The daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1892-1897, 1897-01-25
REDUCING RUBBER.
HOW ARTcLEs or USE ARE MADE
FROM THIS VALUABLE PRODUCT.

ton Of How Bulbs For syringes ard
Atomlzers Are Made.
Rubber is one of the most staple and
useful articles IN modern use. There are
bnt few uses 70 which the wonderful
product cannot. be put It can be made
as pliable as putty or as hard as wood,
and is just as adapted for use as a hair
pin'es for goH ball or waterproof
jacket. Few people, however, sre as fa-
miliaE 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, CT 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 mesd a hole
IN his punctured tire. Although the
larger part OF rubber manufacturing Is
done BY machinery there Ia 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
Tie ordinary commercial rubber is
gray. bat its coIoring 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 antimony for
yellow and yeInilon fer red The rub
Der mixed with the pigment is run
through heavy steam heated rollers into
thin sheets.
The making of rubber bands is Sim
pie process. Thin sheets. of pure gum
are wrapped around a form until it is
shaped into a fat tube Of the required
thickness. This tube is then vulcanized,
when it is shipped of the form and run
through machine, which cuts it cross
wise into strips.
Rubber eresers 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 un-
der steam heat.
One Of the most interesting processes
il the manufacture of rubber goods is
that Of bulbs. Long bulbs, such as syr-
inges and atonizers, are made from two
pieces of rubber, bat round bulbs, such
as pumps aud balls, are made from
three pieces. For cutting the rubber
zinc OR galvanized iron patterns ares
used. Considerable care is necessary
IN this, as the strength of the seam de-
bends upon the smooth fitting of the
edges TIE three parts for hollow balls
may, however, be cut with a die. If the
bulb mas a neck, small pegs Of iron arc
first prepared by being cemented and
wound with strips of rubber as a 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 buIbmaker then
takes the softened rubber, and TAX
ing prepared peg places the neck
on one piece On one side Of the rubber
core and another neck piece On the OPP
pcsite side, then presses them firmly to-
gether, and, rolling the whole tube
shaped piece between thumb and fore
finger, has finished the Deck Of the bulb.
The next process is that of knitting the
edges which form the seam This is
doIie by holding the finished neck to-
ward TIE operator in bis left hand.
while with the thumb and forefnger CT
the right lie pincheS the e6ges firmly
together for nearly tie whole distance
around Into tie side aperture, which
is left open, is poured little water or
hquid ammonia. The opening is then
made still smaller, and as final touch
the maker puts his lips to the orifce and
blows full and hard into the bulb. The
softened rubber under this pressure ex-
pan6s, the fattened shape is lost IN
fuller and more rounded outline, while
the operator, with quick nip Of his
teeth, closes the opening, the imprisoned
air and water holding the sides apart in
symmetrical coFpulency.
The partly made bulb is now passed
On 10 the turner's, who, armed with scis-
sors with curved blades, carefully circle
the SCANS, cutting away all uneyenness,
till the whole exterior is ready for the
mold.
The bulbs, as soGn as they leave the
trimmers' hands. are laid in shallow
pans filed with chalk When taken
from here, they are carefully busted
with tale, 60 that the rubber will not
adhere to tie inside Of the mold. \
mold worker then takes cne-haf Of the
mold in his LETT hand and with his right
gently fcrces a bulb irto it. Gaping it
with tke second half. Each bulb, if the
pattern weaker Is skillful, Will fit its
mold; Otherwise TIE finished bulb IS apt
10 be inpe,fsct-
Tie lnclGs are run upon email tracks
into the vUlcznjzeT. After they have
been cured sufficient time tie vulcan
izels ere epenoa a1d the cans are run
under al ordinary shower bath, which
quickly ccols them. They are then I'M
keyed, the molds Twisted open AID the