Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-10-06
MAKING BALLOONS FOR USE IN WAR.
tTIsA DIFFICULT AND DELICATE PROCESS REQUIRING THE SERVICES OF BOTH MEN AND WOMEN
By Judson Lawrence, 2alloonmaker.

I'eter into two hinged parts. The aper.
lures are held by springs, Which only
yield to pressure. The valve is opened by
merely pulling a string, technically
know as the valve line, which passes
down through the balloon and out at the
lower o%rifice, at which the neck ter
inmates
The same mechanic has also been at
work on the ring which surrounds the
neck-a simple circle of wood furnished
with pegs to receive the netting with
which the envelope is covered, and hold
fast the material. The next thing this
same man makes is the suspension ring,
a much more substantial piece of work.
manship, which goes above the car and
holds the ropes
work of cord which surround the silk
envelope these form two of the most
important items in the correct con-
struction of the balloon. 1t is neces-
sary to ascertain exactly what resist
ance they will stand. Neither must they
be too strong nor too fragile, but ex-
aotly right. All depends or the size and
strength of the balloon itself, and precise
mathematical formulate have to be fol-
lowed in making the selection of netting
and cord. Needless to say, only the best
hempen cord is ever used.
The amount of cord used on a single
balloon is extraordinary. This particular
one will use up about $500 yards, and
counting all lHt IllIfUI IopSo llA II
one way and another, the total will not
be much under five miles.
And the car? This is the part of a
balloon that most troubles the embry-
onic aeronaut. He fancies it could so
easily be detached or tipped over, and on
his first ascent skywards his mind is full
of apprehension on this score. But
nothing of the kind is possible. The ropes
which support the car are
with it's wicker work, and run right
l ~ ,~,,- "a 1~ ttn on, "of +: = fhrtc m y ~ ~
the car absolutely an integral portion of
the whole balloon.
THE LAST TOUCHES.
Balloons that are made of pure silk
have to be vanished with a preparation
of linseed oil in order to render the en-
velopa more imperviouS to the gas, and
also to prevent the too elastic material
getting out of shape.
This vanishing of the envelope is the
last operation it u~ndergoes, and it is by
no means an easy one. A row Of female
workers take hold of the silken envelope
and place it on the ground. They lay 1t
out lengthways, the valve, of course, at
one extremity, the neck at the other,
They manipulate the huge mass of ma
terial until they get it into something
akin to the shape of a long spindle.
Then by their united efforts they
raise it-still in this shape-place it on q
bench that runs the whole length of the
val IioilHiS Shcp, "hiSic - SoihAtSu ~
the charge OF the varnishers, who by
means of pads sperad over it a prepare
ton mainly consisting of quick-drying
linseed oil. The vanishing process over
the whole of the fabric is then sus'
j.. pended on long poles attached to The
, walls of the shop" and is there left un'
) disturbed for eight or ten day to be,
come thoroughly dry.
A silk balloon is generally given five
coats of varnish. SO it can easily be un'
: deIstood that these operations occupy
> quite a large proportion of the time
taken in constructing a balloon.
All is now practically finished. Tn
most delicate of all modern vehicles i:
: ready for it's work. The only thing ye
/. necessary is it's imitation.
! When that is accomplished and thu
e a%eronaut gives the word, the beautiful
! air-ship will bound swiftly skywards
S the admiration of all beholders, and a de,
light to it's lucky owner.