1t was soon
found that one Wilmington house
alone, John +. Rhoads & Sons, could
take this entire product, and it hecame
evident, as other large orders were re.
ceived, that additional machinery would
be required, and also that the wi,e
business was being rapidly crowded
out by its now rival.
The company TOOK the matter into
consideration and will keep pace with
the demands.
Consequently in order to meet the
demand the company has ordered ad-
ditional special rubber machinery from
a firm in Ansonia, Conn, and eight
new fabric weaving machines from a
manufacturer in Providence, II. |.
The machinery is in course Of construc-
tion now, and when ii is put up here,
which will be done as soon as il is
completed and shipped, (he comnany
will have capacity for turning out
20, 600 feet Of hose per day, aud Mr.,
Cobb informed reporter of Every
Evening yesterday that he would have
market for his entire output at once.
The local company now manufactures
hose from crude raw materials, and
everything was working like clock
work when the reporter visited the
plant yesterday.
The developement Of this new process
also opens up another new departure,
the manufacture of bicycle tires,
which, besides being absolutely pune.
ture proof will also be valuable for
durability and style of finish.
Mr.. Cobb stated that separate chm.
pany will be formed and new plant
put in operation to manufacture the
tires. 1t is probable that tho new
plant will get into shape in time to
have their product on the market in
time for the '97 machines.
Through the courtesy of Mr.. Cobb
the reporter WAS shown all the ma
chlnery in operation, and the facts
CLEANED were surprising, the CORFU
gated hose and impcnetrahle tire rub
Der attracting particular attertion.
Mr. Cobb has applied for patents
covering the machines, articles OF
manufacture and process, and is now
taxing out patents covering the same
IN all parts Of the world and the indi.
cations are that these inventions will be
the means Of building up a large and
profitable industry in Wilmington. The
new business will require the use of
the entire plant, and tine manufacture
OF wlre will be discontinued.