The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-12
WONDERS or AN UMBRELLA.
It Illustrates What Can he Done by Amer.
lean Methods Of Manufacture.

lean Methods Of Manufacture.
An automatic self-opening or self-closing
umbrella can be bought for 81. These
umbrellas are made here SO chesply that
the imported frames have almost been
driven out of the market.
The ordinary ffty-cent umbrella con-
tains at least ninety parts. not counting
the thread used in sewing il or the orna-
mentation on the handle. The automatic
umbrellas have nearly half as many more
separate pieces entering into their con-
struction. The mere assembling Of the
parts of an umbrella containing nearly
100 members might be expected to cost
more than the finished article sells for.
1t is not surprising that simple objects
can be turned cut iCr two or three cents Q
hundred in a finished q nditiCn In two or
three separate operations but il il cer-
tainly marvel that an article like an UNI
brella, in which much hand labor is necee-
sary TO fasten these parts together, adjust
them, complete the structure, test 1t and
make II ready for the market, can he manu-
featured ~ cheaply that the concrete article
can be made TO pay three profits and reach
the buyer at 40 cents.
The cheapest umbrella made contains
twice forty-nine. pieces, large and small.
Each OF these pieces requires fro IN six TO
twenty mechanical operate MS before IL 10
in place, besides the details of raising.
spinning: weaving and dyeing the fabric
and mining and converting the ore and
elab' rating the steel members.
Altogether the me dern umbrella il one
of the best Of all exempifcatitn us of what
can be accomplished by American metht dis,
machinery and ingenuity. The umbrella
n Of steel tubing. nicely japanned in brown
and tipped with substantial ferrule ard
" lid steel pc int. Is in itself a remar ka bic
structure. II may be an open-searn tube
or one which is brazed. but in either case
1t requires repeated landings and ma
chinery Of great nicely TO turn IL cut
Its brass latchee are accurately stamped
out of sheet metal In two operate MS and
are fixed In place by hand. The ribs, or
bows, and the spreadeIs are made fro m
strips Of thin sheet steel drawn thro ugh
dies to give them a form which pr, duces
the greatest strength for the weight Of
metal
The, are then supplied with the little
round tips and the reenforcements are
clamped upon them and he les are pierced
in them, all by special machinery. After
ward they are dipped In japan and baked
In an oven at high heat.
All the parts Of a modern American UNI
brella are made to accurate gauge and are
interchangeable. The business Of making
frames is generally separate from that OF
covering and supplying handles.
1t will be noticed that 90 per cent. Of the
cheap modern umbrellas have one 81 yle OF
handle, natural wood crook, which makes
il convenient 70 hang the umbrella upon
the arm. Nearly all OF these bent handled
are imported and the preparation OF the
wood begins year or more before the living
growth is cut.
The wounding Of twigs and saplings for
canes and umbrella handles goes on year
after year In foreign countries. Men and
women and children 60 around with knives
and carving gouges and stab the bark OF
the sprouts Of oak and other woods at close
intervals and in straight lines or sprals.
The implements pierce the soft wood under
the bark and nature soon begins TO repair
the injury.
The cuts are made heart shaped. V shaped.
in the form OF a horseshoe or In zigzag
lines and straight dashes When the twigs
are cut In the following year and the bark
is removed. these markings are found
raised above the surface Of the wood.
The wood is bent into the crook form by
heating it in hot sand and is tied In shape
while hot. Afterward comes the work OF
trimming boring, staining and polishing the
handles or mounting with silver or baser
metal.
IL might seem that the handle upon a
half-dollsr umbrella must cost nearly as
much as the rest OF the material; but these
bent wood handles are 10 cheap that they
are employed in preference to any other
kind. In recent years there has been con-
siderable wounding of oak sprouts and
harvesting of canes and umbrella handles
in this country, but II Is said 10 he all done
by aged foreigners with whom the practice
almost became second nature In the father
land.
The difference between a dollar UNI
brella and one which costs ten times "a
much is not 20 great now as II was a few
years ago. 1t Ia a matter OF covering and
ornamentation rather than Of construction.