The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1906-05-18
MAKING AN UMBRELLA.
THE AMERICAN TRADE FLOUR
ISLES BEST IN PHILADEL-
PHlA.
Handles May Cost GreatIy-Mod-
ern Machines Make It Possible
for One Girl to Sew 1900 Yards Of
Umbrella Cloth in One Day.

ON11rCItd OtOtu w VIC SNI
Some ten thousand people in the
United States are today engaged In
making umbrellas, parasols and canes.
The call for canes, of course, comes
chiefly from the cities. The umbrella
industry began in this country about
104 years ago, but for some time the
parts were brought chiefly from Eu-
rope, and America was CHIEFLY an es-
sembling ground 1t is said that the
first umbrella seen on this side OF the
pond was carried through the streets
of Baltimore, and that at the sight OF
it horses scared and the population
marveled Be that as it may, Pnlla-
delphia is the pioneer home OF tne
umbrella, boasts the Record OF that
city. The Quaker city Is still the
greatest in point of umbrella produc
ton though other cities have come 10
the front both in the East and the
Middle West.
In the making of modern umbrellas
the styles of cloth do not cnange SO
much, but improvements and 1nnova-
lions in construction have been quite
marked in recent years. When man
pays seventy-five or more dollars LOT
an umbrella large per cent OIL the
cost is represented in the handle. 1t
may be of gold, silver or ebony any
one of which would be expensive. An
umbrella with detachable nanuie
enables the owner to preserve the
most valuable part of his umbrella
for many years and renew the clotn
and frame whenever necessity re-
uuires. This is one of the many econ
omies and conveniences represented
in modern construction. Another style
permits of an umbrella being folded
so that it may be conveniently car
ried in trunk or even valise.
The cloth for umbrellas and para
soils comes to the umbrella factory IN
rolls. This cloth is unrolled upon
what is known as splitting table
and here fifty or more thicknesses
at a time may be cut into the prescriD-
ed lengths by means Of long sharp
bladed knife slot in the table
assists in guiding the knife. TIE
cloth is now ready for the hemmlng
machines. The speed of these ma
chimes Is 5000 revolutions minute,
making it possible for each girl to
hem 1900 yards Of cloth in one day.
Everyone who has ever given the
construction of an umbrella even pass
ing notice can appreciate the fact that
the pieces of cloth which constitute
the cover are triangular in shape.
After the hemming, the strips OF cloth
go to another cutter who places a trl-
angular pattern upon the goods and
with a sharp knife cuts one triangle
after another, being careful to waste
as little of the CLOTH as possible.
When umbrellas were made with
out the aid of modern machinery, not
only was the cloth hemmed by hand,
but the construction of the frame was
a more tedious operation. Using
wood for main rod and whalebone for
ribs has given place to an entire steel
construction. There are factories
which make business OF turning out
nothing but metal rods and ribs for
umbrellas. The assembling of the
frames is often done by boys. each
one taking in hand a tiny wire and
a number of ribs, the number differ
ing in different kinds of umbrellas,
and after inserting the wire in the
tiny holes brings the ribs together
about the rod.
The uniting of the covers and
frames is done by a force OF girls
after tine triangular pieces Of cloth
heretofore referred to have been me
chemically sewed together. A part OF
this force sews the cover about the
rod and others work at attaching the
covers to the ribs. In some factories
the handle is put ON before the cover
ing and frame are united, but on the
better grades of umbrellas this Is
usually done afterwards. The umtbrel-
las are next pressed and inspected,
placed in covers and packed in boxes
ready for shipment.
Very great attention is paid to the
handles of both umbrellas and para
soils nowadays. It is said that there
are great opportunities for wood and
stone carvers in directing their atten-
ton to these handles. Carved bird
heads are very popular on parasols.
Besides the gold, silver and ebony
handles already mentioned, there are
umbrella handles of china, tortoise
shell, horn and ivory, and number
of different kinds of wood. Some are
even jeweled.
The making of umbrellas is an in
dustry which continues the year
round. There Is greater call for
parasols at one season of the year
than another, but with umbrellas the
demand is continuous. every rain i'm
pressing some one with the fact that
he is in need Of new umbrella. One
cannot help but wonder where all
the umbrellas go, but the fact re-
mains that the demand increases with