oS Saatabe mete ati eer 2S = ~ 8 y ~S = R ~ iS) = = the History of of cience and Technology The Dib S ae, Sed « ARE ee eR CEE ERE < aicielaieisie/=Inisinierelviolsinieisinie einieieteielsra\cielateleteietstere eee p. 131 CHAPTER IX. GOODYEAR’S HEATED OR VULCANIZED INDIA RUBBER. Characteristics of the native gum. Goodyear’s heated or vulcanized India rubber; its elasticity ; pliability ; durability ; insolubility ; unalterability ; inadhesiveness ; impermeability ; plasticity ; facility of printing, and of being ornamented by painting, bronzing, gilding, japanning, and mix- ing with colors; non-electric property; odor. Test of vulcanized and unvulcanized gum- ELA BEC cian ann aeesgenics niece aiualae oie wate wale seipferere blow eth Sine sprebhsyae bel acey ee SEE eee eee p. 137 through the back of their mother, and come forth. The empty cells remain upon the branches. These are composed of the milky juice of the plant, which serves as nourishment to the insects, and which is afterwards transformed or elaborated into the red coloring matter which is found mixed with the resin, but in greater quantities in the bodies of the insects, in their eggs, and still more copiously in the red liquor secreted for feeding the young. After the brood escapes, the cells contain much less coloring matter. On this account the branches should be broken off before this happens, and dried in the sun. In the East Indies this operation is performed twice in the year; the first time in March, the second in October. The twigs incrusted _ with the radiated cellular substance, constitute the stick lac of commerce. It is of a red color, more or less deep, nearly trans- parent, and hard, with a brilliant conchoidal fracture. The stick lac of Siam is the best; a piece of it, presented to me by Mr. Rennie, of Fenchurch street, having an incrustation fully one quarter of an inch thick all round the twig. The stick lac of Assam ranks next; and last, that of Bengal, in which the resinous coat is scanty, thin, and irregular. According to the analysis of Dr. John, stick lac consists of An odorous common resin : ° : : c 80.00 A resin insoluble in ether . . 5 4 o f - 20.00 Coloring matter, analogous to that of cochineal . . 4.50 Bitter balsamic matter Pe ee : . : ° - 3.00 Dun yellow extract : : : ° - : 0.50 Acid of the stick lac (laccic “ss Sha ie : ° 2) Onde Fatty matter, like wax . A 5 ° . : ° 3.00 Skin of the insects and coloring matter ° . . » 2.00 Salts : : : : ‘ : : : : : 1.25 Barths 5 4 : < A . . ° a Onde Loss : é . 5 : 5 5 : : . 4.75 120.00 we I> One » 40 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. “ According to Franke, the constituents of stick lac are, resin, 65.7; substance of the lac, 28.8; coloring matter, 0.6. “Seed lac. When the resinous concretion is taken off the twigs, coarsely pounded and triturated with water in a mortar, the greater part of the coloring matter is dissolved, and the granular portion which remains, being dried in the sun, consti- tutes seed lac. It contains, of course, less coloring matter than the stick lac, and is much less soluble. John found in 100 parts of it, resin, 66.7; wax, 1.7; matter of the lac, 16.7; bitter bal- samic matter, 2.5; coloring matter, 3.9; dun yellow extract, 0.4; envelopes of insects, 2.1; laccice acid, 0.0; salts of potash and lime, 1.0; earths, 6.6; loss, 4.2. “Tn India, the seed lac is put into oblong bags of cotton cloth, which are held over a charcoal fire by a man at each end, and as soon as it begins to melt, the bag is twisted so as to strain the liquified resin through its substance, and to make it drop upon some smooth stems of the banyan tree, (Musa paridisa.) In this way the resin spreads into thin plates, and constitutes the sub- stance known in commerce by the name of shellac. “The Pegu stick lac, being very dark colored, furnishes a shellac of a corresponding deep hue, and, therefore, of inferior value. The palest and finest shellac is brought from the Northern Circas. It contains very little coloring matter. A stick lac of an intermediate quality is brought from the Mysore - country, which yields a brillant lac-dye and a good shellac. It is but recently that gum-shellac has been used in the man- ufacture of the vulcanized compounds. Thus far it appears to be indispensable in one of the hard compounds, and in many of the fabrics, it is preferable to all other inferior gums and resins, on account of the more agreeable odor of the fabrics. In these it is mixed in about the proportion of one part shellac to three parts caoutchouc. A, er FIR-TREE GUMS. BITUMEN. 41 PINE AND OTHER FIR-TREE GUMS.—TURPENTINE, &c The abundance and commonness of these substances in northern climates render it quite unnecessary to treat of their production and native qualities. The importance of their use, particularly that of pitch and resin, in combination with caout- chouc, when submitted to the process of vulcanization, is only now beginning to be known. They have, together with coal-tar, asphaltum, &c., in some cases been used in small quantities by both American and English manufacturers of gum-elastic. The sudden temporary advance of caoutchouc to a very high price, in 1851, has in- - duced the writer, as well as the manufacturers of caoutchouc, to attempt their use with that of coal-tar in larger quantity ; and it has been found that some of them, if not all, when prop- erly treated, may be used with great advantage in some of the vulcanized compounds in equal proportions with caoutchouc. BITUMEN OF VARIOUS KINDS.—ASPHALTUM, COAL-TAR, &c. Considering the vegetable origin of these substances, it would be reasonable to suppose they would be found to combine read- ily with caoutchouc, and also be susceptible of vulcanization when combined-with it. This has proved to be the fact with regard to them. They are also found valuable, not only on account of their abundance and cheapness, but also because they serve to give a polish or lustre to the articles when it is desired, and likewise to prevent the effervescence of an excess of sulphur in the fabrics. 49 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. They are cheaper substances than any of the vegetable gums, as they are now obtained. Some of them, particularly coal-tar, was used at an early day to a limited extent in the manufacture of caoutchouc. The same causes which operated to bring about. the more extensive use of the resinous gums in this manufacture, have also led to the use of bitumen and coal-tar in greater quantities in the vulcanized compounds. The chief objection to their use is, that they impart their peculiar odor to the fabrics ; but in some of them which are used in the open air, where this odor is less objectionable, bitumen or coal-tar may be used in equal propor- tions with caoutchouc or India rubber. CHAPTER IV. EARLY HISTORY OF GUM-ELASTIC. Condamine’s paper to the French Academy on gum-elastic. First importation of shoes into the United States. Para the principal place of export. Method of gathering the gum by the Indians, and their manufacture of shoes and toys. European manufacture. Of McIntosh. Of the French. American manufacture. The Roxbury Cempany. “GuM-ELAsTIc was first introduced into Europe and the civilized world from South America, about the close of the seventeenth or the beginning of the eighteenth century. It is certain that very little attention was paid to the new material until the year 1736, when, as we are informed, M. de la Condamine, a French Academician at Cayenne, presented a paper to the F'rench Academy, describing the tree from which it is obtained, and the mode of preparation practiced by the natives of South America. Very little was heard of it until 1790, when some pieces of it were brought to England from India. It was then found to pos- sess one of its peculiar properties, adhesiveness, which renders it valuable, for erasing pencil marks; for this and its wonderful elastic property, there has never been found any substitute. The use of the article for other purposes, was first learned from the Omagua tribe of Brazilian Indians, who cured it in their peculiar manner, as described under the head of ‘Indian Manu- factures.’ By these Indians it was brought to the notice of the first Portuguese settlers in Para, and by them the traffic in it was commenced with Europeans and Americans. The first pair of shoes imported was brought into the United States in 1820. They were gilded, and had long pointed toes, like those of the Mandarin of China. They were said to be a | 44 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. from India, but as no shoes have been brought from that country since, the origin of this pair is doubtful. In 1823, a lot of five hundred pairs was brought into Boston, and sold at high prices, they were soon after imported in large quantities. From that year may be dated the commerce in this article, which has since grown to such extent. The India rubber bottles were imported into Europe and the United States in small quantities, many years before, and were commonly cut up and used for the pur- pose of erasing pencil marks.” INDIAN MANUFACTURE. “The city of ‘Santa Maria de Belem do Grand Para,’ is situated on the southern branch of the river Amazon, called the Tocantins, one hundred miles from its mouth, and lies in 1! de- grees S. latitude. Para is the capital of the truly magnificent province of the same name, which forms the northern boundary of Brazil; the city contains twenty thousand inhabitants, and being the only port of entry on the Amazon, is a place of con- siderable commercial importance, receiving, as it does, all the produce of that immense river, on which are situated a great number of important trading villages. There are several American, English, and French houses established here, but the principal part of business is carried on by Portuguese merchants.” We are not informed by what steps the natives advanced to the degree of perfection attained by them in the manufacture of this singular substance. That the natives should have invented their various processes of gathering, moulding, and smoking the native gum, is certainly creditable to their ingenuity. It is only recently that civilized men have been able, by the aid of chemical combinations, to improve upon the qualities of the substance which the Indians imparted to it by their mode of manufacture. a , — INDIAN MANUFACTURE. 45 The plate 1 represents an Indian camp in the vicinity of Para, where the gum is manufactured, from which place most of the gum has heretofore been exported to the United States. No. 1, in the cut, . Indian tapping the tree. ke * . Attaching the clay pipes. Sige » . Pouring the gum upon lasts or clay forms. Ce ss . Smoking the shoes or bottles. The two words, Indian-rubber and India-rubber, are indiffer- ently applied to caoutchouc or gum-elastic: both of these terms are alike correct; and the first, as relates to the Indian of Brazil and his manufacture ; the latter, as applied to the article coming also from India. The articles of native gum heretofore imported from Para, as shoes, bottles, and toys, have always been exclusively made by these Indians. In this manufacture, the ingenuity of the savage may excite our admiration, especially if we take for granted, as in the absence of other information to the contrary we are authorized to do, that he is the inventor of the moulding and smoking process. This art is practiced by the natives, a tribe of Omagua, and is unknown in any other part of the globe. The shoes of their manufacture have been imported into the United States since 1820, and the bottles since 1800. These were first cut in pieces, and used for rubbing out pencil marks, and it is from this apparently trivial application that the sub- stance took the name of rubber. The average export of Para shoes to the United States since 1820, has amounted to about five hundred thousand pairs per annum; and the export of India rubber from Para in the form of shoes, will no doubt continue for a long time to come. For it always happens that when articles of great utility once obtain in the market, a long time must elapse before their consumption ceases, however great the subsequent improvements in these articles, or their substitutes may be. The Indian manufacture of the gum is conducted on a small a A 46 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. scale by individuals in the neighborhood of the city of Para, and is carried on more extensively at a greater distance, within a circuit of about fifty miles. The gum is obtained from the tree on the slightest incision, at all seasons of the year; but it flows most freely, and the gum is most easily collected, during the dry season; very little, com- paratively, is collected during the rainy months. The business is most attended to during the months of May, June, July, and August. The gum gathered at this time is considered the best. Camps or orchards are selected where the trees are most abun- dant, which is commonly in swampy or low grounds. “The method of collecting and manufacturing the gum, is as follows: The trees are tapped early in the morning, by a blow of a hatchet, about an inch in width, and a clay cup, resembling the mud swallow’s nest, made by the hands of the workmen, is attached to the tree immediately under the incision. One person, with his hatchet, takes his beat, of a mile, perhaps, in extent, taps his seventy or eighty trees, which are as many as an active fel- low can attend to, commencing at five and finishing at seven o'clock in the morning. The sun, be it understood, always rising at six o'clock. Having now tapped his number of trees, and attached about six cups to each of them, he returns to his starting place, and with his calabash goes the same round, and collects the small table spoonful of milk, or sap, which he finds in each clay cup. As the man goes his circuit, he empties the sap into his calabash. The cups are fitted into each other, and covered with leaves at the foot of each tree to keep them moist, for the next tapping of the same tree in another place. In this manner he has obtained from one to two gallons, according to the season or other circumstances. The milk by this time has ceased to flow, and the incision through the bark already be- comes clogged. The milk, after being collected, is taken home, where imme- diate preparations are made for the smoking process, which must all be finished before two o'clock, otherwise the milk will coagu- late and be lost. This service of manufacturing the gum into Ak = “59 hl CUT”: INDIAN MANUFACTURE. 47 shapes is usually performed by the man’s wife or daughters, by pouring the sap upon clay forms or wooden lasts, which are held in the hand. It takes from twenty to twenty-five coats of the sap to form a shoe. Upon applying each successive coat of the gum in this way, the article is held over the small furnace re- presented by fig. in the plate, and smoked for about half a minute. ‘The smoke is produced from the burning of the wassou palm-nut, which is plentiful in that country; it is about the size of the largest hickory nut, but resembles more the black walnut. It is stated, no doubt correctly, that no other smoke will produce the same effect upon the gum. The natural color of the native gum is yellowish white; the dark brown color of the im- ported article is imparted by the smoke. The gum is consid- erably hardened by this process; it is also rendered less adhesive, and is so far changed as to be much improved for the subsequent purposes of re-manufacturing, as formerly conducted in the United States and in Europe. This effect is not needed for the manufacture by my process. The shoes and toys, when sufficiently dried in this manner, are often ornamented in a rude way, by impressions made by the point of a knife or a wooden stamp, about twenty-four hours after the articles are finished.”* After four or five days, the clay is washed out of the article formed, or where lasts are used they are removed from the shoes ; which are next tied together in pairs, and hung on poles. In this manner they are conveyed to Para, where they are pur- chased by the merchants for exportation, and stuffed with hay or grass for the purpose of keeping them in form. It is some months before the shoes become hard enough for service; but they are gradually hardened by age. The shape of the shoes has commonly been improved by lasting and trimming, after their importation into the United States. The firm of Messrs. Smith & Son, the first dealers in these shoes in New York, obtained a high reputation for their shoes, by taking advantage of the above circumstance, and keeping their stock on hand until well A * Charles Smith, Esq. a GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. seasoned. Much less care is taken by the natives in preparing the bottles, which are made for the supply of the foreign re- manufacture; this is productive of much mischief, as is fully stated under the head of “ Method of gathering the gum.” The trees are not tapped oftener than every other day, and when suffered to remain undisturbed for several days, the yield is proportionally greater. These trees continue to yield sap for upwards of twenty years; and it is a well known fact, that the oldest and most frequently tapped trees produce the richest sap. Following is a more detailed description of the method pur- sued by the Indians near Para in gathering the gum and manu- facturing shoes ; written by an individual who formerly resided in Para.* The India Rubber Tree—Mode of collecting the Gum, and of making and figuring India Rubber Shoes. In reply to your inquiries respecting the India rubber business at Para, I will endeavor to say something of what I lately saw there as to the mode of preparing the article for market. The “ Seringa’ tree, as it is called by the natives, (the India Rubber,) is common to the whole valley of the Amazon, but is most abundant on the island and low lands, which at times are in- undated in the rainy season. ‘The trees are scattered promis- cuously through the forest, and reach a diameter of eighteen inches or more; the bark is smooth, somewhat resembling the beech, but thicker. The leaf is an oblong oval, thick and glossy, the wood white and rather soft, being useless for build- ing, as it decays very soon. The milk is white and tasteless, and may be taken into the stomach with impunity, much re- sembling the milk which exudes from the milk-weed of New England, and seems to reside in the bark, or between the bark and wood. The first work of the “Seringeros” (as the Indians who gather the article are called,) is to open foot-paths from tree to tree in the forest, so as to form a circuit sufficient for the operations of one man; so that each man has his circuit * Mr. W. D. Gookin, Southport, Conn. SOSSo “SZ 4 INDIAN MANUFACTURE. 49 diverging from the cabin. These paths constitute the chief value of a location, rather than the soil, and are sold or rented to the occupants at moderate prices. The Seringeros generally — locate as near the town as possible, that their supplies and mar- ket may be at hand; for they depend upon the rubber for subsistence. The hut, or cabin, is built upon some branch of the river, or on some of the numerous tide creeks which pene- trate the whole of this flat country near the river. The cabin is built on posts set in the ground, with the floor elevated from two to four feet, so as to be above the inundations and spring tides. It is thatched with some kind.of palm-leaf, and the rind of the same tree furnishes the boards for the floor. They live simply and cheaply ; for a basket of farina, a coarse quality of tapioca, made from the mandicoa root, and costing from 50 to _ 150 cents, sustains a person some thirty-five days, and is eaten dry, or a little moistened, with the addition of a piece of dried fish roasted. This, with coffee, is the standing food of the coun- try people, Indians, and negroes, who are the collectors of rubber. The tree requires to be tapped every day, by making an inci- sion into the bark with a species of tomahawk, about an inch wide. Beneath each incision is attached a cup made of moist clay, about the size and form of the half of a goose egg, which keep their places by the adhesion of the clay. From six to ten cups are placed upon a tree, which yield from two to five table- spoonsful of milk each, per day. The trees are tapped from the root to as far up as can be reached even by a scaffold. Each incision makes a rough wound on the tree, which in time, though not dead, makes them useless, because a smooth place is required on which to attach the cups. The men start out at daylight to tap their trees, each taking a ball of kneaded clay in his hand for making any cups that may be wanted, and having made their circuit in three or four hours, return to the house for breakfast. Soon after noon, they make the round again, to collect the milk in gourds, slung in thongs of bark, and hung over the shoulder. The cups are de- tached from the tree to empty them, and remain covered up at a 30 vy GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. the foot of each tree for the next day’s use. On reaching the house, the milk is manufactured at once into shoes, bottles, or sheets, as it soon hardens. This is often done by females. A fire is made of some nuts, common in the forest, over which is placed, inverted, an earthen pot with a hole in the bottom, whence issues a jet of hot smoke. The wooden last, after being smeared with clay to prevent adhesion, is dipped into the milk, which adheres to it like paint, and is hardened by one or two seconds’ exposure to the hot smoke, then is plunged again suc- cessively into the milk until the required thickness is obtained. Extra coats are given to the heel and sole. About sixteen to eighteen dips form the shoe—say ten general coats and six extra for the bottoms and heels. Each last has a handle which is stuck into the ground for the shoe to dry. When finished, they are of a dingy white; but by exposure to the sun and dew, in a few days turn brown and black, during which they are covered with drops of water exuding from the rubber. In two days the shoes are hard enough for figuring, which state lasts some three days. This is done simply by drawing lines on the soft surface with the rounded points of wire or needles, two or three of which are fixed in a handle, forming a species of style, with which figures are formed according to fancy. Stamps do not answer, perhaps owing to the irregularity of the surface of the last. In a week the shoes are taken from the last (which once were made of clay, but now wood is only used.) As soon as a few pairs are finished, they are taken to market and sold by the makers, under previous engagements, and perhaps for advances received, at from ten to fifteen cents per pair. One man collects milk for six to ten pairs per day. The dipping of a pair of shoes occupies about fifteen minutes, and the figuring, the same or less. The bottles are made by dipping a ball of clay formed around the end of a stick, which is removed when dry or by soaking in water; these, with sheets and refused shoes, are consumed in the manufacture of metallic rubber, and are generally shipped in bags or bulk, while the shoes, after being stuffed with straw rubber and shoes pay a provincial duty of fifteen per cent., at EUROPEAN MANUFACTURE. 51 to preserve the form, are packed in boxes for shipment. The which time both duties are exacted, unless the certificates of the payment of the city duty are produced. The rubber of Para is the best known, and thus far has only been collected near the coast; but the “Seringa’’ abounds throughout the banks of the Amazon and its numerous branches, up to the foot of the Andes, as well as also the Orinoco, and other parts of South America: hence the supply will ever be inexhaustible. The collection is mainly confined to the dry season, from the effect of the rain on the crops. EUROPEAN MANUFACTURE. With the European manufacture the author is less acquainted than with the American. It is generally well known that the manufacture of gum-elastic in the civilized world was first commenced in Europe, and that of the India rubber cloths in particular, in England. The manufacture of the raw gum into threads, weaving it, &c., has been the subject of many patents and much litigation, both in England and France; notwith- standing which the manufacture has always been a successful one. In those countries, however, a very different class of articles was made, from those which were subsequently manu- factured in the United States. The manufactures of these countries consisted mostly of articles made from the raw mate- rial smoked by the Indians, such as woven suspenders made of braided cloth, &c., in which the gum, not being dissolved in their manufacture, and also being protected by a covering of thread by weaving or braiding, it was not so immediately liable to decomposition and loss of its elasticity, as it was in the case of the re-manufacture afterwards carried on in the United States, in other articles in which a solvent was used. The Macintosh goods, in which a solvent was used, were less liable to damage and decomposition, because the gum was pro- tected by being spread between two cloths. At that period, the be 52 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. Europeans had more experience, and understood the manufac- ture of gum-elastic better than the Americans, and did not, like them, fail in their first attempts. In the year 1821, Charles Macintosh, Esq., established the manufacture of the well-known and long-celebrated Macintosh goods. For the information of those who may chance to be un- acquainted with these goods and the method of their manufacture, it may be said they consisted chiefly of wearing apparel, such as coats and capes, and what is generally termed air-work, such as beds, pillows, cushions, life-preservers, &c. The method of man- ufacture consisted in spreading a coat of dissolved gum between two cloths, which rendered them water-proof. The adoption of this method is itself proof of the perishable nature of the gum, and the imperfection of the goods previous to the introduction of the improvements treated of in this work. As the method, in fact, amounts to protecting the gum between two cloths, in order to make its water-proof qualities available, instead of protecting one cloth by either one or two coats of gum on the outside, as is done with the heated or vulcanized article; and, although thus pro- tected in the Macintosh fabric, the gum is found to melt and penetrate through the meshes of the cloth in a warm climate, or when much worn by those who perspire freely. In the humid atmosphere of England, and in other cold countries, notwithstand- ing their imperfections, these goods have been found extremely useful ; and the inventor not only attained a high reputation, but was thereby enabled to accumulate a very handsome fortune. About the year , the manufacture of gum-elastic was commenced in France, which consisted almost wholly in pressing the Indian bottles into flat pieces, and afterwards cutting them by machinery into thread, which were wound or braided over with silk, and next woven into suspenders, or sold for guard- chains or other similar purposes. This thread was also used as a warp, and woven into suspenders without covering. The manufacture has been a successful and profitable one, and has been carried on to a very great extent to this time; for although the elasticity of the article is lost by use, it continues long As ny { @ AMERICAN MANUFACTURE. 53 enough to give satisfaction to the wearer, in the absence of any- thing better. The well known house of Messrs. Rattier and Guibal, Paris, have been most extensively engaged in the manufacture, and have brought it to a high state of perfection, producing a variety of useful and beautiful articles. They have continued their manufacture to the present time, and are now interested as licensees in the recent improvements of the author. AMERICAN MANUFACTURE. Various experiments were made in the United States with the solution of .gum-elastic, as early as 1824. It had long been known to chemists, that the essential oils were solvents of the gum, before attempts were made by manufacturers to manufac- ture it, or restore it to its native state, after having been dis- solved. The secret, as it was for a long time called, of dissolv- ing, became at length generally known as early as 1829. From this time, great numbers of persons turned their atten- tion to experimenting with it, and the subject became one of general interest. Mr.S.C. Smith, of Providence, Rhode Island, one of the first who commenced the manufacture, opened a store in 18—, for the sale of India rubber goods, at the corner of Maiden lane and William street, N. York. In 18—, this firm, sub- sequently S.C. Smith & Sons, removed to Chatham street, where they carried on a prosperous business in the manufacture of shoes, from the sheets of gum made by the Indians at Para, and in the sale of the Para shoes. The shoes of this house attained - a high reputation, by their keeping a large stock on hand, and allowing them to become well seasoned before they were sold. Messrs. Smith & Son retired from the business with a hand- some fortune, shortly after the recent improvements were in- troduced. Among the first to manufacture India rubber, were Mr. John 54 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. Haskins and Mr. Edwin M. Chaffee, of Roxbury, Massachusetts, who commenced their operations in 1832. By these gentlemen, in connection with some others, of Roxbury and Boston, the celebrated Roxbury India Rubber Company was started, which was shortly after incorporated, with a capital of $300,000, which was afterwards increased to $400,000. For this company Mr. Chaffee invented the famous machine for spreading gum-elastic without a solvent, which is now so generally known as the mam- moth machine; machinery of this kind, but of smaller dimen- sions, is now generally used in the United States, in the man- ufacturing of gum-elastic. The mammoth machine weighed about thirty tons, and was patented by Mr. Chaffee, who dis- posed of the patent to the Roxbury company for the sum of $10,000; the machine itself cost nearly $30,000, owing to its uncommon size and the length of time in building. Immediately after the establishment of the Roxbury company, many other companies were incorporated, with the impetuosity and daring so characteristic of American enterprise. _ In Boston, South Boston, Chelsea, Woburn, and Framingham, Massachu- setts; New York, Staten Island, and Troy, New York; fac- tories were started with capitals of from $50,000 to $500,000. After striving from one to three years to surmount the difficul- ties of the manufacture, they, as well as many individuals who had engaged in the manufacture, abandoned the business as hastily as they entered it, with generally a total loss of the capitals invested. As I shall have occasion to speak again, (in connection with my own experiments,) of the causes of the dis- asters which impelled them to abandon the manufacture, and induced me to experiment for the purpose of overcoming the difficulties, which have been previously referred to, I shall not enlarge upon them here. 5 wi eS) A CHAPTER Y. METHOD OF GATHERING THE NATIVE GUM. The present method of gathering Cum-elastic objectionable. The smoking process unneces- sary. Exposure te the sun injurious. Disadvantage of impure admixtures in gathering to manufacture. Virgin gum. Imported impure gums. The tropical regions yield an immense . supply of Gum-elastic. Tue object of this chapter is not to describe the method of _ gathering the gum as it is now practiced. This method is de- scribed under the head of “Indian Manufacture.” My purpose is briefly to draw the attention of the mercantile community to the subject, and to satisfy them that the present is perhaps the worst possible method that could be devised, and that it is at- tended with a vast amount of labor which does no good, but a great deal of injury. The market is now supplied almost wholly by the importation of India rubber from Para, which has been subjected to the process of Indian manufacture. This was in former times use- ful, but is now wholly unnecessary. What renders this article still more objectionable, is the careless manner in which the Indians perform their work, probably from ignorance of its im- portance; and in some instances, it would appear that foreign substances are purposely intermixed, in order to increase the weight of the gum. The writer does not profess to be sufficiently informed to prescribe any precise mode of gathering and treating the native gum, instead of that at present practiced in Para. The most suitable way will suggest itself to any man of intelligence, who is informed in what state the gum is wanted for the manufac- tories. Since the manufacture has undergone the changes oO cc . 08 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. treated of in this work, that which needs to be most insisted on is, that the gum should not be smoked, and should be kept clear from intermixture with any foreign substances. The state of the gum in other respects, and the size and shape of the masses, are of little consequence. Owing to the difference between the trees of India, and those of South America, and to the differ- ence in the flowing of the sap, and other circumstances, differ- ent ways may answer best in different countries, taking into consideration the mode of transportation, and always bearing in mind that the gum should not be long exposed to a hot sun. If it is drawn upon hides, or into ceroons made of hides, they should not be greasy, for although grease may be mixed with the gum in the process of vulcanizing, without harm, and some- times even with advantage, this cannot be done with the native unvulcanized gum without destroying it. The writer worked different lots of gum, collected in ceroons and casks, and also on hides, as early as 1835. These parcels of gum were of the very best quality, although they were in a filthy state, and for this reason, had been suffered to remain in the hands of the importer for years; and also, for the reason that at the time it was imported, there was little or no sale for gum of any description, unless it had been smoked by the na- tives, and submitted to the Indian process of curing with the wasson palm-nut, which was then necessary, in order to render it fit for the use of the American or European manufacturer. The shippers of these parcels, probably did not know the reason why the article was undesirable ; and probably do not now know, that the same article would now bring the very highest price, if clean, notwithstanding the offensive odor, which is usually con- sequent upon the gum being collected in these ways, and being left to coagulate in the whey. When drawn into ceroons, the whey discolors the gum, and when dried in it, becomes hard, and has the appearance of loam; but this is softened and washed out with hot water, and the unnatural, tainted odor, is dispelled in the process of manufacture. IMPURITIES IN INDIA GUM. 59 Possibly it may be best obtained by tapping the roots of the trees, which it is inferred may be done from the spontaneous flowing of the virgin gum from the trees which are not tapped. In countries where it is obtained by allowing the sap to flow down the side of the tree, the loose bark should be scraped from the tree. When the trees are abundant, and the branches are easily accessible, (as is said to be the case with some species of the tree,) the branches may be chopped off, and the gum drawn on hides, or into ceroons, or sacks made of hides. As the gum is not injured by salt water, it requires no protec- tion from it, and when it is most convenient, may as well be im- ported in ballast, as in any other way. It is sometimes imported thus from India. There is no danger of loss any where, under any circumstances, from spontaneous decomposition. In this respect, gum elastic is imperishable in its nature, and not subject - to decay, like some other vegetable substances. To conclude this important part of the subject, I repeat that it is only necessary to guard against two things, namely, the intermixing of foreign substances with the gum, and exposure to the sun. When it has been exposed to the sun for a long time, that part which is damaged may always be known by its melted and soft state, and where the masses are larger, as those from India sometimes are of a ton weight or more, the effect of the sun, or weather, will not extend so far beneath the surface as to cause much loss in the article, even if exposed a long time. The demand for native gum-elastic is becoming so great, and increasing with such rapidity, that there is no occasion for the Indian to delay the supply, by stopping to smoke it in layers of one hundred in number, to the thickness of an inch, when they may have enough to do to gather it with the least possible trouble. Virgin gum, that which is found at the root of trees which are not tapped, is always of the very best quality. I would here remark that it will be important to the interests of the countries, where the gum is gathered, as well as for those engaged in its importation, to notice particularly the following facts. In the early attempts to manufacture the gum in the Ca Y x 26 be see) CHO yo aw ~— 60 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. United States, it was found that no kind, except that which had been cured (in the manner alluded to) by the Indians, could be manufactured in any way, into goods that would not, in a very short time, decompose. This fact being generally made known in Para, and being exactly adapted to the state of the manufac- ture there, the Indians continued to smoke it, and the exporters have continued to send this kind of gum, and the manufacturers are now compelled to work it because they can obtain no other. This unfortunate state of things exists for the reason that it is not generally known that for the present manufacture, by the vulcanizing process, the gum is very much injured imstead of being improved by the present mode of gathering, and curing it by this tedious and expensive process of smoking. But the greatest objection to this method is, that being drawn into the clay cups, and moulded on clay, the clay gets mixed with the gum, and also during the process of smoking in the air, insects, and other foreign substances become mixed with it; beside, it is so much discolored by the smoke, that it can- not be worked into bright colors, or made so white as would be desirable for the purpose of printing. Were the gum drawn into close vessels, or into pans, and thus kept quite clean without this waste of labor, it would not only cost less, but be more than doubly valuable, for many uses, especially for the manufacture of air-proof fabrics, which could be made air-tight, with much less than half the thickness and quantity of gum that is now required, because when the gum is perfectly clean, articles of air work may be made air-tight, with an exceeding thin layer of gum, while a very small particle of dust in the gum will cause a leak, in a sheet thicker than would be required for this purpose, if it were quite pure. Although the labor of smoking is performed by Indian females, and may not be considered of much value, it is nevertheless a waste, the results of which are only evil, requiring the more costly labor of others to undo them. The importance of a change in the mode of gathering the gum, will fully appear, when it is considered that the chief cost , THE SOURCES OF GUM ABUNDANT. 61 in the manufacture, by the vulcanizing process, consists in cleaning and crushing the gum, or in’ other words, in undoing that which need not have been done. | On the Pacific coast of South America, the gum is said to be much more abundant, and more easily obtained than in Brazil. The gum which flows spontaneously from the roots of trees that are not tapped, and which is known and has been described, as virgin gum, and which is obtained in masses of from five to thirty pounds, although by no means clean, is decidedly better than that which is smoked. Unfortunately, the present mode of gathering gum, has become too general in Para to be suddenly changed. Another circumstance which tends to retard the change proposed, is the fact that from 1833 to 1835, when spec- ulation raged in gum-elastic in the United States, large quanti- ties of the virgin gum, and also of the gum from the Pacific coast, were sent out to the United States. It was such as is now wanted, and was gathered in the manner already described, by drawing it upon raw hides and into ceroons, but it could not be used, as the manufacture was then conducted. The gum _ thus exported to the United States remained a long time unsold; therefore, the change in the manufacture, as well as in the market, must become known, before a change can be expected in the mode of collecting it, or rather before the proper methods which were prematurely adopted, and subsequently checked, will be recommenced. Frem 1830 to 1835, many large ship- ments arrived from India, of from twenty thousand, to one hundred thousand pounds weight, evidently gathered where it flowed down the sides of the tree, and was stripped off with a mixture of bark. Other parcels of from five thousand, to ten thousand pounds, were brought from Valparaiso in large heavy sheets drawn from the tree upon raw hides, and having the ap- pearance of hides rolled up. Others arrived in ceroons, or bags made of hides. This last article, although in a filthy state, on account of the gum being coagulated in a spongy mass, and the whey being turned to a dark brown color, and dried upon it, be- came quite clean when washed, and, in fact, was of the best r 62 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. quality. All these kinds remained complete drugs in the market, until they were re-shipped to England or elsewhere, or gradually found their way into varnishes, boot-blacking, &c., at very low prices. Were the merchants of India to try the experiment of shipping the India gum free from bark, and those of Valparaiso, South America, to send it in the same way they formerly did, but cleaner if possible, they would no doubt receive a very different account of sales. [Fresh cargoes of India gum are at this time arriving, which meet a ready market, but they con- tinue as yet to be mixed with the bark of the tree. As gum-elastic is a production of most, if not of all tropical regions on the globe, and as the supply is, beyond question, in- exhaustible and abundant for all its various uses, when the numerous facts become generally known with regard to its importance as an article of commerce, it may be hoped that as new channels of supply are opened, the best modes will be adopted of collecting it; and that the Indian tribes of Para will become reconciled to relinquish the manufacture to their more civilized competitors, and find a more profitable em- ployment by sending them the native gum in its unmanufactured and pure state. The certainty that there will in future be a very great con- sumption of the various kinds of India rubber and water-proof gums, has caused a good deal of apprehension with many as to the supply, and it is asked, Where is it to come from ?—will there not be a scarcity? It is true that, owing to the sudden and rapid extension of the manufacture, together with some commercial speculation in the article, the price has for the present year, 1851, been unusually high; but this is a state of things which will not continue. The supply is literally imex- haustible. There is a belt of forest trees, extending ten degrees each side the equator around the globe, which yield these gums of various kinds; and, as has been the case with turpentine and resin, the greater the demand, the cheaper in all probability these substances will be, when once the attention of mankind is turned to the subject, and (that which is already being done) awsss - / \ THE SOURCES OF GUM ABUNDANT. 63 enterprising civilized races engage in the business of collecting it, instead of relying on one tribe of Indians on a single river, there will no longer be any solicitude on the score of supply. There is greater danger, in the lapse of time, of a scarcity of pine trees. It is matter of history that, in the early settlement of America, such fears were entertained, and laws were passed in‘some of the colonies to prohibit the cutting down of pine trees. The alarm then was, that there would not be a supply of masts, turpentine, tar, &c., for the royal navy. The clearing of lands for cultivation, the enormous destruction for fuel, ship and building materials, make great inroads upon the pine forests ; but these causes are not, and are not likely to be, in operation for the extinction of the India rubber tree, with the exception of one variety, that of the Gutta Percha, which it is said is cut down for the purpose of obtaining its gum. Whether this waste is at all necessary, or whether it will continue, is unknown to the writer. Since it has been found that common resin, gum-shellac, and coal-tar, can be vulcanized in proportions of equal parts with India rubber, great as the demand must unquestionably become for the fabrics made of these substances, there is no probability of a scarcity of the raw materials. ‘ CHAPTER VI. CLAIMS OF THE AUTHOR AS INVENTOR. Sheet India rubber. Peculiarities of the invention. Laminated fabrics of cotton and gum. Com- metcement of the manufacture. The author’s reasons for patenting his improvements. The process of solarization. Anextract from Percival. Awardsgiven tothe Inventor. Certificates. Copy of original specification of patent, 1844, as legally prepared in 1841. The process patented in England, in 1844. Synoptical statement on the author’s claim to his inventions. Ir is not the design of the author to discuss, in this chapter, claims of a legal nature, or the merits of minor inventions which _have been made by him during the course of his experiments. Such of the inventions as are exclusively his, both as relates to their origin and their development, as -also those that are pat- ented by him, are indicated by his initials affixed to them in the index. Pains have also been taken by him to credit to other persons the inventions which originated with them, even though they have been developed and brought to the notice of the public by the writer. The points to which it is desired to draw particular attention in this chapter, are the three following: Ist. The manufacture of gum-elastic into sheets, in 1835, and the discovery of the nitric acid gas process in 1836. 2d. The discovery of the heating or vulcanizing process in 1839. 3d. The important invention of the fibrous fabrics in 1840, per- fected in 1850? The invention of the inodorous fabrics is here claimed, although its peculiar merit has not been tested by the public. These are matters of history, of which all who are informed on the subject, in the United States, have knowledge. That India rubber could be manufactured into sheets in such a manner as to prevent the surfaces, when brought in contact, from adhering together, and the whole becoming a solid mass, was never known until 1835, or that it could be made effectu- x 68 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. ally, dry, with a cloth-like surface, before 1836. This discovery was the subject of much comment by the press throughout the United States, from 1836 to 1838; and in reference to it the certificates were given, and medals of public institutions were awarded at that period, with the inscriptions, which will be found in the appendix. They are only selections among many testimonials of a similar authority. But what is of greater importance, is the fact that before the year 1839, it was never heard of that India rubber of any kind could be so prepared or wrought,—whether by the Indians, or from the gum as it exudes from the tree, as was attempted by Americans, or re-manufactured by any process whatever,—that it would not be stiffened by the cold, or softened by exposure to heat of the sun and a warm climate, and also that it would not be quickly acted upon by all the essential and common oils, or be divested of its peculiar property, adhesiveness, which is now done in the manner hereafter described. This change wrought in gum-elastic by sulphurous gas and a high degree of heat, was first made by the writer in the town of Woburn, about ten miles from the city of Boston, Mass., in the winter of 1838 and 1839, under circumstances of such a nature, that there could be no mistaking the facts in the case, or blending the results of the writer’s labors with those of any other individual. The circumstances of the inventor prevented public notoriety of the discovery of 1839 as soon after it was made as would have been desirable. These circumstances are alluded to in a subsequent chapter. A more detailed account of the particulars attending this dis- covery, is given under the head of experiments. At the time specified, the inventor was so completely insu- lated by misfortune, (seemingly courted by him, in persisting in what appeared to every one else an idle and foolish enthusiasm,) and all his acts and pretensions at that time were so censured or ridiculed, as to identify, in the most unquestionable manner, the inventor with the discovery. As regards the original state of native India rubber, and the change wrought in it by treat- oF K CLAIMS OF THE AUTHOR: 69 ment with sulphur and heat, and the importance of that change, there need be no more said in this place. The statements made in other parts of this work, relating to the substance both in its native state and after it is vulcanized, may at any time be tested and demonstrated, by the employment of chemical agents. As to the third claim specified, which relates to the fibrous fabries, it needs to be distinctly understood that this claim is made for laminated fibrous fabrics, and not for the mixing of fibrous substances with gum-elastic by grinding. For a process of mixing fibres by grinding, a patent has been issued in the United States, to-my brother, Nelson Goodyear. In 1844, the writer obtained a patent in the United States, for a method of manufacturing raw cotton and wool, when lam- inated with alternate layers of gum-elastic ; but notwithstanding _ five years have elapsed, he did not succeed in demonstrating the practicability of the invention, even to his own satisfaction, until 1848. It is now rendered practicable only by important modifications of the original method of operating. Neither is there an unqualified claim made to the first idea of combining fibrous substances with gum-elastic. The mixing of fibrous substances with gum-elastic has been discussed since the com- mencement of the manufacture; but to the development and practical demonstration of that which had existed only as a vague and undefined theory, the author makes unqualified claim. One argument in reference to the invention of the laminated fabrics, and the different articles made of them, should be con- clusive in all future time, as to whom these inventions rightfully belong. It is this: although the number and quality of speci- mens of these inventions are amply sufficient to demonstrate their utility, they are, at the present time of writing, 1851, so new, that the writer is nearly alone in his estimation of their value; and his judgment is not only doubted by the public, but even by his associates and licensees, as to the importance of these inventions. He is, however, equally confident of their great value, in a mechanical or constructive sense, as of the value of the vulcanizing process in a chemical point of view. 4 70 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. The same remarks, so far as relates to invention, are applicable to some other fabrics and articles which are entirely new, the claim to which is designated in the index by the initials of the inventor. The recent introduction into the manufacture of gum-elastic, of the fibrous fabrics named in this volume—* tis- sue,” “vellum,” and “the plated and porous fabrics’ —the writer considers next in importance to the discovery of vulcanization ; and although they are yet hardly known, they will be found to be the means, more than any other fabrics, of substituting gum- elastic for leather. As regards the commencement of the manufacture of India rubber, the writer does not claim to be the first who engaged in it, even in the United States. With regard to the origin and the progress of the manufacture in this and other countries, the important facts, so far as he has been able to obtain them, are given under the heads of foreign and domestic manufacture, and in other parts of this work. It is due to say that numereus individuals among his associates and licensees, have done much to facilitate the development of the various branches of the business that have passed into their hands. Without assuming any thing more than what is strictly true, the author may say, what will be corroborated by all who have any knowledge of his course, that, as relates to his labors pre- vious to the discovery of the vulcanizing process, so in regard to the subsequent improvements, applications, and fabrics, he has, with little reference to personal comfort or pecuniary-ad- vantage, applied himself constantly to the development of the subject for the period of fourteen years, without being diverted from the fixed purpose to complete the system of inventions, as presented in this work, avoiding the temptations that often pre- sented themselves, in the profits which might be derived from prosecuting the manufacture of many of the articles, and has made invention and the improvement of gum-elastic his busi- ness and profession. With what success, an opinion may be formed from the descriptions presented by this work, also from the specimens which are produced, and the few that are bound ¢ A with this publication. Having confined himself to these labors for so long a time, it would have been indeed grateful to the inventor if none of them need to have been made subjects of patents. It is repulsive to the feelings, that improvements re- lating to science and the arts, and especially those of a philan- thropic nature, should be made subjects of money-making and litigation by being patented. The apology he has to offer for doing that which was repugnant to his feelings, is the unavoid- able necessity of the case. At different periods during a course of years, he was unable to prosecute his experiments for want of pecuniary means, and was consequently obliged to obtain them of his friends, upon the prospective value of his inventions, through such legal advantage as was to be had under the patent laws. EXPERIMENTS. “ek _ The question may arise in some minds, How does it happen that in this case the claims of one individual are so extensive, including not only the original discovery, but also embracing a large share of the uses and applications that have grown out of it? The reasons are given at length, under the heads of «“ American Manufacture,” and “ Experiments of the Inventor.” The principal reason may also be briefly stated here. The general disfavor with which any thing relating to India rubber was regarded in the United States, and the want of pecuniary means to enable the writer to employ others, before, at the time of, and for some time after, the discovery of the heating process, so insulated him from the co-operation, assistance, and sympa- thy of others, that he was compelled to carry on his experiments alone, and in opposition to the unanimous censure or ridicule of all who were at that time acquainted with him and his occu- pation. During the progress of the experiments with the substance, new uses and applications were constantly suggested to the mind of the writer. Many of the articles that are specified and described as new in this work, have been experimented upon at different times, during the period of fourteen years. The two applications that have been last completed and 72 brought to the notice of the public—carpeting and globes— were among the first that the inventor attempted to make. This accumulation of inventions is the result of years of labor and constant application to the subject. GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. Fortunately, the substance is one with which, in experiment- ing, fingers are better than any other mechanical power, of the same force, when the dissolving process is used, which was, before the substitution of steam and pressure, the only one in use. Fingers were the only mechanical power of which the writer had command during the first two years of his experi- ments, and that by which he mixed and worked many hundred pounds of gum, afterwards spreading it upon a marble slab with a rolling-pin. Thus, owing very much to the plastic nature of the substance, in extreme poverty, he was able to persevere in his course, against all obstacles, and having endured alone the reproaches which were heaped upon him without measure, the recognition of merit is now the more grateful. Whatever of misfortune may hereafter: befall him, he will have the satisfaction of knowing that his efforts have been successful, and of witnessing on every side, and in every civilized country, the growing importance of the numerous branches of manufacture already established, and which may in his life-time be established, under these inventions and im- provements. Before dismissing the subject of the writer’s claims to im- portant inventions in the treatment of caoutchouc and its com- pounds, in justice to himself and in anticipation of the future as relates to a mode of treatment in the manufacture which, though lightly esteemed and little thought of now, he believes will be extensively practiced hereafter, especially in the treat- ment in the kind of caoutchouc called gutta percha, he feels bound to make a strong though qualified claim to the process of solarization. This process consists in exposing caoutchouc, when combined with sulphur, to the sun’s rays. The powerful ——— ee aoe influence of the sun’s rays has been known, as relates to its = a 72. NEW SOLARIZATION PROCESS. 73 general effects, since 1837, and was first made known to the writer by N. Hayward; but as to its practical utility, it is not even now publicly known. It was practiced to a very limited extent by the writer and one or two of his licensees, previous to the discovery of the vulcanizing process; but the art being then imperfectly known, was impracticable. The odor of the sulphur, in the quantity in which it was then used in the fabrics, was so strong as not to be endurable, and the practice of solarizing has been abandoned for many years past, except- ing where it has been used for drying off the tackiness of goods that were vulcanized. This practice of some manufactories, especially that of the Union India Rubber Company, in the manufacture of garments, is one among other proofs that solar- ization, to the depth to which it extends, is the most complete _ vulcanization; but this effect of the process does not extend to any considerable depth, or so as to cure gum of the thickness with which the fabrics were formerly coated. The claim to the new use of solarization, and the rendering of this process practically useful, by the writer, is founded in his discovery that a minute portion of precipitated sulphur—in quantity as small as one ounce to twenty pounds of caoutchouc—was ade- quate for the desired result; and also in his invention of the “plated” fabrics, by which an extremely thin coat of caout- chouc and its compounds is made to answer a better purpose in all respects than the large quantity formerly used, whereby, on account of the thinness of the “plating” of the fabrics, so- larization may be substituted in these fabrics instead of vulcan- ization. This claim of the writer to the new and improved use of this process is made with the greater force and propri- ety, for the reason, that up to the time of writing this article, the facts here stated, as to the effects and utility of the process, are generally doubted by those best acquainted with the caout- chouc manufacture. After so great notoriety of the art of vulcanization, wherever he now ventures to advocate his opinions, it is considered little less than heresy for the discov- erer of that process to treat of any other as important, and A 74 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. particularly of one that has been so much and so long discred- ited and disused. This view of the subject is taken only because the matter is not understood. The different manner of using it is in fact equivalent to a new discovery; and the rendering of any art available which has been once condemned and disused, is even more difficult than it is to introduce an invention entirely new. It is less understood that there is in fact no rivalry between the two processes; in other words, vulcanization is not ren- dered less valuable by solarization: they apply to very different classes of fabrics. While light and the sun’s rays operate upon extremely thin coated or plated fabrics, the more intense and artificial heat used in vulcanization accomplishes the more diffi- cult result, of changing the nature of masses of gum of any desired thickness. AN EXTRACT FROM PERCIVAL. 75 With reference to attempts that have been made to deprive the inventor of his rights, he can not refrain from quoting from a poem of Percival, portions of which are appropriate to the case in point, and which will be felt by any one who has been in a similar way wronged, either in authorship or invention. 7 While thus they are intent Alone on truth, conscious of that one pure And single purpose, nor suspecting ill Of such as they had trusted, thinking too The world was just, and none would dare to claim What they revealed,—they find what they had won By long and earnest toil, by other hands Seized as their own, and shown with vain display As their own trophy, with not even a hint Whence they had stolen the prize. Is there a pang Keener than that which runs through all the frame When the high-minded spirit, who would shrink Even from the touch of others’ rights, first feels The fruits of years of search, borne from his grasp, And made the borrowed plumage, to adorn The week and vain? Yes, they are weak and vain; Weak, for they cannot vindicate ther claim ; And vain, for brief indeed is their display,— And unsubstantial as the mists that shine In the new dawn, and melt as it ascends. Let none, then, venture to assume as his The truths a better wins, by long research, And a far train of thought, that such alone Can sway and turn; for he too soon will find He cannot use them: they reject his hand, And, self-conducted, seek their rightful lord. Irus may steal the exiled hero’s bow He cannot bend, and take the ponderous sword, Too weighty for his arm— So have no fear, Servant of Nature, that what gems she gives Thee, from her hidden stores, will ever grace A AO) GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. The poor purloiner’s brow—they are thy own! Nor fear, if what thou knowest is true and just, And worthy to command the best regard, And take its place among discoveries That ever last, should be passed silent by, By such even who pretend to wear the robes Of nature’s priesthood, and so teach the world. Go on, then, in thy task, unshrinking—seek What longest sought, at last, when found, rewards With highest joy—what finding, thou canst say, IT too have found! On nature print thy steps Deep—as in adamant !—and they will last. Those of thy age, will by the common track Go smoothly on, nor know nor care that thou Mid tangled wilds hast found the only way That leads to the true goal. O’er rugged heights It passes, and they choose the easy plain. But thou hast oft on nature pressed thy seal, And it will hold! Thou, too, in lonely search Hast notched thy way along the clifted rocks And mountain summits, and when others come Who seek—like thee—they then will find impressed Thy lasting mark, and know thow hast been there, And traced it all. Then comes thy high reward! They own thee as their guide, and wide proclaim Thee a discoverer. If thou art then Conscious that thou hast added aught of worth To the great treasury of mind—new truths From the wide outer world, or from the world Within us, or creations new of art, Sublime or fair, to raise or to refine The mind and heart—trust to a coming age; Confide there, and repine not; but bestow All thy best gifts on such as pass thee by,— Even as if best rewarded ; good for ill! INSCRIPTIONS ON MEDALS, ETC. ih INSCRIPTIONS ON MEDALS, TESTIMONIALS, ETC. Certificates from L. D. Gale; Prof. B. Silliman, and Proffs. J. C. Booth and H. M. Boye. Copy- right of original Specification of Patent, 1841. As a part of the history of the origin of these discoveries and inventions, there are here given copies of a few Certificates, Testimonials and Reports, made at an early date by individuals who at the time of writing them gave particular attention to the subjects alluded to by them respectively. The names of the authors of these papers, with whose high standing the _ public are well acquainted, render it unnecessary to do any thing more than present them. It may however be observed that they are given by parties who would not be likely to be ignorant of facts in chemistry relating to a radical change in a raw material, which change had long been a public deside- ratum. INSCRIPTION ON A MEDAL OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE, NEW YORK, 1835. “ Awarded to Charles Goodyear, for a new discovery in India rubber.” & INSCRIPTION ON A MEDAL OF THE MECITANICS’ INSTITUTE, NEW YORK, 1835. “ Awarded to Charles Goodyear, for a new method of manu- facturing India rubber.” 4 .. 78 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. INSCRIPTION ON A MEDAL OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE, NEW YORK. 1836. « Awarded to Charles Goodyear, for India rubber drapery not liable to decomposition from exposure to the sun.” INSCRIPTION ON A MEDAL OF THE MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE, NEW YORK, 1836. “ Awarded to Charles Goodyear, for the application of India rubber to printing.” INSCRIPTION ON A MEDAL OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE, NEW YORK, 1844. From the time of obtaining the medals in 1836, no public ex- hibition was made by the writer until 1844, when a general as- sortment of vulcanized fabrics and goods, including harness, shoes, buckets, &c., was exhibited at the fair of the American Institute at New York, for which a gold medal with the follow- ing inscription was awarded :— « Awarded to Charles Goodyear, for the best sheet rubber shoes, India rubber cloth, and an assortment of harness, buck- ets, &c.” INSCRIPTION ON A MEDAL OF THE MECHANICS’ ASSOCIATION, BOSTON, 1844. “ Awarded to Charles Goodyear, for superior India rubber goods.” 6) a PROFESSOR GALE § CERTIFICATE. 79 INSCRIPTION ON A MEDAL OF THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE, PENNSYLVANIA, 1844. “ Awarded to Charles Goodyear, for gum-elastic goods.” PROF. L D GALE’S CERTIFICATE. ACID GAS PROCESS. I have made a course of experiments from information con- fided to me by Mr. Charles Goodyear, in relation to his method of the manufacture of India rubber, and have the satisfaction to say, that the result has been perfectly successful. The gum, reduced to the consistence of stiff paste, by means of common spirits of turpentine, which requires no purification, is again restored to its original elasticity and imperviousness. The viscous, or adhesive property which belongs to the gum in its natural state, and which is increased by the solvents generally used, has heretofore presented all the obstacles to the success of the manufacture and uses of this article. The process of Mr. G. by which this difficulty is removed, depends on chemical princi- ples, which are fixed and invariable, and there seems to be no possible obstacle to its practical application. L. D. Gates, Prof. Chem. N. Y. College Pharmacy, and Prof. Geology and Mineralogy N. Y. University. New Yorg, Sept. 1, 1835. Notr.—This certificate was given before the process was made public, to satisfy the inquiries of private individuals. \ mC y 80 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. PROF. SILLIMAN’S CERTIFICATES. FIRST MANUFACTURE OF DRAPERY OR SHEET INDIA RUBBER. New Haven, June 15, 1836. Mr. Charles Goodyear has submitted to me, and to my in- spection, a process by which he dissolves Caoutchouc, or India rubber, with common spirits of turpentine ; and then by another process he restores it again, so as to form a thin sheet, or fabric, without tissue. This fabric is divested of the clammy qualities that exist in the native elastic gum. So far as I am informed, both the pro- cess and the effect are new, as has been already observed by the Mechanics and American Institute in New York, as in- dicated by the silver medals bestowed by them on Mr. Good- year, and now in his possession. B. Sruuman. I would mention that Mr. Goodyear has prepared his elastic gum in my presence, by spirits of turpentine, and then brought it back without mixing or blending any other substance with it, so that it becomes again strong India rubber, but free from any clamminess; and feeling, when pressed between the hands, like linen or cotton. B. Siuuran. June 16, 1836. Having seen experiments made, and also performed them myself, with the India rubber prepared by Mr. Charles Good- year, I can state that it does not melt, but rather chars, by heat, and that it does not stiffen by celd, but retains its flexibility in the cold, even when laid between cakes of ice. B. Sruuman. Yate Coxurce, Oct. 14, 1839. > xO Oe CERTIFICATE OF PROFS. BOOTH AND BOYE, 81 PROFS. BOOTH AND BOYE’S REPORT. METALLIC OR VULCANIZED GUM-ELASTIC. COPY. PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 18, 1844. To Mr. Cuarites GoopyEar. Dear Sir, Having completed a series of experiments ypon the Metallic Gum-Elastic Composition, we submit to you a report of our conclusions deduced from the same; merely premising that the conclusions agree so closely with the results attained by us, in researches on the same material some two years since, the re- - marks are wholly applicable to both series of experiments. The experiments instituted were both mechanical and chemical. Ist. Chemical tests. This composition differs remarkably from common gum-elas- tic in its chemical behavior. By the application of degrees of heat at which organic sub- stances are very much injured or destroyed, it remains un- affected, and requires an unusually high temperature to soften it; about the same, it would appear, as causes it to inflame. It resists, in a powerful manner, those chemical agents which rapidly destroy, dissolve, or soften common gum-elastic. Long continued immersion in the usual solvents of gum-elastic, does not produce solution; a shorter period of contact or immersion seems to have no effect upon it. Strong oil of vitriol and nitric acid char it only after con- tinued contact ; a shorter time of immersion, or somewhat diluted acids, produces no effect. Boiling water and alkaline liquids produce no effect upon it, unless the latter be very concentrated and boiling, and even then the effect is a trifling diminution of its tenacity. It will be observed from the above behavior, that it resists chemical tests in a manner superior to organic substances. en ee a ct a 82 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. 2d. Mechanical tests. It possesses all the usual properties of common gum-elastic, but it far surpasses the latter in the degree of these properties. Its tenacity, or the force which it opposes to rupture, is much greater than that possessed by ordinary gum-elastic; we have not submitted it to direct measurement, but a simple practical test convinced us of its superior tenacity. When opposed to great degrees of cold, even below 32°, it ap- pears to be undiminished in its elasticity, flexibility, and tenacity, in which valuable property it differs so strikingly from ordinary gum-elastic, that this alone, if it possessed no other-superiority over common gum, would entitle it to the praise of being the greatest improvement in the manufacture of gum-elastic. ° We have had pieces of it lying for two years in our laboratory, and during the same period have repeatedly employed portions of it for connecting apparatus, and for other purposes, and we find that it resists mechanical abrasion, as well as chemical action, powerfully ; nor have we found it touched by. vermin, nor altered in the slightest degree. Besides the above properties, resulting from experiments, there are others evident to those who have examined the goods manu- factured from the metallic gum-elastic composition ; such as the ease with which it may be wrought into an infinite variety of goods, adapted to almost every variety of purpose; the ease with which it receives color, the finest lines of printing, &c. ; but as these properties may be more or less understood by a simple inspection of the goods, we forbear taking farther notice of them. — In conclusion, we cannot but draw the inference from our own experiments, and from an examination of the different kinds of fabric made from this singular composition, that it far sur- passes all other attempts made to manufacture gum-elastic goods. Respectfully yours, (Signed,) Jas. C. Booru anp H. M. Bove. 9) SPECIFICATION OF PATENT. 83 COPY OF ORIGINAL SPECIFICATION OF PATENT, 1844, AS LEGALLY PREPARED IN 1841. TO ALL PERSONS WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. Br ir known that I, the undersigned, Charles Goodyear, of Boston, county of Suffolk, and commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful improvement, called Goodyear’s Patent Fabrics, of which the following is a full and exact description. These fabrics are made of a compound of gum-elastic, sulphur and white lead, mixed with different kinds of fibre, such as cotton, wool, flax, hemp, leather, and hair; and also applied to different kinds of cloth, cordage, leather, paper, &c. The compound is made as follows, viz. :— One pound of gum-elastic, One quarter to half a pound of sulphur, One half to one pound of white lead. The gum is dissolved, and the white lead and sulphur are ground, in the usual method known to manufacturers, with spirits of turpentine. When this compound is mixed with fibrous substances, I think it quite necessary that the gum should be dissolved as above, the different substances being thoroughly mixed with each other. When the fibrous substance has sufhcient length of staple to be formed into a sheet or web like cotton wadding, I prefer applying the compound to it in the same way in which it is applied to cloth or leather by callenders, instead of mixing it with the compound, and when the compound is applied to cloth or leather without the fibre, it is done with the various kinds of machinery made use of by India rubber manufac- turers. The compound without fibre may be mixed and ground thoroughly together dry, and applied to cloth, leather, or a sheet or web of fibre, with heated callenders, without the use of tur- 84 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. pentine to dissolve the gum as above specified. Another fabric is made of this compound alone, without any other substance, by spreading it upon any smooth article or glazed cloth, or upon that which 1 prefer to any thing else, a web of cloth, manufac- tured and finished according to this specification. This fabric is found very superior on account of its elasticity, delicate tex- ture, and adaptation to surgical uses. It will be understood, that after the compound is sufficiently dry, it is removed from the cloth. By this method I also manufacture a fabric of pure gum-elastic, for which letters patent were granted me, June 17, 1837. When these several fabrics are sufficiently dried, either in a heated room or by the weather, they are then exposed to a high degree of heat, say about two hundred and seventy, by running the fabrics between heated callenders, or before or through a furnace or oven, or a heated metal plate. I consider the best method of doing it before or between plates, at a little distance therefrom; when the fabrics are first made into various articles for which they are adapted, they are placed in an oven, and baked with the required degree of heat; or they may be im- mersed in any article that is melted or fluid, at about the degree of heat herein specified. The effect of the heating process is to improve very much the quality of the fabrics; previous to this they have a resemblance to, and are liable to some of the objections of, India rubber goods generally, but afterwards they are by this method every way improved, and in no way injured, excepting that the fabrics which can otherwise be made of fancy colors, are changed in color to a brown. Being finished in this manner, these fabrics are not injured by any kind of oils, and cannot be made adhesive by them, or in any other method of which I have any knowledge, nor are they soluble like gum-elastic in spirits of turpentine, or other essen- tial oils; although by long exposure to them they may be made somewhat tender and pulpy, yet they resume their original strength when the oils are allowed to evaporate. SPECIFICATION OF PATENT. 85 They are not stiffened by cold, or melted by any degree of heat, unless placed in the fire. In some cases, when a fabric of a light color is desired, I dis- pense with the sulphur and white lead, and after it is finished I boil it in water with sulphur, or expose it to the weather, and especially to the sun’s rays, after having brushed it over with the flour of sulphur while it is yet adhesive. The effect of the sulphur applied in this way, is to destroy entirely all the adhesive properties of the gum-elastic. In order to cleanse and free the goods from the sulphur, and from the smell of sulphur, I boil them in lime, potash, and other alkalies. In the manufacture of these fabrics, the proportions of the lead and sulphur may be considerably varied, and oxides of _ metals generally, or other pigments, may be substituted for the lead. Signed in our presence, December 6, 1841. J. W. Roserts, © Geo. Bucktanp. CuarLtes GoopyeEar. The improvement which I claim, and wish to secure to myself by letters patent, consists in compounding the fabrics with a large proportion of sulphur and white lead, as herein specified ; and the fabrics being thus suitably prepared to endure the heat, and in next applying a high degree of heat, whereby the impuri- ties of the fabrics are entirely removed, as herein specified, or in any manner analogous thereto. I also claim as my improvement the use of fibrous substances, either with gum-elastic, or this compound being mixed with the same, or made use of in the sheet or web. I furthermore claim as my improvement the India rubber fabric without tissue of any kind, and the boiling and drying India rubber goods in contact with sulphur, and afterwards cleaning them with potash, or other solvents of sulphur. In testimony whereof, I, the said Charles Goodyear, hereto A ~" subscribe my name, in the presence of the witnesses whose names are hereto subscribed, on the 6th day of December, Anno Domini, 1841. On the sixth day of December, 1841, before the subscriber, a 86 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. Justice of the Peace, in and for the county of New Haven, State of Connecticut, and authorized by law to administer oaths, per- sonally appeared Charles Goodyear, and made oath that he verily believed that he is the first and original inventor of the improvement above-mentioned and described in the specifica- tion by him subscribed, and that he does not know that the same was ever before known or used, and that he is a citizen of the United States. Dennis KIMBERLY, Justice of the Peace. The foregoing document was legally prepared at the period of its date by a distinguished counselor of New Haven, whose signature it bears. It was deposited in the Patent Office of the United States as a caveat or claim of the invention, instead of application being made under it for a patent, as was first in- tended. Some of the reasons why application was not made for a patent until 1848, have been before mentioned; they are more explicitly stated as follows, viz. : Ist. The pecuniary embarrassments of the inventor at that time were such, that he was unable to manufacture articles to demonstrate the utility of the invention, and the state of the public mind was such, owing to the losses which had been sus- tained by those who had attempted the manufacture of caout- chouc in the United States, that no one was willing to co-operate with him for this purpose ; consequently the discovery was not then appreciated by others as it is now. 2d. It was also important to ascertain, previous to the appli- cation for a patent, whether there might not be found some substitute for sulphur, which was then considered objectionable in the vulcanizing process. 3d. Under the circumstances above stated, there was danger A A 7A) 7 CONSIDERATIONS AS TO SECURING PATENTS. 87 that the patent, if issued, would be lost to the inventor, his creditors, and the world. That his object was not to withhold from his creditors the avails of these inventions when rendered valuable, ample proof has been given. 4th. The inventor was very solicitous to secure patents in foreign countries, where the laws required that, in order to ren- der a patent valid, the application should be made simultane- ously with that in the United States, and he had not the means of making these several applications until 1843, when they were made in the United States, England, and France. Since the year 1844, numerous patents have been taken out, both in the United States and foreign countries, for modifications of the vulcanizing process; and it is worthy of remark, that in none of these is there any attempt to dispense with the two essential _ agents, sulphur and a high degree of heat, which alone are indis- pensable in effecting the change in the properties of the gum by vulcanization, and that these two agents, sulphur and a high degree of heat, are distinctly claimed in the foregoing docu- ment, signed and sealed in 1841, as well as the writer’s patents issued in this and foreign countries in 1844. The writer has intentionally omitted all mention of the English patent for the vulcanization of caoutchouc, enrolled by Thomas Hancock on the 30th May, 1844, and also from ex- pressing any views or opinions in relation to the circumstances under which this patent was taken out, lest he might possibly do some injustice to Mr. Hancock or his partners, Messrs. Mac- intosh and Co., the owners of the English patent. The inven- tion patented by Mr. Hancock is the same as that so fully described in this volume as the heating or vulcanizing process discovered by the writer in 1839. He hopes before long to have the advantage of a personal interview with Messrs Mac- intosh and Co. and Mr. Hancock, after which he will be better prepared to state his views on this subject. ON au ne i hs {eee re! ee ot ee corinne | } ie d' yas CHAPTER VII. EXPERIMENTS OF THE INVENTOR. Influences which led the author to the discovery of his invention. Some particulars of the au- thor’s personal history; his apprenticeship. Commences in the domestic hardware and com- mission business. Visits the store of the Roxbury India Rubber Company in New York. Commences the. manufacture of India rubber goodsst New Haven. Meets with difficulties. Removes to New York, and continues his experiments. The acid gas process. Obtains a patent. The new articlesare introduced into England by Dr. Bradshaw, and a patent taken out in that country by Mr. Hancock. Visits Roxbury, and prosecutes his labors with more success Grants licenses. Experiments with sulphur. Result of an experiment. Embarrassments of the author. Discovery of vulcanizing. Results of previous failures. Difficulties to encounter. Incidents attending the discovery. First successful operation. WHENEVER any great improvement is made, or effects worthy of special attention are produced, the tracing of them to their first cause is a subject of interest to most minds, and with some a constant habit. In reference to the discovery of vulcanized gum-elastic, the question is frequently asked by those who know that the in- ventor makes no pretensions to a knowledge of chemistry, and that for many years he pursued a widely different occupation, what first turned his attention to gum-elastic, and what was the influence that led to such continued application, to an under- taking apparently so hopeless ? To this the writer may reply, that from the time his attention was first given to the subject, a strong and abiding impression was made upon his mind, that an object so desirable and im- portant, and so necessary to man’s comfort, as the making of gum-elastic available to his use, was most certainly placed 92 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. within his reach. Having this presentiment, of which he could not divest himself, under the most trying adversity, he was stimulated with the hope of ultimately attaining this object. Beyond this, he would refer the whole to the Great Creator, who directs the operations of mind to the development of the properties of matter, in his own way, at the time when they are specially needed, influencing some mind for every work or call- ing. The creature may imagine he is only executing some plan of his own, while he is the instrument in the hands of his Maker, contributing to execute his purposes, which, though we cannot fathom, we may believe involve, with the highest elevation of mind and morals, the highest improvement of things material. However foreign to the subject this expression of the writer's sentiments may appear to some, he knows there are those who will respond to them as not unsuitable to the occasion, or a digression foreign to the work. Were he to refrain from expressing his views thus briefly, he would ever feel that he had done violence to his sentiments. Some particulars of the personal history of the inventor are necessarily connected with the following account of his experi- ments, the publication of which is deemed important to the ob- jects of this work; and the incidents related as connected with them, may not be uninteresting. Early training and subsequent experience, had probably much to do in fitting the writer for an enterprise which he has since so ardently pursued. In his business intercourse, previous to the undertaking, he had been brought in contact with those engaged in most of the different pursuits of life. Thus he early acquired habits of observation and attention to their wants; by which he was afterwards guided in his pursuit of im- provements, whether of farming implements and small hard- ware, or the various appliances of gum-elastic. He does not claim to have a mechanical talent, but, on the contrary, has an aversion to bestowing thought upon machinery when there is any thing complicated about it. The machinery which he has been compelled to invent, for ia cee > ECONOMY IN THE CHOICE OF GOOD MATERIALS. 93 putting in operation his improvements, viz., the shirring, cord- ing, and napping machines, are of the most simple construction ; and are just such as should be suggested to the mind of any per- son requiring machinery for these purposes. Independent of all pecuniary considerations, he has taken great satisfaction in trying to improve articles of necessity or convenience, for the use of man. Those which first engaged his attention were in the hardware line, and such as were immediately connected with his occupation. Whenever he observed an article in common use, in which there was ob- viously a great defect, whether growing out of the choice of unsuitable materials for the purpose, or in consequence of a wrong construction of the thing, he commonly applied his mind to the subject, to find, if possible, the best way of improving it, or removing, the defect, always contesting the common maxim, that for the interest of the trade, “things should be so made that they will not last too long.” A theory, the fallacy of which is only equalled by the demoralizing influence of the sentiment, and the pecuniary loss both of the mechanic or manufacturer, and the consumer. The more completely things are made, the more satisfaction and enjoyment will be found in their use, and the greater will be the demand, especially as nothing can be so well made but that time will dispose of it in some way. The imperfections of these things, many of which are looked upon only as trifles, of no sort of consequence, he considered as of great importance, as not only the cause of much waste of time and money, but also productive of great moral evil. Nor is it exaggeration to say, that a great proportion of the annoyances that disturb the mind, and give rise to such evils, arise from the use of articles badly constructed, or from some cause not fitted to the use for what they are intended, to say nothing of their being the immediate cause of serious harm. “ And the cable of a furlong is lost through an ill-wrought inch.” At this early period, the manufacture of cotton and wool, ex- cept in families, was hardly commenced ; and the manufacture \. ae 94 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. of hardware, except by the country blacksmith, was scarcely thought of. The manufacture of hardware was engaged in by Mr. Amasa Goodyear, during the writer’s boyhood; and when not at school, he was more or less occupied with the various branches of his father’s business, such as making military and other kinds of metal buttons, spoons, scythes, and particularly the spring steel hay and manure forks, universally considered in the United States one of the greatest improvements ever made in farming implements. He was also made familiar with farm- ing operations, which were always attended to by his father, in connection with his other business. To all of these occupations, as well as his subsequent hard- ware apprenticeship, he applied himself with intense ardor and delight. From the age of seventeen to twenty-one, he served an apprenticeship at the hardware business, with the firm of Rogers & Brothers, Philadelphia, at that time one of the most extensive wholesale importing houses in the United States. By close application and hard labor in this business, his health became much impaired, so that at the expiration of his apprenticeship, he was greatly disappointed by being obliged to abandon the idea of establishing himself in the business he had designed to pursue. During the next five or six years he was engaged with his father, under the firm of A. Goodyear & Son, in the manufac- ture of the hardware spoken of, and also of clocks. The most important article manufactured by them at that time, was the spring steel hay and manure forks, introduced into use by the senior partner in 1810, which business has continued to increase to the present time, to the great benefit of the farming interest, throughout the United States. The reputation of these and other farming implements of their manufacture, subsequently gave to the inventor many advan- tages for establishing himself in the domestic hardware business; and it was the observation of the good done in the community, together with the advantages derived from the manufacture of these improvements, that gave a bias to his whole future course oO CAs a eee of life, and gave stimulus and energy to his efforts to improve gum-elastic. That the reader may better understand how so great an im- provement can be claimed for an implement of husbandry so simple, it may be well to describe those that were previously used. They were made by the country blacksmith, of iron, very large and heavy, and were very easily bent and battered at the points, and would now no sooner be used than the wooden THE DOMESTIC HARDWARE BUSINESS. 95 plough of the ancients. So completely has the article formerly used been superseded by this improvement, that the rising generation of farmers do not know what article their fathers were obliged to make use of. In 1826, the writer removed from Connecticut, with his . family, to Philadelphia, and engaged in the domestic hardware and commission business, in connection with the manufacturing establishment in Connecticut, which was carried on under the frm of A. Goodyear & Sons. This was the first establishment for the sale of domestic hardware in the United States. It was regarded by many as a visionary enterprise, for to that time the whole trade in hardware had been in imported articles. The predictions of that time in regard to this business were not, how- ever, verified; for it was eminently successful, and, like the domestic dry goods business, it soon became an extensive de- partment of trade, which is constantly increasing. It will be remembered by many hardware men of the present day, that from 1826 to 1830, the inventor was known in our commercial cities to be the pioneer in domestic hardware, by which, and the manufactory alluded to, a handsome fortune was accumulated by the firm, and the writer occupied a position in business every way desirable; but in consequence of too ex- tended operations in different States, too liberal credits, and heavy losses in 1830, they were obliged to suspend payments. After consulting with the creditors of the firm, they were induced to continue their business with extension of payments. This was considered unavoidable, on account of the amount of a uJ Kessa A > 96 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. property invested in manufacturing establishments. The writer did not count upon the disadvantages he had to contend with, on account of impaired credit, and did not know, what ex- perience has since taught him, that under circumstances of em- barrassment, the only wise course is not to continue the same business, at least not to continue it under suspended liabilities ; although it is often for the interest of the creditors at the time, that this should be done. The course he adopted was attended with continued embar- rassment, by the shifting of claims into the hands of strangers, and by being held by them to bonds in different States. He could not make an assignment without divesting himself of the titles to his unfinished inventions, in which state they would have been of no value to himself or to his creditors. Under the laws that then existed, during the space of ten years he was repeatedly imprisoned for debt; but, notwithstanding the depressing influences of these circumstances, he assiduously ap- plied himself to the improvements before alluded to, and shortly before he engaged in experimenting upon gum-elastic, (while con- fined upon the jail limits,) he completed one of these improve- ments, from the sale of which he derived the means of subsist- ence for himself and family. His anticipations of ultimate success in life were never changed, and his hopes were seldom for a moment depressed. These trials were not wholly without their advantage; les- sons of life were learned from them. If any one is desirous to learn more of human nature than he can learn in any other way, or wishes for a moment to look upon the darkest side of life’s fleeting shade, let him, for such a cause as debt and mis- fortune, be placed within the bars of a prison door, without a dollar in his pocket, and in conscious innocence look out upon the world, and reflect upon the wide contrast in his condition with that of those who are enjoying liberty without; while within he finds his fellow sufferers all upon the same level, whether incarcerated for the sum of one hundred pence, or of one hundred thousand pounds. Then, notwithstanding the he @ si ya } COMMERCIAL DISAPPOINTMENTS. 97 mortification attending such a trial, if he has (as every human being should have,) a good purpose in life for which to live and “hope on,’ he may add firmness to hope, and derive lasting advantage by having proved to himself, that, with a clear con- science and a high purpose, a man may be happy within prison walls, as well as in any other (even the most fortunate,) circum- stances in life. In order to cancel a large portion of his indebtedness, he was induced to dispose of the good-will and the control of the steel fork manufacture, retaining an interest in it with his successors. This interest he subsequently relinquished for a similar purpose. The monopoly of this branch of industry had remained with the senior partner and the firm for more than twenty years, and it was with real regret that the writer parted with the last . pecuniary advantage of a business, from which he had, for many years, anticipated an independence for life. At this period he relinguished all interest in the manufacturing firm in Connec- ticut, without obtaining a discharge from their former liabilities, upon which he was subjected to the imprisonments and em- barrassments alluded to. In reflecting upon the past, as relates to these branches of industry, the writer is not disposed to repine, and say that he has planted, and others have gathered the fruits. The advan- tages of a career in life should not be estimated exclusively by the standard of dollars and cents, as is too often done. Man has just cause for regret when he sows and no one reaps. And, besides, he was, for many years, amply compensated in a pecuniary way; and it is also a satisfaction to know, that among the numerous domestic hardware houses that have since been established in all our large cities, two* of the most respectable and wealthy are the immediate successors of the original firm. A short time previous to his failure in Philadelphia, two other improvements, which were the invention of others, engaged his attention. These were unsuccessful at the time. They are alluded to here as deserving of notice, first, because they ° Messrs. Heaton & Denckla, and Messrs. Curtis & Hand, Philadelphia. \) 6 ie 98 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. were among the principal causes of his failure; not so much in consequence of the amount of money lost by them, as on ac- count of the effect the speculation had on his credit as a mer- chant; also, because they are rendered much more complete by the improvements in gum-elastic, and because he is as confident now as ever, that the inventions have in themselves intrinsic merit, and will probably, at some future day, be thought by others worthy of attention, as matters of improvement. The two inventions above alluded to, the Stella-rota and Self-winding Clock, are described among the applications of gum-elastic, in Vol. II. All who have had experience with inventions, know full well that it requires a vast deal besides merit in an invention to make it successful; it must not be too far in advance of the age; besides, it requires much time and persevering effort to introduce a new thing into use, be it ever so good; and, sometimes, the better it is, the longer it takes. Sometimes the great contrast in things that are improved, with those for which they are to be substituted, seems only to excite the incredulity of mankind. This was particularly the case with the cast-iron plough, and the improvement in forks. The inventors and introducers, in many cases, thought themselves highly favored when an influ- ential farmer consented to give them a trial, when they were presented to him. The writer has in mind instances in which they were abso- lutely refused, when presented, on the score of unbelief, from the articles being so light and well-finished. Oftentimes things of little or no value catch the public favor, and, by being prosecuted by shrewd and discerning individuals, large fortunes are made by them. The wonders of the day ex- plode, and are never heard of afterwards. At this period it became with the writer a serious question what he might do next, with any prospect of success. Foreseeing that he should not be likely to shake off the epithets of inventor, mechanical genius, or visionary, which terms are generally considered as synonymous, and diametrically opposed to money-getting—all EARLY IMPRESSIONS CONCERNING GUM-ELASTIC. 99 things considered, he determined to make a profession of inven- tion. So completely was he hemmed in by the difficulties here stated, that he could not hope to recover himself by any or- dinary business, in competition with others; he therefore sought some new field of enterprise suited to his capacity, and congenial to his wishes. He was sanguine that if he could find one in which he could turn to account his past experience, he might retrieve his for- tunes. Having been compelled to relinquish a business that was profitable and agreeable, and which was not subject to the evils and annoyances arising from all business exposed to competition, he was desirous, if possible, in making another choice, to select something that would restore him to his former position. From what has been related, it would appear that, although the business in which he was about to engage was new to him, and very different from that of hardware, he was no novice in relation to improvements. In boyhood he had been inured to labor, and subsequently had been disciplined in adversity ; and, considering his indebtedness to others, and the dependence of a family upon his efforts, he was prepared with a stout heart to enter upon any enterprise where he could reasonably anticipate success. What directly influenced him in the choice of gum- elastic, may be inferred from the following particulars. When yet a school-boy, the wonderful and mysterious proper- ties of this substance attracted his attention, and made a strong impression on his mind. A thin scale, peeled from a bottle or a shoe, sometime afterwards attracted his atten- tion, and suggested to him that it would be very useful as a fabric, if it could be made uniformly so thin, and could be so prepared as to prevent it adhering together and becoming a solid mass, as it soon did from the warmth and pressure of his hand. About the year 1831 or 1832, the manufacture of gum-elastic was begun in the United States, though not in the immediate vicinity where he then was. He observed all that he heard or 100 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. saw relating to it, with a good deal of interest. Some time sub- sequently he was passing the store of the Roxbury India Rubber Company, in New York, and stopped to make inquiry about life- preservers, with the view of purchasing one. On examining the tubes by which they were inflated, it occurred to him that he could improve their construction. Some months after this, he presented a specimen of his improved tube to the agent of the Roxbury Company, with the view of disposing of it to that com- pany. Being pleased with his success in that, the agent advised him to turn his attention to the improvement of India rubber, and said, in behalf of the company, he would insure a very large compensation to any one who would overcome the great difficulties they met with in the manufacture, which were, great adhesiveness and subsequent decomposition of the goods. He was also informed that the losses of the different com- panies had been great, in consequence of these difficulties, and that unless they could be removed, the business must, in all probability, prove a failure. . He was not before aware that the manufacture was so imper- fectly understood. He was blessed with ignorance of the ob- stacles which he had subsequently to encounter, but soon learned this much, at least, that the difficulties which attended experi- ments with the substance, if not unparalleled, were of an uncom- mon character, from the fact that the experimenter, as well as the manufacturer, was obliged to wait the return of both warm and cold weather, at least twelve months, and often longer, before he could know with any certainty that his articles would not decompose, or what were the results of his labors. It is now a well-known fact, that even the metallic or vulcanized articles, if not properly made or thoroughly heated, will decompose, the second year, after they have remained apparently sound the first year. Especially is this the case when the goods have been manufactured with the use of turpentine. These facts account, in a great measure, for the time spent in experiments upon this substance before the discovery was made, and the object so long sought for gained. The same facts, also, a IG y Ses ¥ FIRST EXPERIMENTS OF THE AUTHOR. 101 account for the heavy losses sustained by the different companies referred to, in the article headed American Manufacture. The goods which were made in large quantities during the winter, decomposed on the return of warm weather, and were a total loss. The subsequent experiments of the inventor were attended with the same results. The hopes which had been raised by his apparent success, were repeatedly dissipated by the gradual fer- mentation of the goods on the return of warm weather. He had not proceeded far in his experiments, before he learned the fact, that the substance had baffled all the efforts of chem-. ists and manufacturers, to divest it of its objectionable qualities. He not unfrequently met with physicians and others, who had made a long course of experiments for this purpose, but who had only met with disappointment. The attention of individuals of the medical profession was probably drawn to this substance ‘before that of any other class, from the fact that cum-elastic was found useful for medical and surgical purposes. A descrip- tion of articles of this class will be found in the list of ap- plications. The inventor was, however, encouraged in his efforts by the reflection, that that which is hidden and unknown, and cannot be discovered by scientific research, will most likely be dis- covered by accident, if at all, and by the man who applies him- self most perseveringly to the subject, and is most observing of every thing relating thereto. This fact is corroborated and illustrated by the circumstances attending this discovery, and, in all probability, had it not been made by perseverance against the probabilities of success, it never would have been made at all; for it was well established that India rubber melted at a heat of about 200 degrees, Fahrenheit, and in the sun’s rays at 100 or less. India rubber manufacturers had always been careful to avoid a heat of more than 100 degrees of Fahrenheit in the manufacture of their wares; and in the case of the Macintosh goods, their circulars cautioned customers not to approach too near the fire with them. No one who had any knowledge of the nature of the gum, would be likely to apply a high degree of j Ci (SO) > Shed 2 EOS Z 102 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTICGC. heat to it from design, or for the purpose of divesting it of the objectionable quality, adhesiveness, when it was so well known that it would melt at a low temperature. It is the use of a high degree of heat, an agent so destructive to the native gum, which forms the broad distinctive feature which characterizes this pro- cess. And to this time it appears to be utterly impracticable to apply this high degree of heat to the gum, except in combination with sulphur, in some form or other. There have been, however, many modifications of the process, and attempts at evasions of the patents, by combining with them other substances that are wholly inert, and not necessary to produce the best result. Among many experiments for drying and curing the gum, (supposing the only difficulty with it to be too great adhesive- ness,) the inventor was much elated with the result of one, which was then every way satisfactory. By this experiment, from one half to a pound of magnesia was mixed with the pound of gum. This compound had the great advantage of being white, which was very desirable for many purposes, as no India rubber goods except black had before that time been made in the United States, and no India rubber fabrics in Europe, but those of the Macintosh manufacture, in which the gum is put between two cloths. He then supposed that mag- nesia, in combination with gum, had the effect to dry it, which some other substances have to dry paints. A book was bound with this compound, (made without sul- phur,) in 1834, the cover of which softened and fermented at that time, but is now hard as shell. It is known to chemists that magnesia and turpentine make a hard substance, and this appears to be only a chemical result of the same character. A compound is now made by the metallizing or vulcanizing process, with calcined magnesia combined with the gum, which has a peculiar hardness and solidity, and which it is thought makes it better adapted to some particular uses than the ordi-- nary compound of vulcanized gum-elastic ; and it has not yet been found to change or become too hard by age, like the article above described. - . oS A On -2 uc) @ AX THE MANUFACTORY AT NEW HAVEN. 103 The inventor commenced his experiments in a small dwelling, mixing the gum by hand, and spreading it upon a marble slab with a rolling-pin. He here also commenced the art of embos- sing on glazed cambrics. It was now supposed by himself as well as others, that his success in the treatment of gum-elastic warranted his attempts to manufacture the goods. By the disinterested and timely aid which was gratuitously offered him by a gentleman of New Haven,* he was enabled to commence the manufacture on a small scale, pulling and kneading the gum by hand, and spreading it with an iron pin upon a marble slab, as above stated. With the aid of a few hands, he succeeded, among other things, in the manufacture of a few hundred pairs of shoes from the embossed goods, which would even now be considered beautiful. Being impressed with the idea that the difficulties which were met with in the manufacture of the gum, were atiributable to the solvents which were used, he considered himself fortunate at this time to find in the market some forty or fifty barrels of India rubber sap, among which were a number of casks in which the sum had not coagulated. It was said to be kept in that state by mixing a portion of alcohol with it, before it was exported from Para. The inventor now hoped to surmount all difficul- ties by using the sap in this liquid state, if he failed to succeed with other experiments. A son of Erin, who had been employed to work at the gum, had imbibed the same idea from his employer, and was before- hand in putting it in practice. On the arrival of the barrels containing the sap, he opened one at night, and on meeting his employer at the shop in the morning, Jerry good humoredly sig- nified to him that he had supplanted him, and that a Yankee was not so quick at inventing as an Irishman, at the same time pointing to the trowsers he had on, which he had dipped in the barrel of sap. The job was so completely done, that at first the impression was produced that the improvements were com- pleted, and that experiments with gum-elastic were nearly at an * Ralph B. Steele. Esq. OSS 104 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. end. Jerry sat down to his labor of mixing gum before the fire, as usual, and on attempting to get up again a few minutes after, he found that he was not only cemented to his seat, but that his legs were cemented together. On being extricated from his improved trowsers, to the no small merriment of the bystanders, he subsequently manifested no further inclination for inven- tion. . This experiment was a convincing proof that adhesiveness was a property which belonged to the gum, and was not the consequence of imperfect manufacture. The manufacture of shoes was carried on during the winter of 1835—’36, in the small cottage which served also as a family residence. The service which the shoes rendered, when put on trial, was by no means satisfactory, but it was thought that their construc- tion would be so improved as to make them durable, if the gum did not decompose. In order fully to test the quality of the gum, before submitting the shoes to public trial, they were stored; and on the return of warm weather they were found to be one mass of melted gum. The failure of these experiments was a signal one, and the trial to the experimenter was greatly aggravated from the fact that he had previously given his friends sanguine assurances of his success. They now became disheartened, and declined lending him further assistance for such purposes, and those who afforded his family supplies signified they could do so no longer. At this period he was unable to meet his current expenses; he therefore sold, for the payment of those who had afforded him assistance, the little furniture he possessed. Having placed his family at board in a retired place in the country, leaving as collateral security, for the rent of his cottage, among other things, the linen spun by his wife, he went to New York to continue his experiments. During his absence these articles were sold at auction for the payment of rent. The loss was, at that time, cause of much regret, and the memory of the time is still cherished, when the daughters of New as —— SCO PROGRESS OF EXPERIMENTS. 105 England spun their own linen, and the fathers and brothers were clad in the manufacture of the housewife. The writer is well aware that in alluding to incidents of this kind, he is speaking of things that are in themselves unimportant. They are but trials that are common to the lot of humanity. But it often happens that the merest trifles assume a degree of importance from their relation to a particular subject, or the state of mind of the individual affected by them. , An accident causing detention on a journey, when one is at leisure, may become a source of amusement, while the same accident occurring at another time, would be attended with ex- treme suffering to the individual, and with serious consequences to others, for which reason it might deserve to be recorded. On arriving at New York, the inventor was kindly furnished with a room in which he might continue his experiments, by a friend.* A druggistt with whom he was acquainted, supplied such drugs as were necessary for his experiments. He was soon led to suppose that the decomposition of the goods previously made in New Haven, was the effect of the turpentine, and he now supposed that he had discovered a remedy, by boiling the articles compounded with magnesia in quick lime and water, which appeared to have the effect of tanning the gum, and destroying its viscous property. He made by this method some beautiful specimens of fancy articles, and some sheets of India rubber, for which, in the autumn of 1835, medals were obtained at the fairs of the Mechanics and American Institutes. The improvement was then supposed to be complete, the surface of the articles was quite dry, having just the appearance which the fabric has that is now called gum-elastic drapery. These were the first sheets of gum manufactured in any country, and were considered great curiosities, as well as a great improvement, for which he obtained letters patent, the day of . Ina few weeks, however, he was greatly disappointed to find that when the goods were washed with weak * Mr. J. W. Sexton. t Messrs. Silas Carle & Nephew. 106. GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. acid they became as adhesive as ever, and the lime which adhered to the surface was neutralized, and that the lime had only a superficial effect upon them, although fermentation and decomposition were prevented by the evaporation of the turpen- tine, caused by the heat of the water. In addition to the experiments that are now noticed, the in- ventor prosecuted numerous others, not noticed in this work, by which his hopes were raised for a few weeks or months, only to be disappointed. He next attempted the mixing of quicklime with the gum, which at first appeared to act as a dryer, but this article was too powerfully caustic to be worked by hand. He therefore obtained access to the mill of a Mr. Pike, in Greenwich, now a part of New York, who was at that time making some of the common India rubber fabrics by horse power. Here he earnestly prosecuted this experiment, frequently preparing his gallon jug of slacked lime at his room in Gold street, and carrying it on foot to the mill, a distance of three miles. The effect, however, of the lime upon the gum, after a time proved to be too powerful, and it was abandoned. He shortly after this discovered what has since been known as the acid gas process. In attempting to ornament a piece of gum-elastic drapery, which was made by boiling in lime with metal bronze, and not producing the desired effect, he after- wards applied nitric acid for the purpose of removing the bronze, in doing which, the specimen was discolored, and thrown away as useless. In reflecting on this circumstance some days afterwards, it occurred to the writer that he had not sufficiently examined the unusual appearance of the article. He was for- tunate in finding it, and followed up the suggestion made by the circumstance, until, in the course of a few months, he was able to make, by this process of tanning, as elegant specimens as have ever been made since. This improvement attracted much attention from eminent chemists, and the public institutions of the country. The cer- tificates of some of these individuals, and the inscriptions Ley Ds upon medals that were awarded to the inventor at that time, serve to show the estimation in which the improvement was held by them. These will be found quoted among the tes- timonials. THE MANUFACTORY AT NEW YORK. 107 Those, however, who have had experience with the progress of inventions, and of the hindrances in the way of bringing them into notice, will be sensible of the wide difference there is between the theoretic approbation of an invention by the public, and the substantial aid which is necessary to make a practical demonstration of its utility. The prospect of success with this improvement, enabled the inventor to make arrangements with an individual in New York,* to furnish the capital for manufacturing on joint account. Ac- cordingly a steam power was rented in Bank street for this pur- _ pose. The.inventor proceeded to Washington and procured letters patent for the invention, which was highly appreciated by the officers of the various departments of Government, from whom he received much encouragement. This process, however, did not change the character of the gum throughout, as it was then supposed to do by himself and others; and in consequence of an occurrence hereafter referred to, it has not received the attention to which it is really entitled. In consequence of some modifications in the method of operating it, i connection with the inodorous fabrics, it has also gained increased importance in the mind of the inventor, and he has no doubt that when the subject is understood and duly appre- ciated, it will be ranked next in importance to the vulcanizing improvements. For this invention letters patent were granted him in 1837— and a patent was granted to Thomas Hancock, in England, for the same thing in 183-. While secretly operating this process, before having applied for letters patent, the inventor came near being suffocated by generating a large quantity of gas in a close room; he, however, escaped with a course of fever, during which he was attended ° Mr. William Ballard. \ | 108 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. by Dr. Joseph Bradshaw, an eminent medical practitioner, and a native of England. He had previously formed an acquaint- ance with this gentleman, who took a deep interest in the im- provement of gum-elastic, and frequently inquired after the success of the experiments with it. Specimens made by this process attracted his particular attention at this time, and he expressed to the inventor his intention of visiting his friends in England soon after, and kindly offered to take specimens to the manufacturers there, with a view to negociations for him. At the time he sailed, in the month of , 1836, the inventor made up for him a small assortment of specimens of gum-elastic drapery, which he took directly to the house of .. England. These specimens were much admired by this house as novel- ties, and assurances were given to the Doctor, that if the inven- tion proved to be a useful one, a liberal compensation for it would be made by them. The English patent was taken out by Mr. Hancock, without any communication with the inventor. This may be correct according to the English patent laws, but is not according to the ideas of justice entertained by the in- ventor. The acknowledgment was however given, which is implied in the legal preface attached to English patents, when they are obtained for improvements introduced from another country.* The improvement gradually obtained the confidence of the public in the United States, and became the subject of news- paper paragraphs throughout the country. During the fall of 1836, he also obtained medals at several fairs, one of them being for the application of India rubber to the art of printing. Success now seemed certain, and he was prepared to demon- strate, by the manufacture of the goods, the utility of the improve- ments of which specimens had only yet been produced. The manufacture was continued in Bank street during the winter of 1836-37. In the meantime, a large factory with * By information obtained from a foreigner. AN INCIDENT. 109 machinery, situated on Staten Island, was engaged by the individual who had undertaken to aid in the manufacture. This factory had been built by a corporation in New York, and occupied for the manufacture of India rubber for about a year, but was now abandoned. A large warehouse in Broadway was also engaged by him, in anticipation of the sale of the goods. But a new misfortune awaited the inventor. ‘The individual above alluded to, who had engaged to furnish the means to con- duct the manufacture, was overwhelmed in the disasters which befel the mercantile community in 1836; he was left without ability to proceed; and this inability was erroneously attributed to the unfortunate business of India rubber, and want of merit in the improvement, instead of the true cause. The inventor was again left without resources or means of _ subsistence.. The extreme difficulty of obtaining such means of subsistence for a family in a large city, where one’s fortunes are known to be bad, may easily be imagined. The following inci- dent may illustrate the manner in which they are sometimes unexpectedly relieved by a kind Providence. He had put in his pocket a small article much valued, and sallied forth in the morning for the purpose of obtaining with it food for the day. Before reaching the pawnbroker’s shop he met a creditor, from whom he expected to receive sharp, if not bitter re- proaches. fis astonishment was so great that he could hardly trust his hearing, when he accosted him with the inquiry, what he could do for him. On being satisfied that no insult was intended, he replied, without telling him that he was in search of food, that the sum of fifteen dollars would greatly oblige him. It was instantly handed to him, and the article which had been designed for the pawnbroker, remained in the hands of the owner, to relieve a greater necessity on a future occasion. He was now, for some time, at the mercy of the pawnbroker, every article that could be made available was pledged, until he was relieved, for the time, by the loan of one hundred dollars from a friend.* ° James Deforest, Esq. soos ZOO - GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. In order to avail himself of the use of some furniture in pos- session of a younger brother, as well as his services in the fac- tory, he assumed the support of his family, and placed them with his own in a cottage connected with the establishment on Staten Island. Having access to the machinery, he succeeded in making a few articles to sell, for the supply of their immediate wants. An attempt was made to draw the attention of the sharehold- ers of this establishment to the new improvement, in order that they might revive their business, and also benefit the inventor. But the failure of their attempts to manufacture the gum had been so disastrous, that during the six months he was there he was never able to get an individual to the factory, to look at the invention, or even to look after the premises, so completely were they abandoned. It is, perhaps, worthy of remark, that during the first years of his experiments, until after he had discovered the heating or vulcanizing process, and became certain that he had attained his object, he made it an invariable practice to test the value of the various experiments, by wearing some article of apparel made from the material, that he might as soon as possible arrive at correct conclusions respecting them; the wearing of gum- elastic about the person being one of the severest tests to which it can be put. An anecdote may be related which exhibits in its true light, not only the opinion of the public as relates to the enthusiasm of the inventor, but also his poverty. A gentleman being inquired of how he might be recognized, said, “If you meet a man who has on an India rubber cap, stock, coat, vest, and shoes, with an India rubber money purse, without a cent of money in it, that is he.” Late in the summer of 1836 he succeeded in obtaining a small loan from a friend; collected a handful of his best speci- mens and went to Roxbury, Massachusetts, for the purpose of ascertaining what might be done there. He was kindly received there by some gentlemen who were formerly his customers in DEPRESSION OF THE BUSINESS IN 1836. 11] the hardware line, and Mr. Henry Willis, with whom an in- timate acquaintance had been formed during his apprenticeship in Philadelphia, and who generously gave him facilities. His plans were also materially forwarded by the sympathy and kind- ness of Mr. John Haskins and Mr. E. M. Chaffee. Boston and the country for twenty miles round, was then suffering from the severe losses incurred through the man- ufacture and speculations in this business. In 1834, such was the mania upon the subject, that it was generally considered in this vicinity, a want of common sagacity for any one not to own more or less India rubber stock. It was the all prevailing topic of excitement, and if he could have brought his improve- ment to Boston in season, as the agent of the Roxbury com- pany assured him, before he commenced his experiments, he would unquestionably have realized a large sum for it. But now, the public mind was completely paralysed and disgusted with the subject, and it was of importance to the credit of any man in business, that he should be known not to have any thing to do with it; and much more to his credit, if he could show that he had never engaged in the speculation. He however met with several gentlemen of independence, who, notwith- standing their heavy losses in the business, from pride of opinion on the subject, were very desirous to see the business rise again. Through these persons he brought his specimens to the notice of the public, and obtained access to the use of the famous Rox- bury machinery, by which he was able without the use of turpen- tune, to demonstrate the importance of his invention. The invention of this machine resuscitated the Roxbury Com- pany, and caused the stock to advance to par, after nearly the whole capital of the company had been sunk in fruitless attempts to manufacture the goods with solvents. It was supposed that the solvents being dispensed with, the difficulties of the man- ufacture, occasioned by the adhesiveness and decomposition of the goods, would be quite surmounted, and that the gum would be at least as good as in its native state. It was subsequently ascertained by the company that their Cc \ f CN to SR a 2 embarrassments were not owing to the solvents that were used in the manufacture, but to adhesiveness being an inherent property of the gum. The stock again declined, until the man- ufacture was completely abandoned by the company, about the time the writer first went to Roxbury. Several years subsequent to this time, this machine, with Mr. Chaffee’s patent for it, was purchased by the writer. Machinery of this description, for manufacturing without sol- 112 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. vents, has now become of great importance, and is almost indis- pensabie for the economical and successful manufacture of the heavier kinds of goods made by the vulcanizing process. In the winter of 1887-38, the inventor re-commenced the manufacture of shoes with better success than that which at- tended his experiments at New Haven. He then invented a new method of constructing shoes, for which a patent was granted him, which patent was disposed of in connection with a license for curing them by the acid gas process.* in the summer of 1888 two licenses were disposed of, one for piano-forte covers and table-cloths,+ another for carriage-cloths ;i both of these were for the use of the acid gas in connection with the solarizing process. The origin of the first named process has been stated, that of the latter may here be noticed. In the summer of 1838 he became acquainted with Mr. Nathaniel Hayward, of Woburn, Mass., who had been em- ployed as the foreman of the Eagle Company at Woburn, where he had made use of sulphur by impregnating the solvent with it. It was through him that the writer received the first knowledge of the use of sulphur as a drier of gum-elastic. Mr. Hayward was left in possession of the factory, which was * This patent and license were purchased by J. W. Clark, Esq., of Boston, and Charles Jackson, Esq., of Providence, who established a manufactory at Providence, where the business has been extensively and successfully prosecuted until the present time, under the firm of Isaac Hartshorn and Company. + Messrs. Luke Baldwin and John Haskins, who established a factory at Lynn, Mass., for the rganufacture ofcloths and table-covers. This establishment was afterwards removed to Roxbury, where it was continued until Mr John Haskins engaged in the first manufacture of letter bands i and elastics, by the vulcanizing process, under a license from the inventor. t This was purchased by Mr. Luther Clark, of Northampton, Mass., where the manufacture was established, and discontinued about a year afterwards. com = EXPERIMENTS WITH SULPHUR. 113 abandoned by the Eagle Company. Soon after this it was occu- pied by the writer, who employed him for the purpose of man- ufacturing life-preservers and other articles, by the acid gas and solarizing processes. About this time the writer purchased the claim of combining sulphur with India rubber, of Mr. Hayward, for which a patent was taken out February 24, 1839. It should be remarked that this claim was for the use of sulphur, and not for the heating or vulcanizing process, subsequently discovered by the writer. One remarkable fact relating to the use of sulphur with a sol- was ascertained that its use by mixing the flour of sulphur with the gum, without a solvent, has a very different effect from that which is obtained by its use with a solvent. When a minute portion of it is put into the solvent, or when the solvent is impregnated with a quantity to the gallon so small as hardly to be appreciated in weight, the gum which is dissolved with it and spread thin upon cloth, when exposed to the sun for a single day, will dry up so that it may be rubbed off the cloth in a dry powder, whereas the sulphur in large quantity, or as much as half a pound to the pound of gum, (which either has or has not been dissolved,) may be mixed with it, and it will not be scorched in solarizing, or injured by exposure to the sun after- wards, for a great length of time.* From having the use of the only machinery with which the sum was worked at that time without a solvent, the writer made his first experiments with sulphur in that way, by which means he ascertained the results peculiar to the different ways of using the materials. It was his discovery and observation of this peculiar result, that led the writer to continue his experiments _ with sulphur, and to purchase the patent of Mr. Hayward,f notwithstanding its use was not considered advantageous or practicable by the Eagle company, or other manufacturers. He * These peculiar results, from the different methods of combining sulphur and gum-elastic, are considered worthy of notice, although neither of them are praciiced by manufacturers at the present time. vent deserves to be noticed, and also the manner in which it + Taken out at the suggestion of the writer. 4 114 ' GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. was, in fact, frequently cautioned by Mr. Hayward not to use it in the crude state, because its effects were so powerful when used in a minute quantity in the solvent. Mr. Chaffee had also tried it while with the Roxbury Company, and the effects were not deemed worthy of notice, either by that company or himself. At that time, previous to the introduction of the acid gas and vulcanizing process, the obnoxious odor of sulphur in the goods was an effectual barrier to their reception in the market. Another effect yet more remarkable in the treatment of gum- elastic, is that of the sun’s rays upon it. When combined with sulphur, and exposed to the action of the sun, either in hot weather or cold, it becomes solarized, or divested of its adhesive quality ; whereas no other kind of light or heat has any similar effect, until the high degree of heat is applied to it, about 270°, which is used in vulcanizing. By the sale of the licenses before referred to, the inventor realized a few thousand dollars, which relieved him from his im- mediate embarrassment. He had, beside, the prospect of being well compensated for his past labors and trials, and was now comfortably situated, with a pleasant home for his family. His aged parents, and two younger brothers, all of whose fortunes had continued to decline, at this time joined him. The preju- dices of the public gave way, and his fortunes were altogether in the ascendant. At this period he made many novel and useful applications of this substance: among other fancy articles, he had newspapers printed on the gum-elastic drapery ; and the improvement, with its various applications, began to be highly appreciated. The merit of the improvement was, in some respects, over- rated. It was supposed by others, as well as himself, that a change was wrought throughout the mass of the goods acted upon by the acid gas, and that the whole body of the article was made better than the native gum. The surface of the goods really was so; and is always superior, even to that of heated or vulcanized. gum-elastic, with the application of this process. The gum is not, however, changed far below the surface, but the aor oO f | | RESULT OF AN EXPERIMENT. 115 portion acted upon being very superior, and the interior equally as good as the native gum, the improvement, on the whole, gaye satisfaction, and the inventor imagined that he had done all that could be done to improve the material. He therefore now entered, (as he thought,) upon a successful career for the future. A far different result, however, awaited him. While the invention, and the numerous applications of it were getting highly into favor with the public, he received an order from the Government for a considerable quantity of mail-bags. This fact was much known, and looked upon as a test of the utility of the improvement. If the mail-bags proved satisfactory, it was admitted that the invention would be completely success- ful. They were being finished in the warm season, and were _ purposely exposed for inspection in his factory, which was much visited from motives of curiosity, but while he was absent a few weeks, they were discovered to be decomposing, and to be dropping off the handles. The inventor had been recently in the habit of using chromes, white lead, and vermilion, and a variety of articles for the pur- pose of producing colors; some of which he used in the mail- bags, with the view of giving them a good leather color. These proved deleterious to the goods, as the manufacture was then conducted, and destroyed them.* The reputation of the acid gas process, upon which he wholly relied, had been theoretically established, and, it was supposed, fairly tested, previous to the decomposition of the mail-bags before alluded to. Since the true cause of the decomposition of the goods at that time has become known, it has been considered, as before, a real improve- ment, and is practiced in the manufacture in connection with the vulcanizing process, with great advantage. But at that time he relied too much upon its efficacy to change the character or properties of the gum, and to prevent the effects of other in- * These articles are not injurious when mixed and vulcanized with India rubber, but rather serve to facilitate the process, and had it not been for this misfortune from the use of these articles in all human probability the vulcanizing process would never have been discovered. wh 116 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. gredients that are now known to cause fermentation or decom- position, when heat and sulphur are not used. Being desirous to beautify the fabrics with a variety of colors, the writer used metallic and other colors indiscriminately for this purpose. At this time, (intending to pursue the business as a man- ufacturer,) he commenced the manufacture of a variety of fancy articles, and several thousand life-preservers were made, which were sold and distributed through the country. These various articles were compounded with large quantities of white lead and other deleterious coloring matter, which caused them to de- compose after the lapse of a short time, and thus that which he had represented as a useful discovery, and which was so in fact, was pronounced by the public to be a complete failure. Instead of realizing the large fortune which, by all acquainted with his prospects, was considered certain, his whole invention would not bring him a week’s living. Again he saw those dear to him, together with his aged parents, stripped of the comforts with which they were surrounded. Every thing that he possessed was brought to the hammer for the discharge of private bills. The inventor very soon became satisfied that the supposed failure of the invention was wholly in consequence of the color- ing materials used, but it was at that time useless to affirm it, and he did not attempt to reverse the sentence of public opinion, because he was under the necessity of encountering the evils of the misfortune before he had an opportunity of making the real merits of the improvement known. The misfortune and disappointment of the writer by this occurrence was indeed serious. He was not only reduced to extreme poverty, with a large family to provide for; but, if he continued his experiments, he could no longer expect the countenance or sympathy of his friends or acquaintance, as he had already spent four years in fruitless attempts to make improvements in the manufacture that had proved so ruinous to the community, having, as was generally known, applied himself industriously to his experiments during the whole time, doing nothing else. It was generally 4 EMBARRASSMENTS OF THE AUTHOR. 117 agreed that the man who could proceed further in a course of this sort, was fairly deserving of all the distress brought upon himself, beside being justly debarred the sympathy of others. And he was not unfrequently reminded that he could at any time improve his circumstances, by acting upon the advice of friends, to return to his former occupation of hardware. There was no longer any alternative for him, except to make choice of one of two ways—either to return to what others thought a respectable occupation, in order to support his family, or to sub- sist as he best could in his then embarrassed condition. The earnings of himself and family in the manufacture, by the common methods, of some small articles for which there was yet some demand, and the forlorn resort of the friendless and the destitute,—the pawnbroker’s shop,—were his chief dependence. The parties before alluded to, to whom licenses had been sold for the acid gas process, were so much discouraged by these occur- rences, that no application could be made to them for assistance. The recollection of the losses that had been previously sus- tained, in the depreciation of India rubber stocks,.was now revived afresh in the public mind, and it was useless to look to any individual in the community for funds to be used in this manufacture, so strong was the prejudice against it. The shares of the numerous companies that had failed with total loss of their capital, were so widely distributed, that their failure was indeed a public calamity; and although the pecuniary interests of the public were in no way affected by the disappoint- ment of the inventor in the failure of his experiments, yet the effect of their disaffection, in consequence of their former losses, manifested in their distrust of every thing connected with the subject, was not only the cause of much chagrin to him at the time, but was also the chief hinderance to the introduction of his subsequent improvements. He was obliged, for the want of means, to discontinue man- ufacturing, and Mr. Hayward left his employment, and re- turned to the manufacture (on his own account) of various articles, after the method first practiced by the Roxbury com- \ 118 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. pany and himself, in which he continued until about a year after the discovery of the vulcanizing process, of which he after- wards became one of the licensees, and proprietor of a shoe establishment at Colchester, Conn.* Frequent visits to the factory at Woburn became necessary, for the purpose of closing up and discontinuing the manufacturing operations at that place. The appeals of his friends were now presented with fair prospects in their favor, to persuade him to change his plans, and discontinue his experiments with the manufacture. At this time, as well as on many former occasions, if the im- provement sought for had been one connected with machinery, or one, the prosecution of which depended upon the art of any human being, or upon any amount of capital beyond a few six- pences at a time, necessity would have compelled him to yield ; but so long as these could be obtained or hoped for, experiment could be continued, and the discovery made, as it was, in the most humble sphere. The inventor now applied himself alone, with eddie ardor ° and diligence, to detect the cause of his misfortune, and, if pos- sible, to retrieve the lost reputation of his invention ; and, as had happened on former occasions, he had hardly time enough to realize the extent of his embarrassment, before he became in- tently engaged with another experiment, and his mind buoyant with new hopes and expectations; which, as it afteryards. proved, were to be, for this time at least, more than realized. While on one of the visits above alluded to, at the fac- tory at Woburn, and at the dwt? where 7 whenever he visited the manufactory at Woburn, the in- ventor made some experiments to ascertain the effect of heat upon the same compound that had decomposed in the mail-bags and other articles. He was surprised to find that the speci- men, being carelessly brought in contact with a hot stove, charred like leather. He endeavored to call the attention of his brother, as well as some other individuals who were * Under the firm of N. Hayward & Co. £ present, and who were acquainted with the manufacture of gum- DISCOVERY OF VULCANIZING. 119 elastic, to this effect, as remarkable, and unlike any before known, since gum-elastic always melted when exposed to a high degree of heat. The occurrence did not at the time appear to them to be worthy of notice; it was considered as one of the frequent appeals that he was in the habit of making, in behalf of some new experiment. He however directly inferred that if the process of charring could be stopped at the right point, it might divest the gum of its native adhesiveness throughout, which would make it better than the native gum. Upon further trial with heat, he was fur- ther convinced of the correctness of this inference by finding that India rubber could not be melted in boiling sulphur at any heat ever so great, but always charred. He made another trial of heating a similar fabric, before an open fire. The same effect, that of charring the gum, followed ; but there were further and very satisfactory indications of ulti- mate success, in producing the desired result, as upon the edge of the charred portions of the fabric, there appeared a line, or border, that was not charred, but perfectly cured. He now removed with his family to Lynn, in order that he might have access to the steam power of Messrs. Baldwin & Haskins, for the purpose of trying experiments in vulcanizing by steam. A few weeks after, he removed from Lynn to Woburn, where he now pursued his inquiries and experiments for some months quite alone, until the desired result was obtained. On ascertain- ing to a certainty that he had found the object of his search, and much more, and that the new substance was proof against cold, and the solvents of native gum, he felt himself amply repaid for the past, and quite indifferent as to the trials of the future. The facts have been stated precisely as they occurred in re- ference to the discovery of the acid gas, as well as the vulcan- izing process. The incidents attending the discovery of both have a strong resemblance, so much so, they may be considered parallel cases. It being now known that the results of the vul- 4 a 120 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC.. canizing process are produced by means, and in a manner, which would not have been anticipated from any reasoning on the subject, and that they have not yet been satisfactorily ac- counted for, it has been sometimes asked how the inventor came to make the discovery. The answer has already been given. It may be added, that he was many years seeking to accomplish this object, and that he allowed nothing to escape his notice that related to the subject. Like the falling of an apple, it was suggestive of an important fact to one whose mind was previously prepared to draw an inference from any occurrence which might favor the object of his research. While the inventor ad- mits that these discoveries were not the result of scientific chemical investigations, he is not willing to admit that they were the result of what is commonly termed accident; he claims them to be the result of the closest application and observation. The discoloring and charring of the specimens proved nothing, and discovered nothing of value, but quite the contrary; for in the first instance, as stated of the acid gas improvement, the specimen acted upon was thrown away as worthless, and left for some time; in the latter instance, the specimen that was charred was in like manner disregarded by others. It may, therefore, be considered as one of those cases where the leading of the Creator providentially aids his creatures by what are termed accidents, to attain those things which are not attainable by the powers of reasoning he has conferred on them. The discovery was now made, which, at the present day, is generally regarded as one of the most important improvements of the age, and justly so, when considered in connection with all the other improvements which are constantly being made from it, and depending upon the extraordinary properties of this article for their utility. It might, therefore, have been supposed that the embarrassments of the inventor would be at an end, and that the attention of the public would easily be drawn to the subject. This, however, was not the case. He had yet to wait two years in the most trying circumstances, before he could con- vince any one that a valuable discovery had been made. RESULTS OF PREVIOUS FAILURES. 121 It was certain that nothing could be done to restore the confidence of the public, in the vicinity of Boston, or to in- duce them to establish the business for a long time to come, and it would have been useless to visit any other part of the country for this purpose, even if he had had the means, without specimens large enough to be used, so as to prove the utility of the inven- tion. There was, therefore, no alternative but to make such efforts as it was in his power to make to accomplish this object, in order to effect a change of place and circumstances. It had been the design of the inventor, previous to the disap- pointment which attended the acid gas process, to introduce it into Europe as soon as practicable ; and arrangements for this purpose were in progress, when proposals highly advantageous were made to him by the extensive manufacturing house of Messrs. Rattier & Guibal, for the introduction of the acid gas improvement into France. In reply, they were informed that newly discovered improve- ments had been made, and that as soon as they were sufficiently advanced for exhibition, the writer would avail himself of these proposals. The prosperous condition of the manufacture of gum-elastic in other countries, so far as it was known, was a great encouragement to proceed, and stimulated his efforts to obtain specimens where he then was. Those which had already been made were of small size, and were in appearance like samples of the common India rubber. The confident assurances which the inventor expressed, were also such as had been made in relation to successive improvements during a period of several years, but which had resulted only in disappointment. It was, therefore, unreasonable to expect those with whom he was con- versant to attach much importance to his views of the case, although they might give him credit for sincerity. The great difficulty now was to bring the minds of others to appreciate the subject as he did himself. The most that could be hoped for in the community where he then resided, was to get the improve- ment so far advanced, as to be able to present it in foreign countries, or in some other section of his own country. 122 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. The narration of a few incidents will give a brief but correct idea of the discouragements, of which there was, during those two years, a constant repetition in one form or other. During the winter of 1839—40, a year after the writer was fully satisfied of the real value of his discovery, the greatest dis- couragements were met with. During one of those long and severe snow-storms, which in New England sometimes occur, when even those who are blessed with health are confined within doors, he found that his family were left without food or fuel. His feelings were, that the face of nature was a fit emblem of his con- dition—cold and cheerless; but the recollection of a kind greeting received some time previous from an individual who resided some miles distant, and nearly a stranger, induced him, enfeebled by illness, to make the attempt to reach his house through the storm. After being by turns exhausted by walking against the driving snow, and rested upon its drifts, he reached the dwelling of this individual,* and stated to him briefly his condition, and the hopes he entertained of success from his dis- covery, if he should ever be able to convince others of the facts relating toit. He was cordially received, and not only supplied with a sum adequate to his immediate wants, but also furnished with facilities for continuing his experiments on a small scale. The greater part of these facilities were applied during the winter in the manufacture of a set of military equipments, for specimens, with the intention of vulcanizing them as soon as an apparatus could be obtained for the purpose. Long before there was an opportunity of doing this, he found that the composition of the goods had so fermented that they could not be vul- canized. This was a result which it is now known will com- monly occur, when gum-elastic is worked with a solvent, and compounded with lead and sulphur, unless it is vuleanized soon after it is manufactured. Thus he had lost the labors of the winter without effecting the object of obtaining the specimens * O. B. Coolidge, Esq., Woburn, Mass, to whom a tribute of gratitude is due for the timely re- lief afforded. he desired. Without them it was certain that nothing could DIFFICULTIES TO ENCOUNTER. 123 be done to restore the confidence of the public, in the vicinity of Boston, or to induce them to establish the business for a long time to come, and it would have been useless to visit any other part of the country for this purpose, even if he had had the means, without specimens large enough to test the utility of the invention. There was, therefore, no alternative but to continue his efforts to obtain specimens that would satisfy other minds, before he could hope to effect a change in his circumstances by a change of place; and it seemed absolutely necessary that these speci- mens should be such as might be tested by actual service. Like iron or steel, the quality of gum-elastic could not then, and can- not even now, be known by the appearance of its surface. Those which had already been made were of small size, and _were in appearance like samples of the common India rubber. The confident assurances which the inventor expressed, were also such as had been made in relation to other supposed improve- ments during a period of several years, but which had resulted only in disappointment. It was, therefore, unreasonable to ex- pect those with whom he was conversant, to attach much im- portance to his views of the case, although they might give him credit for sincerity. The great difficulty now was to bring the minds of others to appreciate the subject as he did himself. The most, therefore, that could be hoped for in the community where he then resided, was to get the improvement so far advanced, as to be able to present it in foreign countries, or in some other section of his own country.* * The prosperous condition of the manufacture of the native gum in other countries, wasa great encouragement to proceed, and stimulated his efforts to obtain specimens where ne then was. It had been the design of the inventor, previous to the disappointment which attended the acid gas process, to introduce that process into Hurope as soon as practicable: and arrangements for this purpose were in progress, when proposals highly advantageous were made to him by the ex- tensive manufacturing house of Messrs. Rattier & Guibal, Paris, for the introduction of that im- provement into France. These proposals were made through Mr. Wm. B. Draper, of New York, who had for a long time resided, as a merchant, in Paris, and through him the reply was made in 1840, that the writer had discovered the heating or vulcanizing process, which would probably supersede the acid gas improvement, and would delay his visit to Paris. Ten years subsequent have been devoted by the inventor to perfecting the vulcanizing process, and various improvements growing out of it, having it in view to introduce them into Europe \ when perfected. 124 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. That such indifference to this discovery, and many incidents attending it, could have existed in an intelligent and benevolent community, can only be accounted for by existing circumstances in that community. The great losses that had been sustained in the manufacture of gum-elastic ; the length of time the inventor had spent in what appeared to them to be entirely fruitless efforts to accomplish any thing with it; added to his recent mis- fortunes and disappointments, all conspired, with his utter desti- tution, to produce a state of things as unfavorable to the promul- gation of the discovery as can well be imagined. He, however, felt in duty bound to beg in earnest, if need be, sooner than that the discovery should be lost to the world and to himself. That there was real danger of such loss, subsequent events abundantly prove. In the event of the writer’s death, it could hardly be expected that his theory, which he afterwards found it so difficult to establish, could survive him. The inyen- tion was fully appreciated by him at that time, and was considered as valuable as it now proves to:be. His inability to convince others of the truth of his assertions, or to bring them to compre- hend the importance of the subject, caused intense anxiety as to the results, and produced a state of mind such as could have been ill endured, but for the excitement caused by efforts to sur- mount the obstacles he met with. Want of sympathy, want of means to go forward with experi- ments, or even to provide sustenance from day to day for those dependent upon him, only increased the solicitude consequent upon the state of suspense as to the result of those efforts. How he subsisted at this period, charity alone can tell, for it is as well to call things by their right names, and it is little else than charity, when the lender looks upon what he parts with as a gift. The pawning or selling some relic of better days, or some article of necessity, was a frequent expedient. His library had long since disappeared, but shortly after the discovery of this process, he collected and sold at auction the school books of his children, which brought him the trifling sum of five dol- lars; small as the amount was, it enabled him to proceed. At A y a INCIDENTS ATTENDING THE DISCOVERY. 125 this step he did not hesitate. The occasion, and the certainty of success, warranted the measure, which, in other circumstances, would have been sacrilege. The inventor had now grounds of assurance, which had never existed with regard to previous im- provements. The discovery was made in winter, and the specimens did not stiffen by cold. Summer returned, and they were not softened by heat. There could be no danger on this score, as they were made by a heat of two hundred and seventy degrees. The next thing of importance to be done, was to manufacture specimens of sufficient size to satisfy others of the importance of the inven- tion by a trial of the goods. He was not, at first, aware of the difficulty that existed in the way of operating the process on a large scale. The specimens which he had thus far produced, _ were from the thinner sort of fabrics, which could be heated be- fore an open fire. ‘To heat a specimen of any considerable size or thickness in this way, proved to be impracticable, on account of the blistering of the gum. This difficulty subsequently caused great loss in the establishment of the manufacture by the various licensees. In the course of the spring of 1839 he had succeeded in manufacturing some specimens tolerably perfect, and heating them before an open fire with the brushwood which the kind- ness of his neighbors allowed him to gather in the field, not being able during that summer to supply himself with more sub- stantial fuel. Upon the exhibition of these specimens, and the earnestness of his appeals, some individuals were induced to assist him in building a brick oven, about six feet square, and also to manufacture some full pieces of the fabric. These were made by the machinery for the liquid gum, so that before they could be finished and heated, (the weather being warm,) the goods fermented, and they could not be vulcanized. This isa peculiarity of the vulcanizing process, remarked upon under the head of Dissolving, page . In this way the capital, which had been provided for this express purpose, three times in succession, was exhausted. The cause of fermentation not being known, e) c i A, Or 6c 126 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. the effort to obtain larger specimens was at last relinquished, and he was compelled to take with him to New York those sam- ples only which had been heated before an open fire in his dwelling. With these specimens he now endeavored to get to New York, having no hope of being listened to where he then was. | He had the assurance from an individual formerly in his em- ployment, that on coming to Boston he would lend him fifty dollars, whereby his family could be maintained in his absence, and his expenses paid to New York. Arriving in Boston he was disappointed in this. He remained at a hotel from Monday until Saturday, hoping to obtain from some source the sum re- quired. He at last applied where he had reason to expect it, for the sum of five dollars, with which he might return to his family; this was refused. At night his bill at the hotel was presented. Mortified and chagrined, he walked, meditating on his condition until late at night. He strayed into East Cam- bridge, and stopped at the house of a friend, who received him kindly and made him comfortable for the night. Early next morning he walked ten miles to his home, and was met at the door by one of the family, saying that his youngest boy, two years of age, who was in perfect health when he left home, was then dying. He thanked God for being turned back to the rescue of his family, for they had already been denied the subsistence promised by a dealer when he left. The inventor then represented, by letter, the situation of his family, to a gentleman in Boston, a sincere friend, by whom he was confident that he could not be refused, and was not. He received from him the sum of seven dollars, out of regard, as he said, for his family, with a severe reprimand for himself for not turning his attention to some occupation that would support them. A stranger to the inventor, who happened to be at his friend’s office, upon the receipt of his letter, forwarded to him a barrel of flour, which was indeed a timely relief and source of heartfelt gratitude. He next addressed a letter to a relation in a distant part of 4 FIRST SUCCESSFUL OPERATION. 7 the country.* From him he received the sum of fifty dollars. This enabled him to get to New York, and to lay the subject before Mr. William Rider, a gentleman to whom he was intro- duced for the first time on his arrival there. An arrangement was soon made, by which Mr. Rider engaged to furnish capital to conduct the manufacture on joint account. To the firmness and perseverance of Mr. William Rider, to- gether with the skill and assiduity of his brother, Mr. Emory Rider, under a series of obstacles which this new manufacture encountered for several years, more than to the amount of the pecuniary aid rendered, the inventor feels indebted for a share of his success. From him he received a sufficient amount of funds for the comfort of his family, and sufficient to enable him to proceed, in a small way, with his experiments. Thus he _ continued for about a year, when the failure of his friend again left him without resources. He had, however, made some ad- vance towards demonstrating the utility of his improvements, although he found it nearly impossible to get over the difficulties which he met with in the way of heating the goods with uniformity. In the fall of 1841, before the failure of Mr. Rider, the inven- tor commenced operations in Springfield, Mass., having a short time previously succeeded in manufacturing some few yards of the elastic compound in sheets, and in heating them uniformly. This was done by passing them through a heated cast-iron trough, represented in the drawing, plate . This was the first successful operation of vulcanizing. At this time, also, he in- vented the shirred or corrugated goods, which have since been so famous, both on account of their intrinsic merit and on ac- count of the numerous suits at law of which they have been the subject. Having shirred some elegant ribbons, they attracted the notice of a brother-in-law,* an extensive woolen manufac- turer, and through him, the notice of the public. By the aid and kindness of this individual, who, for a time, furnished the means to conduct the manufacture, the inventor was enabled gradually ° William Deforest, Esq. ~ 128 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. to proceed with his improvements. While at this place he was again thrown into prison for debt, which influenced him to avail himself of a release under the odious bankrupt law, about ten days before its repeal. This law he had always opposed, and firmly resolved not to accept of any of the advantages it offered, but the provocation, in this instance, was such that his resolu- tion gave way; and, as things terminated, he has never had cause to regret his change of purpose, since, very shortly after this, his invention began to be appreciated; and, together with the success of the shirred goods before alluded to, enabled him to do justice to his creditors, notwithstanding his discharge in bankruptcy. Since that time to the present, he has had no occasion to complain of hard fortune, having con- tinued his experiments and improvements according to the plan specified in another chapter, appropriating the receipts from his invention as they have accrued, to the purposes there ' stated. ‘These means have been almost as inadequate for the object in view, as those which he formerly had were for. the comfort of himself and family, and for his experiments before his success in the chief discovery. The want of pecuniary facili- ties has caused much delay in his course, which undoubtedly has had the effect to make the whole system much more complete than it would have been if he had possessed ample means. Al- though sometimes disheartened by the apparent loss of time from these hindrances, the inventor has, on the whole, good reason to be reconciled to these temporary delays, being well aware that the law of necessity in one form or other, is the only one under which invention will thrive or accomplish much. Millions might have been spent without effecting any thing in comparison with what has been done. Money is indispensable for the per- fecting of improvements, but it is trial and necessity chiefly that are effectual in bringing to light things that are hidden ; in other words, however indispensable money may be to carry out an en- terprise, or perfect the improvements of an inventor, it will avail but little in bringing to light that which is unknown, especially where the subject cannot be approached by any known laws of science. oo oe a MOTIVES. 129 In this case, at least, it has been necessity, caused by the desire to obtain the means of discharging liabilities, and moral as well as pecuniary obligations, with the ambition of making these inventions worthy of this age of improvements, that has stimulated the inventor to proceed, step by step, to the comple- tion of his plan. O73 OSS CHAPTER VIII. NATURE OF THE DISCOVERY. The sole object sought after by numerous experimenters. The success of the author. The method of vulcanizing. Remarkable and very useful properties developed by the process. Availability and supply of the raw material. As early as the year 1800, wherever the properties of India rubber became known and appreciated, it became a subject of - much inquiry and experiment, to ascertain if there was any way by which it could be dissolved, and afterwards restored to its original state. This was the ultimatum sought after, by great numbers who occupied themselves in experiments with it, espe- cially those of the medical profession, as well as by the writer in all his early experiments. It was not thought of or expected, (certainly not by the writer,) materially to improve upon the original good qualities of the gum. The object of the experi- ments was limited to the restoring of it to its original state, but even this was almost despaired of; hardly an approach to that effect could be made except with ether as a solvent, which was too expensive for any practical purpose. The success of the inventor, in imparting to gum-elastic new and valuable properties, and at the same time retaining all the useful qualities it pos- sessed before, has not ceased to be matter of surprise to mankind, wherever it has become known. This substance, aside from the difficulty of managing it chem- ically, was in its native state as wonderful and mysterious as any in nature, and it is rendered yet more wonderful, by the change wrought in it by this discovery. A more particular description of the new properties thereby imparted to it is given in the following chapter, but a few gen- So \, Ss Swe 132 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. eral comparisons or illustrations in this place may serve to give some persons a more correct idea of the nature of the results produced by the discovery of the process of vulcanizing, or heating, as it was first called by the inventor. The change wrought in the native gum by this process may with propriety be compared to that which is wrought in a per- ishable skin or hide, by the process of tanning, which converts it into a beautiful kid, or substantial leather; or to that by which the crude ore is changed, by the process of smelting, into valua- ble iron for man’s use; or to that by which iron is changed by the well known process of baking with carbon, into steel. This latter comparison holds good, not only as to the results, but also as to the method, except that instead of carbon, sulphur is used in the baking process, treated of for vulcanizing the gum, which is penetrated by sulphur after it has taken the form of a gas, a high degree of heat being used in both cases. One remarkable fact is exhibited by this improvement, which is an apparent anomaly in chemistry. An article is obtamed which is not dissolved without great difficulty, by the best known sol- vents of gum-elastic, which yet possesses all the valuable proper- ties of the native gum, and many others that the native gum does not possess. It will be readily perceived, that the effect of this process is not simply the improvement of a substance ; but it amounts, in fact, to the production of a new material. The durability imparted to gum-elastic by the heating or vulcan- izing process, not only improves it for its own peculiar and legitimate uses, but also renders it a fit substitute for a variety of other substances where its use had not before been contem- plated. It may, at first thought, appear absurd to compare the durability of an article like gum-elastic, with that of metal or wood, yet it will be found upon investigation, that in con- sequence of its resistance of corrosion and decay, it is, for certain purposes, far more durable than either of these, as has been found by actual trial. Nitric acid quickly destroys iron, brass, copper, &c. Potash destroys leather, and wood. Some fabrics are rendered unfit for use, by coming in contact with SUPPLY OF RAW MATERIAL. 133 grease, tar, &c., and others damaged, or destroyed, even by water; but none of these agents injure the fabrics, which are known under the name of the metallic, or “vulcanized fabrics.” It has now been proved, by several years’ experience in its use, that by this discovery, a substance is produced, possessing all the valuable properties of gum-elastic in the highest degree of perfection, without the imperfections pertaining to the native gum, which must have prevented gum-elastic ever being applied to many purposes of great utility, for which, by the removal of its objectionable qualities, it is now made available. When anew material is in any way made available to the arts and manufactures, it is impossible to set bounds to its appli- cation, or to the extent of the benefits to be derived from it. . Where the supplies of the material are obtained, as is the case with the India rubber, from regions that for various reasons ean never be extensively cultivated; where the spontaneous productions of nature are profuse, and where the inhabitants of such regions appear incapable of higher effort and enterprise than is required simply to gather those productions; there are good reasons for anticipating additional advantages from an improvement, other than mere usefulness in its application. The indirect advantages which are derived from it, in the extension of commerce, and advancement of the general, mutual interests of mankind, are many. It would appear that some portions of the earth are designed, in the economy of Providence, to furnish these abundant sup- plies of nature’s spontaneous productions, to be improved in civilized life, in countries where nature is less bounteous, and art is more prolific. In view of the vast increase in the consumption of gum-elas- tic, the question is frequently asked, “can the supply be kept up?” The answer has already been given, and it may be fur- ther said that it appears to be so ordered, in the wisdom of Providence, that those things which are indispensable to the comfort and happiness of man, are most abundant and most easily obtained. The truth of this is exemplified in the abund- a a ; 134 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. ant supply of coal for fuel, of iron among the metals, for tools and implements, and in the abundance and cheapness of glass ware. What is also remarkable is, that it appears that various substitutes for things in use are frequently discovered just at the time when the articles become scarce; and what is yet more remarkable, the substitutes which are discovered often answer a better purpose than the article originally used. This remark will apply particularly to coal, as a substitute for wood ; to vegetable oils, gas, and lard oil, as substitutes for whale oil; and why may we not extend the comparison to gum-elastic, and say that by this discovery we have received a vegetable leather as a substitute, to some extent, for animal leather, gum- elastic vellum for parchment, and for certain uses at least, such as umbrellas, oil-silks, &c., a vegetable silk for that spun by insects ? N. B. A distinctive and singular feature in this discovery, and one that is deserving of special notice, is this, that heat, which is one of the two principal agents which produce the desired result, melts every kind of caoutchouc at a compara- tively very low temperature. The heat of the sun’s rays will melt them, while, with the presence of the other agent, that of sulphur, the great change is wrought in the caoutchouc, and the improvement is completed, at the high temperature of nearly 300°. aay Or -as surely dissolved by perspiration. 4th. It is in its nature so CHAPTER IX. GOODYEAR’S HEATED OR VULCANIZED INDIA RUBBER. Characteristics of the native gum. Goodyear’s heated or vulcanized India rubber; its elasticity ; pliability ; durability ; insolubility ; unalterability ; inadhesiveness ; impermeability ; plasticity ; facility of printing, and of being ornamented by painting, bronzing, gilding, japanning, and mix- ing with colors; non-electric property; odor. Test of vulcanized and unvulcanized gum- elastic. In order to have a correct understanding of what the im- provement consists in, which is treated of in this work, as exist- ing in such a variety of forms and aspects, it will be necessary to bear in mind, what are the properties and defects of the gum in its native state, as heretofore described under the head of Native Gum-elastic; and also that the utility of the numerous fabrics and applications of this improvement depends upon the change wrought in the gum by the vulcanizing process; that the cheapness of the production, and the durability of many of the articles, depends upon the mechanical improvement of the lamin- ated fibrous fabrics. A description of the method by which the change is wrought in the gum, and the causes which led to its accomplishment, have been heretofore given. The properties of the heated or vulcanized gum-elastic, will be better understood and appre- ciated, when contrasted with the defects and objections to the gum in its native state, which are these :—I1st. It becomes rigid and inflexible in cold weather. 2d. It is softened and decom- posed in the sun and hot weather. 3d. It is very soluble and quickly dissolved when brought in contact with any kind of grease, essential or common oils; and though more slowly, yet 138 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. very adhesive, that when any two surfaces are brought in con- tact, they become by slight pressure one mass, that cannot be separated. 5th. It loses its elasticity by continued tension, or constant use. 6th. It has a very unpleasant odor. It has been long and fully proved, that these objections and defects render the native gum unfit for general purposes, as almost every article is exposed to come in contact with some one or more of the destructive agents mentioned. PROPERTIES OF HEATED OR VULCANIZED INDIA RUBBER. Ist. Elasticity. 2d. Phiability. 3d. Durability. 4th. Insolubility. 5th. Unalterability by climate, or artificial heat or cold. 6th. Inadhesiveness. 7th. Impermeability to air, gases, and liquids. 8th. Plasticity. 9th. Facility of receiving every style of printing. 10th. Facility of being ornamented by painting, bronzing, gild- ing, japanning, and mixing with colors. 11th. Non-electric quality. 12th. Odor. lst. ELASTICITY. This property of the native gum is improved and increased, in the metallic or vulcanized article, both as regards strength and continuance ; besides, it is hereby made available in all cli- mates, and in all circumstances, whereas the elasticity of the native gum is lost when frozen, or much exposed to the sun or great heat. The improvement in this respect becomes in- x 4 valuable, even if it were confined to the single application of car-springs. The elasticity of this article is commonly viewed only with regard to elasticity by tension, but the elasticity of it by com- pression is, perhaps, the most important of the two, as it is in this way that it is applied to car and carriage-springs, to buffers, and to springs for door-locks, &c. PLIABILITY AND DURABILITY. 139 2p. PLIABILITY. The fabrics of this substance possess this property in the high- est degree, not being affected, or made rigid, by the greatest degree of cold, whereas the native gum becomes so hard and ‘inflexible in coarse fabrics and heavy articles, in a cold climate, as to be quite unmanageable and useless. No other fabric is so completely flexible under all circum- stances, not even common woven cloth, for the reason, that when cloth is wet and exposed to cold, it becomes frozen, whereas these fabrics repelling water, continue pliable. 3p. DURABILITY. This substance has been found to remain unchanged by time, whether kept in a wet or dry state. This statement is con- firmed by observation and experience during a period of several years. Neither is it known to be attacked by moth, or vermin of any kind. The reader may form a correct idea of the durability of this substance, when exposed to friction, from the durability of the soles of the overshoes in common use, upon which hardly an impression is made, by years of ordinary wear, —___——_—_—_——————————————————————— <> —> 140 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. 4tH. INSOLUBILITY. It is not strictly true, as has been sometimes said, that this substance is absolutely insoluble, because it can be softened and even dissolved by powerful solvents of the gum, when heated and boiled, and it can be charred by being kept a long time in pure sulphuric or nitric acid; but its power of resistance of the solvents, and all other destructive chemical agents, is truly great. The most delicate of the fabrics made of this material may be brought in contact, or immersed with impunity, in such chemical liquids as sulphuric or nitric acid, sulphuric ether, oil of turpen- tine, or any of the essential oils. Or they may be boiled in potash, lime, chloride of lime, soap-suds, &c., by which ordeal, so far from being injured, they are rather improved. In other words, it is either improved, or remains uninjured, when ex- posed to destructive agents, that destroy other fabrics, and even wood, leather, and the metals, such as iron, copper, and brass. 5TH. UNALTERABILITY cS BY CLIMATE AND ARTIFICIAL HEAT OR COLD. Its endurance of artificial heat is very great, when com- pounded with particular reference to this quality, and with a larger proportion of sulphur than is ordinarily used, it will bear a heat of 300° Farenheit. Ifa higher degree of heat is applied, it chars, but does not melt. It may, therefore, be considered superfluous to say, that this substance will resist the heat of any climate ; and as has been stated under the head of pliability, it remains soft and pliable in any degree of cold. INADHESIVENESS, IMPERMEABILITY, ETC. 6tH. INADHESIVENESS. The great adhesiveness of the native gum, after being manu- factured and applied to use, was one of the chief objections to it. The heated or vulcanized gum is entirely free from this objection, having all the dryness of leather or cloth, and that which forcibly illustrates its inadhesive property, is the fact that no way is yet found to unite it firmly, even when it is desired ; and the art of making the fabrics adhere, after they are vulcan- ized, if one could be found, would be very valuable, since the fabrics might then be made up, and cemented by the purchaser, as well as the manufacturers. The property of inadhesiveness involves the important quality of cleanliness, and facility of being cleaned when soiled. In the perfection of this quality it resembles glass. 7TH. IMPERMEABILITY TO AIR GASES AND LIQUIDS. This is a property of the native gum, which is fully re- tained in the vulcanized material, and in the “fabrics” gen- erally. It is improved for containing or resisting water and liquids, as it is not softened by them like the native gum, but it cannot be stated that it is more impervious to air and the gases than the native gum. 8TH. PLASTICITY. One of the properties of this material, which contributes primarily as much as any other to enhance its value to man- 142 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. kind, is its native adhesive properties and plastic nature, before being subjected to the process of vulcanizing. It is so very plastic, that the labor and expense of working it into almost any article, or form, becomes barely nominal, for which reason, when substituted for many other things, such as shoes, heavy harness, or leather trunks, where the leather has to be stitched to form the article, this material has a very great advantage on the score of economy. The facility with which it is thrown into any form, or moulded in any shape, is not surpassed by wax, or by lead, or any other of the soft metals. The parts of any article made of it, and of all the fabrics before being vulcanized, adhere upon the slightest touch, and upon slight pressure with hand tools, or the fingers even, the parts become one mass, so that the seams, without a stitch, become the strongest part of the article, for the reason that they are the thickest. The labor of manufacturing some plain articles, is often less than the pasting of paper would be. The reader may form an idea of the readiness with which it yields to the will of the operative, from the fact that one girl will make up twenty, and even more, pairs of shoes, or five coats, in one day. 9TH. FACILITY OF PRINTING IN EVERY STYLE. It is printed by steel and copper-plates, in lithography, and with types, without requiring to be dampened like paper, and with a delicacy and perfection, which is said not to be equalled by the finest tissue or proof-paper. 10TH. FACILITY OF BEING ORNAMENTED BY PAINTING, BRONZING, GILDING, JAPANNING, AND MIXING WITH COLORS. It is printed in oil or block printing, with much greater facility than oilcloths, because it is softer, and it retains oil-painting NON-ELECTRIC PROPERTY. 143 better than canvas, because it does not crack. It is bronzed and gilded as easily, and with the same effect, as wood or leather. It is japanned like leather, and forms a ground for japanned fabrics, that will not crack like the paint ground ordinarily used. It is mixed with any color that is desired in the manufacture, and the color remains unfading. When painted or ornamented with India rubber, mixed with colors in a liquid state, or mixed with colors when the gum is in a plastic state, the colors being incorporated with the material, become as indestructible as the fabric itself. lire. NON-ELECTRIC PROPERTY. This substance is one of the best non-conductors of elec- tricity, and it is but reasonable to suppose that advantages may be derived from some of the fabrics in connection with electric machines, on account of this property. An anecdote is told of a professor, who, having highly charged an electric machine while wearing India rubber shoes, and standing on the wire, upon taking them off, and resuming his position, he was con- vinced of their non-electric property, by being knocked down without them. = A WEB ——__# r 144. GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. 12TH. ODOR. The vulcanized India rubber is, to a very great extent, freed from the natural offensive odor of the native gum. There has been heretofore so great an objection to all India rubber goods on account of their odor, and the removing of it has been a thing so difficult to accomplish, that the inventor does not choose to express an opinion with regard to the perfection of this im- provement. He does not profess to have made even these fabrics unexceptionable to all persons, as it is clearly a matter of which no one can judge for another. To such persons as are particularly sensitive, and to all who have occasion to use either these or vulcanized gum-elastic fabrics, it may be a satisfaction to know that the articles are greatly improved by age, and that the odor of other things with which they are placed in contact is readily imparted to them, and when they are perfumed, or ex- posed to the fumes of burning coffee, or other aromatic sub- stances, or if only placed in contact with them for a short time, the new odor is imparted and retained so as to predominate over that of the gum for a great length of time. As it appears to be rendered certain that a great variety of articles manufactured from gum-elastic must come into general use, it is to be hoped that this objection is now so far removed that the goods will not be particularly objectionable on account of their odor. However this may be, it is certain that offensive odors become less objectionable where they necessarily exist, and that the sense of smell, like that of hearing, becomes insensible to those annoyances from which it cannot be protected. Al- though this rule is not without exception, it holds in most cases, and is strikingly exemplified in numerous occupations, among which might be instanced that of the druggist and tanner. The patient endurance of the offensive odor of soiled bank notes and of leather, afford illustrations of the effect of necessity and habit. = TESTS OF QUALITY. 145 Many articles which are in common use are by no means inodorous because they are supposed to be so. Wearing apparel or household stuff, particularly woolen, ever so neatly kept, would be found to be filled with odors offensive to any person unaccustomed to their use. It is but reasonable to suppose that the objectionable odor which exists in gum-elastic, and which it has seemed impossible to overcome, will sooner or later be removed. Notwithstanding the constant failures to accomplish this object would almost lead one to despair of attaining it, and although nothing may yet have been done to warrant the expectation, the writer believes the thing which is so desirable and important will be attained. There is at least some ground for expecting this, from the fact that substances in general which are indispensable to the com- fort and welfare of mankind, however imperfect they may be, are yet so made as not to offend the senses, and it may be hoped - that such will be the result as relates to gum-elastic. TEST OF VULCANIZED & UNVULCANIZED GUM-ELASTIC, Camphene or turpentine, and also oil of sassafras, and all the essential oils, are as sure tests of the quality of gum-elastic, as nitric acid is of the genuineness of gold. As the native gum, and also the common manufacture of gum-elastic, have the same general appearance to those who are not acquainted with the manufacture and are not judges of the goods, as those that are vulcanized or solarized, these tests are necessary, not only to decide whether the goods are genuine, but also to ascertain whether those that are vulcanized or solarized are properly done. When these tests are applied to any fabric or cloth of native gum, they are rendered very adhesive, and so quickly, as to destroy any light fabric almost immediately ; while they have no effect to make goods that are either well vulcanized or solarized A 146 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. at all adhesive,—if it does so they are not well manufactured,— although all the fabrics, except the hard compounds, when long immersed in these oils, become swollen, yet they are not adhe- sive, and when the essential oi] has evaporated, they again re- sume their original size. x CHAPTER X. MANUFACTURE OF VULCANIZED GUM-ELASTIC. Steam and water-power. Capital. Machinery. Cutting and washing machine. Compounding. Crushing and grinding machine. Warming machine. Spreading. Manufacture by dissolving. Manipulation. Heating. Solarization. Curing or tanning. Cleansing the goods. Peforating. Napping. Embossing. Japanning, bronzing, printing with type, copperplate, blocks, litho- graphy, &c. Gilding. Plating. Cording. Thread cutting. Shirring. Moulding. Hollow- ware moulds. Concluding remarks. Tue manufacture of India rubber goods by the process of heating, or vulcanizing, having become extensively known and -practiced, especially in the United States, it is not supposed that more than a general description of the process, and the art of manufacturing the articles, will be considered interesting. It is not believed that the interests of those licencees who have engaged in the manufacture in a legal and honorable way, by acknowledging the claims of the inventor, will be injuriously affected by the circulation of information on the subject, but that the legal advantages which they possess, and the skill already acquired, will be amply sufficient to guarantee to them the departments of the business in which they have respectively engaged. Although no important fact has been withheld relating to the different processes in the manufacture, it is evident that no instructions or recipe can be given that will serve instead of ex- perience. No branch of industry is more fascinating and in- teresting when learned, and no one can be more perplexing or intricate before skill is acquired in, it, than this. One of the first questions of importance with regard to any branch of industry in which numbers of operatives are em- ployed, is, whether it is a healthful one. In answer, it may be said, as relates to gum-elastic in general, that no occupation is more so. It is important, however, that = Aa \. oc 150 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. those who tend the dry heaters, or ovens, and those who cure with the acid gas, should be careful not to inhale the gases more than is absolutely necessary ; those, also, who tend the grinders when lead is used, should take the precaution that is always necessary when this material is worked. The operatives, however, that work in these departments, form but a very small part of the number in any establishment, and for all others em- ployed, it is more than ordinarily healthful. POWER. The same difference of opinion exists relating to the com- parative advantages of water or steam power in this, as in other branches of manufacturing. There is, however, one advantage in favor of steam for this, which does not exist in some other manufactures, which is the use in it of steam exten- sively for other purposes besides the moving power, such as heating the callenders and grinders, vulcanizing and cleansing the goods, &c. It is, however, of much less account what kind of power is used than what amount. So long as the limited way of operating is the only one be- lieved in, and the only one called for by the wants of the com- munity, it is necessarily the true way, and the wise one, for the time being; but it may be hoped that ere long, the merits of this growing manufacture will be so far appreciated as to bring to its aid, not only adequate machinery and power, but, also, corresponding capital. When this time arrives, a reduction will be made in the first cost of many of the articles, (the heavy ones in particular,) which will surprise the manufacturers them- selves. On this head the writer has ever felt a degree of solicitude and impatience, but must console himself by the reflection, that every extensive branch of industry has small beginnings; that spinning-wheels were used before cotton mills, and horses and carts before locomotives and rail cars. CAPITAL. 151 CAPITAL. It is often a matter of inquiry, what amount of capital is neces- sary to establish this manufacture. Owing to the plastic nature of the gum, and the simple construction of the machinery with which it may be worked, it can be conducted with a very small amount of capital. The Indian carries it on with the capital which nature affords him. Although the process of vulcanizing renders it somewhat more complicated, it may be prosecuted on a small scale to some advantage. Extensive water and steam power, with a large amount of capital, have been, however, recommended in other parts of this volume, as absolutely neces- -sary for the most advantageous and profitable prosecution of this business. When the manufacture is favored with these advan- tages, the inducement to engage in it on a small scale will hardly exist. A more definite answer may, however, be made to the inquiry, upon which further estimates may be formed by any one, by taking the cost of a single set of machinery, the labor it per- forms, and the room it willoccupy. The existing state of things is a suitable one upon which to make these estimates. A full set of machinery, such as is now employed for coating cloths, or manufacturing the fibrous fabrics, sufficient to turn off from one thousand to fifteen hundred yards per day, will cost, when put in working condition, about three thousand dollars. A base- ment, or a building of one story, thirty by twenty feet, is ample room for this purpose. Where the fabrics are made up into arti- cles, (especially if a variety of articles are made up at the same establishment,) more room is necessary than is needed to make the same articles of other materials, on account of the adhesive- ness of the fabrics. There are two advantages pertaining to this manufacture, that can hardly be said to exist in any other mechanical or manufacturing branches to the same extent. The first is, that there is not necessarily a particle of waste of materials ; all the cuttings, and even the sweepings of the fac- A AEN) 152 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. tories, are worked into gum-elastic felt for packing, shoe soles, &c. The other advantage is, that in this business the same tools are employed for its various branches, and the same operatives can be turned from making one description of articles to another, without delay or expense ; and a female who is employed as a maker of garments one day, may become the next a good trunk- maker, harness, or shoe-maker. MACHINERY. The machinery employed in the manufacture of India rubber, since the first attempts to work it, has been subjected to varia- tion and gradual improvement. Numerous expedients and di- vers machines were early tried for chopping, grinding, and spreading the gum, and also for flowing it in aliquid or semi- liquid state, which have been abandoned. For many years the gum was only worked, after first being brought to a liquid, or semi-liquid state, by the solvents, such as turpentine or naphtha; and although this method is still used for the plated and fibrous fabrics and thin sheets of drapery, and for the finer and more delicate fabrics, it is otherwise wholly abandoned in America, where the vulcanizing process is used, and the machines now in common use, in which heat and pressure are employed, are substituted, for the purpose of crushing and spreading the gum. It is now generally agreed by manufacturers in this business, that the machinery, or at least the principle of it, is perfect. It is hazardous to express an opinion, in this age of improvements, that any machinery or thing is perfect; but the best reason for believing that this machinery does not admit of further improve- ment in principle, is that no complaint is made of it. It is of the simplest kind, doing the work with great rapidity, although it requires great mechanical power, owing to the toughness and tenacity of the gum. | CUTTING AND WASHING MACHINE. The representations in the drawing are deemed sufficient to give the reader a very correct idea of the manner in which the gum is reduced by grinding to the plastic state, and is afterwards spread by callenders. CUTTING AND WASHING MACHINE. This is performed with the machine represented by No.1. This machine is the same as that used by paper-makers in cutting rags. It is simply a large vat, twelve feet long by four broad, and two feet deep; over this runs a shaft, upon which is a large drum or cylinder, about two feet in diameter, running on one side of the interior of the vat: this drum is furnished with shears or knives set in it, and other knives are set in the bottom of the vat. When revolving, this drum creates a current in the water under and be- tween its shears. The bottles, shoes, or masses of gum, are first chopped witha hatchet, or cut with circular knives, into pieces of from one inch to three inches square. About five hundred pounds of the gum in this state is put into the vat at once, which is passed continuously between the shears of the revolving cutter and its bed, so that in the course of about four hours the whole mass is cut quite fine, and cleansed from bark, clay, &c., as far as possible, at which time it is ready for crushing or grinding. By the use of this engine the scraps of the factories, which were formerly considered entirely worthless, are now worked into the valuable fabric described as felt, used for steam packing, shoe soles, &c. A large proportion of imported India rubber, especially of the India gum, was nearly useless, from the quantity of bark in it, until this engine came into use. The attention of the writer was first drawn to this engine by the following incident. On examining an India rubber belt, which was put into a paper-mill on trial, the proprietor complained to him that the India rubber which came from suspenders, mixed in the rags, damaged his r 154 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. paper. Upon being further questioned, he brought a little parcel of the gum, about as fine as mustard seed, which was separated from the rags by the engine. The idea was suggested to the writer that the same operation would cut and cleanse India rubber. It was tried, and found completely successful, in all cases, as a labor-saving machine, and indispensable in the manufacture, when the gum is mixed with foreign substances. COMPOUNDING. It is important to observe, first of all, that the sulphur, lead, or other articles that are compounded with the gum, should be pure, and free from acid, otherwise the gases that are generated in heating, will cause the gum to blister; and when these sub- stances, however pure, are compounded with dissolved gum, and especially with liquid cement, it should be used soon after it is mixed, and when the weather is very warm, or when it is kept in a Warm room, within a day or two, otherwise it will ferment, and cannot be vulcanized. Ignorance of these particulars nearly prevented, for a considerable time, any practical applications of the discovery of vulcanizing being made by the inventor. Still greater caution is necessary when camphine or spirits of tur- pentine is used for dissolving the gum, for though it be obtained perfectly pure, yet if it is exposed to the atmosphere, or left to stand for a length of time, it becomes acid and unfit for dis- solving gum-elastic. It was owing to this circumstance that the goods first manufactured in the United States were much worse, and the losses were much greater, than they other- wise would have been ; and a want of proper care with regard to these various particulars, was the cause of many accidents, and much loss to those persons who first engaged in the manu- facture of vulcanized gum-elastic, especially when dissolved gum was used. Gum-elastic can be readily mixed or combined with almost be 4 . COMPOUNDING. 155 every other substance. It may be mixed with other gums, oils, coal-tar carbon, and with the earths and oxides, or pulverized metals and ores; and it can be combined with all fibrous sub- stances, although it is not made like some of the gums, to ad- here firmly to any smooth surface of metal or wood, or even of cloth. It is compounded in the manufacture with many of the above substances, for the purpose of obtaining particular advan- tages for special uses. Lampblack is often used to cause the gum to endure the effects of the sun and weather. Ground cork and other light substances are sometimes combined with the gum, to increase the bulk and make the articles light. Earths are used as color, for cheapness, and to increase the weight of the fabric, as in the case of carpeting. Bitumen and resin are sometimes used to give the articles a finish or high lustre. Oxides of some of the metals are used in the manufac- ture; among these, white lead and litharge are commonly preferred. From two to four ounces of either of these metals to the pound of gum, cause the articles, and particularly those that are thick or massive, to be more readily changed, or vul- canized, and more completely, or with greater uniformity. In the process of vulcanizing, the sulphur is applied through the medium of heat, in different ways, for the manufacture of different articles or fabrics for different uses. It is sometimes mixed with the gum in the process of crushing or grinding the gum, in the proportion of half an ounce of sulphur to the pound of gum; at other times it is dusted upon the goods in the form of flour of sulphur, before the goods are placed in the heater, or oven; this is commonly done when the mixture contains white lead, or when the coat of gum is thin and the goods light, in which cases the gum is more easily penetrated or impregnated with the sulphur, without its being mixed with the gum. Another mode of applying the sulphur, or impregnating the gum with it, is that of generating the sulphurous gas in the oven or heater which contains the goods, or of introducing it into the oven after it is generated. A on 4 156 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. CRUSHING AND GRINDING MACHINE. No. 2 represents the machine by which the gum is crushed, ground, and mixed with colors, and prepared for spreading upon cloth, rolling into sheets, or intermixing with fibre, for the lamin- ated fabrics, called vellum, tissue, &c. The callenders are hollow, and heated by steam to about 200° Fahrenheit. The gum, after having been chopped, cut and cleansed by the machine No. 1, and thoroughly dried in the loft of the manufactory, is passed between these callenders, and is thus reduced to a plastic state resembling dough in consistency. In this way from five to ten pounds are compounded and pre- pared for spreading, by one set of grinders at one time, in about half an hour. A number of these machines are required to supply one set of spreading callenders. With suitable power and machinery, one hundred pounds would be crushed and prepared by one‘set of grinders, in the same length of time. A great proportion of this labor will be unnecessary when the gum can be obtained in a pure state, without being smoked, as described in the article entitled “ Method of gathering the Gum.” Grinding the gum is the most tedious and expensive part of the manufacture of gum-elastic, which requires great mechan- ical power. It is want of adequate power and corresponding machinery for this purpose, and of that only, that the inventor is dissatisfied with the present state of the manufacture. The mammoth machine at Roxbury, built by Mr. Chaffee, which has been alluded to, and which weighs about thirty tons, is of the right class, but that has been comparatively inefficient, for the want of adequate power to work it. For this reason, in part, and partly owing to its first cost, no other has ever been made of such dimensions, although money and time enough have been wasted, by the different manufac- turers of gum-elastic, upon fragile machinery, which has failed = A o WARMING MACHINE. 157 simply in consequence of its being too light, to have built many such sets of machinery as that alluded to. But were a number of sets of such machinery employed with a thousand horse power, either of water or steam power, instead of from twenty to fifty horse power, which are now commonly employed, an immense saving would be made in this manufacture. With a number of sets of mammoth machinery, and adequate power, one complement of workmen, buildings, foremen, &c., would then accomplish in this department of the manufacture nearly the same amount of labor as is now accomplished by a great number of smaller powers and light machinery. The great tenacity of the gum requires that the particles should be separated before it can be spread, and in order to do this when it is not dissolved, it becomes necessary to grind, or rather to knead it with callenders, as it cannot be ground in mills like granulated substances. Many attempts have been made to do this in the early stages of the manufacture, which were abandoned on account of the great power required. This is now done at most of the India rubber factories, by grinding or knead- ing about six or eight pounds at one time, until it is finished in the space of about twenty or thirty minutes. To conduct the manufacture to the best advantage, the machinery and power should be heavy enough to grind one hundred pounds in the same time. Before the gum is spread, it is first placed in either a wooden or iron box, and warmed, and is passed from thence to the WARMING MACHINE. No.3; which, in its construction, always resembles closely, if not exactly, the machines for crushing and grinding. This machine is used for warming up the gum, and for the purpose of spreading it, after being ground in No. 2. The cylinders are hollow, and heated by steam, like No. 2, to about 200° Fahren- a 4a heit. This machine will warm the gum as fast as it is required to supply one spreading machine. 158 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. SPREADING. This is performed with the machine represented by No. 4, by which the gum, after being mixed and prepared, is rolled into sheets, spread upon cloths, or combined with fibrous sub- ' stances, by which means drapery, the laminated fabrics, &c., are formed. The gum which is passed from the warming machine, No. 3, is placed between the first and second rolls from the top. The gum forms a sheet upon the second roll, and as it passes over, is pressed into the cloth, or cotton, which is passed between the third and fourth rolls. The fabric is wound upon a roll, in front of the machine, and connected with it ; if the cloth is coated upon both sides, or if the fabric manufactured is drapery, or sheets of gum, they are rolled up in cloths, to prevent the surfaces from adhering together, until they can be worked up or vulcanized. — The average speed of this machine is such as to produce twelve hundred to fifteen hundred yards per day, covered with one coat of gum, and for some of the fabrics, two thousand yards per day. These callenders, like Nos. 2 and 8, are hollow, and are heated to about 200°, Fahrenheit. In this part of the manufacture there is no delay, and when the supply of the gum is kept up by the grinders, the goods are turned off with a rapidity to satisfy those who are most impatient of delay. The vast difference between the power of the two machines, that for crushing and grinding, and that for spreading the gum, and making the fabrics, has suggested to the inventor, that ulti- mately the plan might be adopted of preparing the gum at sep- arate establishments, for the manufacturers of the fabrics and articles, with the same advantages that are obtained by the x —_ “y preparation of tin plate or other metals for the manufacturer of MANUFACTURE BY DISSOLVING. 159 those materials. Although the gum becomes, after being crushed, apparently as hard and unyielding as ever, it is, never- theless, permanently prepared and subdued by the separation of the particles, for spreading, whenever it is warmed up. For these reasons it might be kept prepared and sold like other raw materials. MANUFACTURE BY DISSOLVING. This method is, at the present time, so far superseded by that of crushing and spreading,with callenders heated by steam, as before described, that it is hardly considered worthy of notice ; it will, however, be found that it has its own peculiar merit for particular purposes, for the manufacture of tissue, fine drapery, and gum-elastic sponge, and for cement it is indispensable; so that instead of going into disuse, it will be very extensively used in the manufacture of gum-elastic. The gum is dissolved most readily by being first chopped fine, and being placed in iron or metal vessels, or vats, and adding camphene or turpentine enough to cover it, requiring usually about one quart to the pound of gum; this will bring the gum to the consistence of a very stiff paste when ground or kneaded; it is afterwards reduced, by adding camphene, to any desired con- sistency. In order to render it liquid enough to be used with the brush for cement, or to be spread with the knife, represented by machine No. 5, about a gallon of camphene is required. Whenever it is desired to bring the gum to a liquid state, without the aid of machinery, it should first be chopped fine, and put into from three to four quarts of the solvent to a pound of gum, and stirred once in an hour or two, until it becomes dis- solved. It was the neglect to cut the gum in pieces small enough, and to add enough of the solvent at one time, that caused the art of A . ~ dissolving India rubber, for a long time after it was practiced to some extent, to be considered by many a secret, and a thing difficult to do, when it afterwards appeared that it was one of the simplest and easiest things possible, when it was proceeded . with in the manner described. The machine for spreading the gum in a liquid state, rep- resented by No. , is simply what is called a straight-edge or knife, which applies the gum in exceedingly thin coats to the cloth, as it passes under it in the form of an endless belt. This was adopted as the best way, after various methods had been tried of flowing the gum, applying it with brushes, &c. The method now practiced enables the manufacturer to use the gum as a var- nish or thin coating upon cloths, which, otherwise, it is almost impossible to do perfectly, or to any advantage, on account of the stringy quality of the liquid, and the sudden evaporation of the solvent. 160 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. Dissolved gum has more commonly been spread by callen- ders, such as represented by No. 6, worked when they are cold, or a little heated, and while the gum is in a semi-liquid state, or about the consistence of stiff dough; which, although it may be thoroughly dissolved, requires to be thoroughly ground or kneaded before it will spread evenly, or without what is termed by the workmen, crawling. The cloth, when coated by this machine with successive layers of gum to form the thickness desired, is wound up on an open reel, when each coat is left to dry before another is applied ; two or three coatings are commonly applied to form a waterproof cloth. The process is a slow one, making at the rate of about three hundred yards per day for one machine, but finer work can be done in this way than with the steam-heated callenders, and much more expeditiously than with the knife, or machine No. 5. The most perfect embossed fabrics are also made in this manner, by spreading the gum upon any figured fabric which may be used as apattern. By this machine, as well as by the knife, the most perfect sheets of drapery are made by spreading the gum upon either a japanned or vulcanized India rubber cloth. In refer- Ore CoS MANIPULATION. 161 ence to both of these methods, as in the use of India rubber for cementing, it is necessary to observe the directions before given, page _, and to see that the gum is used before it ferments or becomes sour. MANIPULATION. After the gum is rolled into sheets, or spread upon cloths, or blended with fibrous substances and made into the laminated fabrics, the manipulation of the manufacture is so very simple and easy, that much need not be said on the subject. When the fabrics are taken from the spreading machine, they are in a state as adhesive as that of the native gum, and it requires great care and skill to handle the goods in working, to prevent the surfaces adhering together and becoming one solid mass, which cannot be separated. In order to prevent this, the sheets are rolled up in cloth, or dusted with flour. The articles which it is desired to manufacture being cut out, the seams are washed clean from the flour, and the parts being brought in contact, and pressed with the fingers or a small hand roller about the size of a dollar, they are firmly united, and the article is ready for vulcanizing. Some articles are cemented, or made up by machinery, as in the case of shirred goods and improved air work. Articles which are to be formed into various shapes, made of the compound, without cloth, require to be put on forms, or lasts, or into moulds, or to be otherwise supported, in order to prevent a change of shape when the gum becomes soft in the oven. The working of all the articles, whether of the gum or the fabrics, of whatever shape or form, admits of great cheapness and dispatch, as has been stated with some particulars, page Some peculiarities in the working of the different fabrics and wares are remarked upon in the description of them, under the head of Fabrics. A) fe Y 162 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. HEATING. Heat is the great agent, when sulphur is present, in pro- ducing the change wrought in the gum, called vulcanizing. It is only by the use of these two agents, sulphur and heat, that any substance has yet been produced, possessing the properties described, as belonging to metallic or vulcanized gum-elastic. The ovens or heaters that are made use of in the manufacto- ries, are heated either by steam or hot air let into them upon the goods. The choice of method depends upon circumstan- ces. Hot air ovens are commonly used by the shoe manufac- turers, because a higher finish or lustre is thereby obtained on the goods. Some articles made of colored coated fabrics are dis- colored by the steam, to which the steam heat is not therefore * applied; but for car and other springs, for masses of gum, for drapery, stayed compound, and numerous other articles and fabrics, the steam heat is preferred. The time occupied in heating the goods or vulcanizing them, is commonly from four to six hours, during which time the heat, in the hot-air, or steam oven, in which the goods have previously been placed, is gradually raised to a heat varying from 250 to 300° of Fahrenheit, usually to about 265 or 270°. The different degrees of heat which are applied, depends upon the thickness of the gum, and the greater or less proportion of lead or other substances that are mixed with it. While the heat is being applied in the oven or heater, the gum becomes soft, ap- proaching very nearly a melted state, at about the heat of 248°, after which the gum is hardened, as the heat is increased, until the change in it is complete. The successful application of heat, so as to obtain a uniform result, in vulcanizing the goods without blistering them, was a labor attended with extreme difficulty. Dry ovens with heated air were first used; and for the purpose of obtaining the desired aaa 4g finish or lustre, as well as for other reasons, it was found neces- HEATING. 163 sary to continue to use them for vulcanizing shoes, clothing, and other fabrics, after the steam-heaters were adopted, and preferred for many other articles. The difficulty of distributing dry heat evenly throughout an oven, is one that all who have had experience in baking of any kind are familiar with. The same thing may be said of the heating of dwellings. The diffi- culty is much increased at the high temperature necessary for vulcanizing. This obstacle, however, proved to be trifling compared with the losses and discouragements that at first attended the manu- facture in consequence of the fabrics being blistered in heating ; but as the causes of this effect have been particularly stated at the close of the chapter, it is not necessary to repeat them in this place. The expedients that are resorted to for heating different fabrics, and also for giving the articles their respective shapes, are very various; this is unavoidable, as all the articles, unless it be those that are made of the very thin fabrics, retain after- wards the shape that is given them when vulcanized. The gum softens in the oven, so that, when in sheets before it is vulcanized unsupported by being spread on cloths, it will not bear its own weight; for this reason also it becomes necessary to support many articles, such as shoes and garments, on lasts and forms. These, however, were of no avail in the vulcanizing of hollow ware, such as balls, &c. ; and this was not attempted until 1848, when the writer invented the process of heating them by the expansion of air contained in the articles placed in moulds. Further reference is made to this invention in a subsequent article on moulding. To attain all that appeared desirable to render the heating of every description of goods practicable, there was yet needed some means of heating gum-elastic veneers and small articles made of the hard compounds, such as buttons, covered buckles, &c., the former of which could not be treated like other sheets of gum; and the expense of a “Ree Te MeN mould for each separate article for the latter, besides the labor of handling them in the manufacture, would be too great to be practicable. ‘The invention of vulcanizing the veneers between 164 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. plates of metal under pressure, and that of vulcanizing the small and embossed articles made of hard compounds in finely pul- verized soapstone and other fine earths, were made by the writer almost simultaneously with the want felt for the pro- cesses, in consequence of the invention of the things alluded to. These methods may be said to be indispensable to the manufacture of the foregoing articles with success. And a few of the first specimens of them were only produced in time for the London Exhibition of 1851, to which they were for- warded. SOLARIZATION. When caoutchouc prepared with sulphur is exposed to the action of the sun’s rays for several hours, a change is produced in the surface of the caoutchouc, which may be called natural vulcanization. The solarizing of India rubber fabrics com- pounded with sulphur was practiced by the writer previous to the discovery of the artificial vulcanizing process. Upon the discovery of the process of vulcanizing by means of artificial heat, the solarizing process was abandoned ; but recent improve- ments made by the author in the manufacture of caoutchouc fabrics, lead us to anticipate that solarization will again be used very extensively, particularly for the gutta percha variety of caoutchouc. The effects of solarization extend to only a slight depth, and the process is not therefore applicable or useful with thick sheets or masses of caoutchouc; but in all the thin fabrics, or the fabrics upon which a thin sheet of caoutchouc is spread, solarization is an effectual and cheap process of curing India rubber.* * The reader is here referred to page 73. — = 4 BLEACHING. 165 CURING OR TANNING, Commonly known as the acid gas process. This has been employed since a patent was first obtained for it by the writer, by generating the gas with a mixture of nitric and muriatic acid, and immersing the article in it while the acid is in a heated state; but latterly the process has become much more efficacious and practicable for general use, by first dipping the goods in diluted nitric acid, and afterwards in chloride of lime and water: this method renders the effect uniform without danger of scorch- ing the fabrics ; beside, it is much less expensive than the former method. CLEANSING THE GOODS. PERFORATING. The improvement made in gum-elastic fabrics by the simple ' process of perforating, will cause them to be extensively used for many articles for which they would not otherwise answer, on account of their confining perspiration and being uncomfortably warm. ‘Two methods of perforating are practiced, one of which is accomplished by means of calenders set with needles, through cA \. oF 166 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. which the fabrics are passed while in a soft state. The other mode is that of perforating them, either before or after they are finished, with machinery, like that which is used for perforating fancy paper. By either of these methods the fabrics may be pierced in various patterns or devices, at a very trifling expense. NAPPING. There are two methods by which a nap is given to the various fabrics, one of which is to dust woolen or other flocks upon them, by machinery, such as is represented by No. 7. By this machinery a coat of dissolved gum is applied to the fabrics. The flocks of wool, or other material, are dusted upon them before they pass through the last set of callenders, which are covered with gum-elastic sponge, blankets, or other elastic material, which fastens the flocks without disturbing the coat of gum. The other method applies only to the laminated fibrous fabrics of vellum, tissue, &c. Where the gum is applied upon one side only of these goods, the other side may be carded and dressed so as to form a nap of any length desired, or as long as the staple that is used will admit of. EMBOSSING. The method of embossing various articles, such as globes, dolls, toys, &c., differs materially from that of embossing India rubber fabrics. The articles which are embossed are commonly those of the class of hollow ware, which are expanded by the force of heated air contained within them, when they are vulcanized, which A. a f € 5 EMBOSSING. 167 causes them to take the form of any design that is engraved in the mould in which they are placed. Articles which are solid, or nearly solid, with a hollow space within, may be shaped to any form, in the same way as is done in the manufacture of car- springs; or they may be made of guin-elastic sponge, to fill the mould of any shape, with or without any hollow being left in the article. Globes, maps, or other articles, may be advantageously made in this way for the blind, and when the mould is inked or colored, they may be printed and embossed at the same time. The fibrous, and other fabrics, are embossed in a very simple and cheap manner, by rolling them up in a figured cambric, or other figured goods of any desired pattern, as the India rubber fabrics are taken from the callenders while the gum on them is soft and warm. Being then left to lie for a few hours until the gum is cold, the India rubber fabrics become impressed, and exact copies are obtained of the surface of the goods with which they are thus brought in contact. The original copy is not in- jured even where silk or satin fabrics are used; and upon being removed, the impression or fac-simile of the copy remains; and after the India rubber fabric is vulcanized, it answers all the purposes for embossing gum-elastic fabrics, that an expensively engraved callender answers for embossing cambrics or leather. Tissue, and other very delicate fabrics, are impressed in a similar manner, by spreading the gum upon the figured fabric, which is made into what is called an endless apron or belt. The layer of cotton which forms the tissue, is laid upon the apron or belt at the same time with the dissolved gum, by which means the fabric is formed and embossed at the same time. 168 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. JAPANNING, BRONZING, PRINTING WITH TYPE, COPPER-PLATE, BLOCKS, LITHOGRAPHY, &c. The application of these arts to gum-elastic, is so exactly like the method in common use for paper and other articles, that instructions on these heads would be quite superfluous, except to say that for copper-plate, lithography, and type printing, the fabrics do not require wetting like paper. GILDING. These fabrics cannot be gilded in the same manner as leather, with a hot iron, because there is not sufficient adhesiveness in the fabrics to cause the leaf to hold. Therefore, in order to gild, varnish, or what printers term gold size, has to be used on the type or plate, and the leaf is afterwards applied as in the art of bronzing. PLATING. The term “plating” has been adopted for this improvement, from its resemblance to the art of plating metals, and also to distinguish it from the common method of coating India rubber cloths. The invention consists in interposing a bat or fleece of cotton wool, or other fibrous substance, between the coating of gum and the fabric. The gum is thus in part intermixed with the bat or fleece. Sometimes, however, the plating is prepared first in the form which has heretofore been described as tissue ; in either case, the gum is by this process prevented from peel- ing off and abrasion—the importance of which improvement is further treated of under the head of “ Plated Fabrics.” It is by this process of plating that the manufacture of porous fabrics has been made practicable. o #.. SHIRRING. 169 CORDING. The goods described on page __, are corded by the machine represented by No.8. This may be done either while the goods are being manufactured or afterwards. When the cords are placed upon a single thickness, after it is manufactured, the cords should be cemented with liquid gum. When they are placed between two thicknesses of the goods, they do not require cementing. In all cases the operation of cording is a very simple one, adding but a very trifle to the expense of the goods. THREAD CUTTING. The cutting of thread from native gum-elastic has been practiced for many years in foreign countries. The process and machinery for doing it is very different from that used in the United States for vulcanized thread. It is now cut in the United States from the manufactured sheets of gum, of any length desired, as represented by No. 9. This machine was patented by Messrs. Tyre and Helm, of New Brunswick, New Jersey, being an improvement upon the callender cutting ma- chine first used, represented by No. 10. The expense of man- ufacturing the vulcanized cord has become much less than that of the native gum cord, to say nothing of the difference in quality. SHIRRING. The shirred goods described on page _, are corrugated by the machine represented by No. 11. A brief description of the 170 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. method of manufacturing these goods may not be uninteresting to those who are unacquainted with it, which is as follows: two pieces of woven cloth, ribbons, or any other suitable fabric, are first prepared by cementing them with liquid gum-elastic. Threads that have been cut from sheets of gum-elastic, drawn to the necessary tension, as represented by the cut, are run be- tween the two fabrics previously prepared with cement; these fabrics having between them the extended threads, are passed between the compressing rollers of the shirring machine. The threads are made quite small by their tension, and the cemented fabrics are pressed around and between them, and adhere to- gether. On being loosed from the machinery, the extended elastic threads contract forcibly, and by their contraction shir or corrugate the goods. In this way, that which it is apparently impossible to do without a great amount of labor, is accomplished almost without any, and with great rapidity, one machine turn- ing off five hundred to one thousand yards per day. MOULDING. A very incorrect idea is commonly entertained relating to the manner in which gum-elastic is moulded. Attempts are fre- quently made by those who experiment with it to form articles, by filling moulds with dissolved gum, as they would do with pewter, plaster, or gutta percha. The solvents form so great a part of the bulk of dissolved gum, which is lost by evaporation, that moulds cannot be filled with it, as with the articles named. They might, however, be filled with undissolved gum, softened by heat, and under a heavy pressure, if such a process were necessary ; but this would not form hollow articles, nor is it ne- cessary even for solid articles, because the method of the inventor answers alike well for those that are solid, and those that are hollow, as herein described. When solid articles are formed, the moulds are filled with the mass of compound, as near the size of the article as may be. a ~~ Nii inten inne epee ld ells le MOULDING. 171 The expansion of the air and gases, which are unavoidably within the mass, will shape the article to conform to the mould. When hollow ware of any kind is formed, sheets of elastic compound, artificial ivory, or fibrous fabrics, of the required thickness, are cut in two or more pieces, with a knife, punch, or dye, the edges of the pieces are either lapped, or butted and cemented together, barely strong enough, so that the ar- ticle may be partially filled with air before it is put into the mould. By the expansion of the air and gases, while the article is vulcanizing, it is caused to fill the mould completely, even to the finest line engraved upon it, and having assumed, it retains, when vulcanized, the form and shape of the mould. The average thickness of the article being a little less than the sheet of gum used for it. When an article is made from more than two pieces of the sheets of any considerable thickness, say one-eighth of an inch or more, it is not necessary that they should be inflated at all with air, as they will necessarily inclose enough to shape the ar- ticle to the mould. It is not necessary that the pieces, when cemented together, should have any particular resemblance to the article which is to be moulded. The same pieces, which are cut in halves and inflated, or in four quarters, like the peel taken from an orange and not inflated, (the edges being butted to- gether,) will make a bird, or a doll’s head, as well as a bat ball. In other words, angular and divers shaped articles may be made from the same pieces as spherical and smooth ones. Tumblers, dishes, cups, &c., may be formed in this way, in united pairs from similar formed pieces; and when cut apart, after being vulcan- ized, two articles are obtained from one mould by each process of filling it. Shoes or pitchers may be formed from the same or similar shaped pieces, space being left in the. mould where the top or mouth of the article is formed, which leaves a comb or spur on the article ; this being cut off, the article becomes opened and finished. This method, which was first applied to the manufacture of FE ie 172 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. balls, is often alluded to in the second volume of this work, in the description of the articles, or the method of making them; for which reason a more particular description of the method has been given than of some of the other processes of the manu- facture. HOLLOW-WARE MOULDS. Moulds of iron and brass were first used. after the invention of this method of moulding gum-elastic. The difficulty of finishing such moulds, beside the expense of them, for articles that were manufactured extensively, became an important item. This drawback upon this valuable method, otherwise so simple and so practicable, has fortunately been removed by an invention of Henry B. Goodyear, brother of the writer, as follows: The pattern of the article to be made is first obtained, either in plas- ter, wood, iron, or any softer metal. A cast or form of the mould is taken from the pattern in plaster; from this plaster cast or form a brass mould is cast, finished and completed, with hinges and handles, like a bullet mould, with which the hollow- ware moulds are cast of Britannia metal as cheaply, so far as the expense of the manufacture is concerned, as the same number of bullets. This metal will bear the heat of the vulcanizing pro- cess, and is not expensive. What adds much to the economy of the manufacture, in the use of this invention, is, that the same metal may be cast and re-cast for moulds for different articles, or for different sizes of the same article, with very trifling loss, as occasion may require. The method is so much less expensive than the forming and frequent changing of the different styles of shoe-lasts, that it is anticipated it may lead to the manufacture of some kinds of shoes, particu- larly small children’s shoes, by moulds instead of lasts. = A CONCLUDING REMARKS. 173 CONCLUDING REMARKS. In conclusion of this chapter, the writer would say, that he has endeavored to be so explicit as to guard the experimenter against the mistakes that were the cause of serious hindrance and delay in his own progress, in experimenting for a great length of time. In doing this, although it may, in some cases, prove a detriment to his pecuniary interests, he would gladly remove from the way of all others the perplexities which he encountered, considering that it is warranted by the advantage that others may derive by this publication. Where persons are at such a distance that they cannot recognize the legal claims of the inventor, they are entitled to such information, as being conducive to the extension - of the manufacture, and the welfare of mankind; and it is the wish of the writer that those who are disposed to recognize such claims, may be prevented from needless waste of time and money, which every one will not fail to encounter who under- takes to experiment with gum-elastic without any knowledge of the substance. Further, it may be remarked that these instructions, brief as they are, may be of service to those who desire to make articles on a small scale, or for experiment merely, where access cannot be had to the factories, or is not desired from motives of secrecy, by those who invent new applications of the substance. It may be satisfactory to such persons to know, that they can now manufacture gum-elastic by hand with some advantage, however much more advantageously it may be done by machinery. The present intention of the writer is to give, in a future edition of this work, a more minute description of the different processes of this manufacture, and the proportional ingredients of the different compounds which produce such various, although similar results. It may be well, however, to state here for the benefit of those who may hereafter experiment or engage in this manufacture, ————E —— ee 4 the practical difficulties that were met with in it, particularly those of blistering and fermentation, after the art of vulcaniza- 174 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. tion was discovered. The fermentation of the compound and the impossibility at first of heating the fabrics evenly without their being blistered, presented the chief obstacles in the way of success. Owing to these, and the want of means to obtain suitable heating apparatus, it was more than a year before specimens could be produced sufficient to satisfy any one that there was any value in the invention. And after the man- ufacture was established by those who had ample means for experimenting with every facility, the discouragements in this art of heating were so many, and the actual losses by goods that were damaged were such, that for a period of three or four years more, or until 1845-6, it was considered by most persons to be exceedingly doubtful whether the invention could be made so practicable as to become generally useful; and these doubts of the success of the manufacture were not wholly removed until the gum came to be ground and worked with steam heat, instead of being dissolved with tur- pentine. During the first year or two, the writer worked the gum always by dissolving it, and used chiefly the machinery with which the compounds are spread by the straight edge or knife, by which method the compounds are much more liable to fermentation on account of the greater quantity of turpen- tine that has to be used to make the gum liquid enough to be spread by this machinery. This tendency of the compounds to ferment, particularly in those in which lead, litharge, vermilion, and chrome are used, — occurs in hot weather, and also in cold weather when the compound is kept in a warm place; and if not spread within a day or two after it is mixed, it ferments or sours, and can not be vulcanized. As no one at first had any knowledge or suspicion of any such change in the composition, and as it did not always occur when the circumstances were apparently (though not really) the same, it was the occasion of much per- = ee Ss se <9) \ W) CONCLUDING REMARKS. sigs) plexity and uncertainty in perfecting the invention. After this cause of the failure of many experiments was detected and guarded against, when it became desirable to vulcanize speci- mens of any considerable thickness, or from ~, to ~; of an inch in thickness, they were found to be blistered in nearly every instance; and afterwards, when the manufacture of the goods was established, this defect rendered the goods so im- perfect and unmerchantable, and occasioned so great losses, as almost to induce some of the manufacturers to abandon the business altogether. The causes of this effect also were not all known, and some of them were not even suspected for a long time. They were so numerous that it is no way surprising that it could not then be told to which of them might be attrib- ufed the failure of any particular experiment, or that it should . then, in ignorance of them, be impossible to guard against them all at any one time. Another circumstance that served to mislead the inventor and subsequently the manufacturers, was the shortness of the time required to heat or vulcanize thin coats of gum, being only a few minutes, while it was not then known that it required the heat to be gradually raised several “hours to vulcanize perfectly thicker coats of gum, or only #2, parts of an inch and more, without blistering. Blistering occurs when the gum is dissolved with turpentine under the following circumstances : 1st. When the turpentine is old or acidulated. 2d. When the sulphur is acid, as it is usually found in the market. 3d. When the white lead, gum or other ingredients, are acci- dentally or otherwise mixed with substances that generate gases of any kind in the fabrics while they are being heated. 4th. When any of the ingredients of the compound are wet when mixed, so that they generate steam in heating. 5th. When the turpentine is not well dried off before the fabrics are vulcanized. 6th. The fabrics are also liable to blister when solvents are not used, if a high degree of heat is applied too suddenly, or if 2 176 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. the heat is raised too rapidly, and also from the generation of gases. The discontinuance mostly of the use of solvents in working the gum for some years past, together with the experience acquired in the manufacture, have overcome the difficulties that are alluded to, so that they no longer exist in an established manufactory, which renders the foregoing remarks less neces- sary than they otherwise would be; but as it is supposed that the use of turpentine or other solvents will again be resorted to to a great extent for the manufacture of some of the fabrics, it is deemed that the statement of these particulars will be found useful, especially to those who are unacquainted with the manufacture. > aie ee Mora CHAPTER XI HEATED OR VULCANIZED FABRICS. Metallic gum-clastic, the name first given by the author to his invention. Why so termed. Printed fabrics bound in volumes. An enumeration of the principal variety of fabrics. Hasy combination of the gum with other substances. A table showing the uses of the metallic gum, as substitutes. Instructions for making up the fabrics after they are metallized or vulcan- ized. Elastic compound. Non-elastic compound. Stayed compound. Drapery. Medicated drapery. Caoutchouc cloths. Sponge. Tufted sponge. Sponge fabric. Fibrous fabrics. Tissue. Vellum. Plated fabrics. Felt, or vegetable leather. Corded fabrics. Barred goods. Knit goods. Shirred goods. Packing. Gritted goods. Napped goods. Embossed fabrics. Ventilated goods. Quilted fabrics. Perforated goods. Card cloths. Coated cloths. Porous fabrics. Indelible goods. Japanned goods. Hollow ware. Cord ware. Wire-work. Wicker- work. Air-work. Elastic cord. Braided cord. Elastic cordage. Covered cordage. Vellum cord. Spongecord. Hardcompounds. Caoutchouc enamel. Caoutchouc ivory. Caoutchouc buck-horn. Caoutchouc whalebone. Caoutchouc deal boards. Caoutchouc veneers. Enam- eled ware. Soon after the discovery of the heating or vulcanizing pro- cess, the inventor applied the term metallic gum-elastic to the improved article. After the introduction into England, of the vulcanizing process, the material was there aptly styled vulcanized Indian rubber, although that title is not so truthful as metallic gum-elastic, the name given by the writer, at the time of its discovery in 1839; the word “ metallic” being adopted in reference to the metallic ingredients, sulphur and lead, one or both of which are commonly used in this manufacture, sulphur with heat having been found, up to this time, indispensable to the process, and lead, or some other metal equivalent to it, being found useful in order to obtain economical or complete results in many cases. In order to give the reader an idea of the quality of these fabrics, some of them have been bound in this volume. Some few copies for public libraries have also been printed wholly upon these fabrics. To have given specimens of them all, would have made the work entirely too bulky, and would be more fitting a pattern card than a publication. In order to distinguish the numerous fabrics made from vulcanized gum-elastic, many of which are quite new, and in order to give the writer’s opinion \. — é 178 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. A of the uses to which they are best adapted, and by which they may be aided in the selection of any particular fabric for any special use, they are classed and described as follows: aor wn re . Sponges, 8. Tissue, : : : . Vellum, A . Plated Fabrics, . 5 . Felt, or Vegetable Leather, Corded Habrics, 7, 3) . Barred Goods, . Knit Goods, . Shirred Goods, . Packing, : Gritted Goods, . Napped Goods, . . Embossed Fabrics, . . Ventilated Fabrics, . Quilted Fabrics, . Elastic Compound, . Non-elastic Compound, . Stayed Compound, . Drapery, 0 . . Medicated Drapery, . Caoutchoue Cloths, Tufted Sponge, Sponge Fabric, . Sponge Cord, or fibrous fabrics. . FABRICS. PAGE 182 | 22. Perforated Goods, . 182 | 23. Card Cloths, 183 | 24. Coated Cloths, 184 | 25. Porous Fabrics, . 185 | 26. Indelible Goods, 186 | 27. Japanned Goods, 188 | 28. Hollow-ware, 188 | 29. Cord-ware, 212 | 30. Wire-work, 190 | 31. Wicker-work, 191 | 32. Air-work, 192 | 33. Elastic Cord, 193 | 34. Braided Cord, 194 | 35. Elastic Cordage, 194 | 36. Covered Cordage, . 195 | 37. Vellum Cord, 195 | 38. Sponge Cord, 196 Caoutchoue Enamel, 6 e een se ae Compounds, , 198 “« Whalebone, 199 “¢ Deal boards, 200 | 40. Enameled Ware, ENUMERATION OF THE CHIEF HEATED OR VULCANIZED Of most of these fabrics and wares, there are many varieties and styles of finish and ornamenting, which adapt them to such opposite purposes as almost to entitle them to be styled different fabrics. These fabrics form various combinations with each other, and the compound mixes readily with almost every other substance, such as earths and the oxides of metals, the numerous gums, bitumen, and oils, vegetable and all fibrous SUBSTITUTES. 179 substances ; therefore it is no more surprising that a great vari- ety of articles should be made from them than that a great number of words should be formed from the letters of the alphabet. METALLIC OR VULCANIZED FABRICS AS SUBSTITUTES. However absurd it may seem to propose these fabrics as sub- stitutes for some things that are specified, it appears from the foregoing statements that have been made in regard to the adaptations of them, and from the descriptions which follow relating to their application, that they may be substituted for a variety of materials in common use, viz: Ist. For steel and iron, as illustrated by car springs. 2d. For lead, copper, and zine, as illustrated by roofing, tube, kitchen-ware, &c. 3d. For slate and stone, as illustrated by gritted goods. 4th. For wood and wooden-ware, as illustrated by boxes, boats, casks, buckets, veneering, &c. 5th. For leather, as illustrated by shoes and boots, carriage cloths, hose, trunks, book-binding, belting, &c. 6th. For twine, tape, cord, and cordage, as illustrated by various articles of this sort. 7th. For cloth of cotton, wool, flax, silk, hair, &c., as illus- trated by clothing, carpeting, umbrellas, sails, bags, furniture covering, &c. 8th. For oil silk and oil cloth, as illustrated by articles for medical uses, surgery, and floor cloth. 9th. For paper, parchment, &c, as illustrated by maps, charts, globes, drum-heads, covering for books, boxes, walls, &c. 10th. For crockery, pottery, and glass-ware, as illustrated by pitchers, ewers, tunnels, and basins. 11th. For wicker and basket-work, as illustrated by baskets, covering of phials, bottles, demijohns, &c. Ae @ = 180 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. 12th. For sponge, and curled hair, by cushions, matresses, pillows, &c. 13th. For bristles, and broom-corn, by brushes, scrubs, &c. INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAKING UP THE FABRICS AFTER THEY ARE VULCANIZED. If any elastic cement could be found that would unite these fabrics firmly, so that they could be made up as expe- ditiously as they are made at the factories before thev are vulcanized, and also equally impervious to air or water, it would be an invaluable acquisition. This can with no more reason be expected, than that a thing can be adhesive and inadhesive at the same time. The great object so long sought after, that of divesting gum- elastic of its adhesive quality, has been so completely effected in these fabrics that they cannot be made again adhesive even when it is desired. The following directions in relation to making up various articles described in this work, from the different fabrics which are to be found in the market, may be found useful. When a button-hole is cut, either in the drapery or metallic compound, care should be taken to cut it at the lower end, with a round punch, to correspond with the size of the shank of the: button or knob with which it is to be used. A simple, straight- cut button-hole will tear out more easily. Whenever the fabrics called elastic compound, or drapery, are stitched to other fabrics, a stay of leather, vellum, or some other firm goods must first be cemented to it, or the stitch will not hold. Fish or other glue, is the strongest cement that can be used for these goods, when they are not to be exposed to much wet. Dry heat will not injure this cement. Any of the coated cloths, and also all the laminated fabrics, may be stitched with A INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE MANUFACTURER. 18] the needle and made into garments, or other articles, to fit and suit the purchaser, and they can be made effectually water- proof, after they are stitched, by the use of any of the water- proof varnishes, or by a cement of India rubber dissolved in pure camphene or turpentine, and applied to the seams. This is more effectually accomplished when a welt of the same material is used in the seams. These goods may also be mended with patches of the mate- rial, by the same means, and small leaks may be effectually stopped in air-work or water-proof articles by a few drops of collodium, or gun cotton varnish; but this varnish does not ad- here sufficiently to hold a seam where there is much strain ; besides, it dries too suddenly to be used in such a way. Shoe- makers’ wax, or a drop of hot sealing-wax, will often answer for _ stopping a small leak in air-work. Directions are given in the second volume, on this subject, for some articles, with the descriptions of those articles as they are made up at. the manufacturers’. Since the foregoing article was first stereotyped, a gum- elastic cement has been discovered by the writer, which appears to answer all the ends that are desired, for cementing the vul- canized fabrics, except that of holding a strong seam where there is much strain. But it answers well the purposes of mending garments, patching air-work, umbrellas, and for cementing gum- elastic soles to leather shoes, as well as for the purpose of. making up many articles from the lighter fabrics, such as tissue and vellum. The public will, ere long, be put in possession of the means of doing many things themselves with these fabrics, which could otherwise only be done at the factories \. —_— 182 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. ELASTIC COMPOUND. The term elastic compound, is applicable to the heated or vul- canized gum in heavy sheets and masses, or blocks, which are put in the market uncombined with cloth or other fibrous sub- stances, for the purpose of being cut up and applied to various uses, where elasticity is required, either by tension or compres- sion. Its properties have been described under the head of metallic gum-elastic. It is made by the licensees in sheets, threads, and masses, of any form or thickness for the uses for which it is required. NON-ELASTIC COMPOUND. The materials of which this substance is compounded are in some cases the same as those of the elastic compound. It is made non-elastic, and at the same time flexible, by varying the degree of heat in vulcanizing and the proportions of the ingre- dients. Finely pulverized soap-stone or tale is added to the mixture, when the compound is intended to be used for articles that are much exposed to abrasion. etn STAYED COMPOUND. 183 STAYED COMPOUND. This is a description of vulcanized gum-elastic fabric, of various thicknesses, combined with inelastic stays. When the alternate coats of gum are spread to form the sheet of stayed compound, stays, or strips of coated cloth, silk knit goods, or vellum, of suitable widths, are cemented either in the middle or upon the outside of the sheet, at such distances apart, that when the sheet is cut up between the stays, it will form springs of the size and length desired, which may be attached by means of - button-holes, or stitched in the stays, to other articles; for it is a defect of gum-elastic, when uncombined with other sub- stance, that it will not hold stitches. This defect is obviated by these stays, and the goods are thereby adapted to a great variety of uses, such as suspender ends, shoe springs, corset springs, shoulder braces, &c. Another description of stays is found to be well adapted to other purposes, as follows. The stays are made of small hose, of India rubber canvas, cloth, or knit goods, which are cemented between the sheets of com- pound, as before stated, at suitable distances for the articles or which the goods are designed. When the springs are cut apart, a cord may be passed through the hose, whereby they may be attached to other articles. For gate, door, or cupboard springs, and other like uses, the hose is to be slipped over a pin or staple attached to the door, gate, &c. When these springs are to be attached to webbing for girths, circingles, stirrup leathers, &c., the hose is to be cut open at the end of the spring, and the web or leather stitched in between the two parts. ae d i 1 RT get 184 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. DRAPERY. Drapery is of the most delicate texture, and having been sub- jected to a finishing process, which gives a peculiar dryness and softness of the surface, it differs in these respects from many of the other fabrics. This leaf is a specimen of the finer sort, though others are made very much lighter, weighing only one-quarter part as much as this. Such, however, are made rather as specimens or curiosities of the art, than for use, except it be for medical purposes. When the demand becomes greater for this material, it will be among the cheapest of gum-elastic fabrics, and can be afforded at an extremely low price. The extreme tenuity of this vegetable substance, may be compared to gold leaf among the metals. Many uses of this novel article are yet to be ascertained. The following may be specified. Pocket maps, bandages for the stoppage of hemorrhage, and for fomentations. It is also useful for the covering of the mouths of bottles and jars, and for the common uses of oil silk, beside those hereafter described among the applications of gum-elastic. The most finished and perfect drapery is made of the gum dissolved in camphene. ~ Jd MEDICATED DRAPERY. 185 MEDICATED DRAPERY. Medicated drapery differs from that already described, only by having mixed with it any ingredient desired, whether opium, - camphor, or perfumery ; but to what good purpose must be left, as in the case of all medications, for the physician and patient to decide. Numerous cures of rheumatic complaints are said to have been performed by this article, some of which have come to the knowledge of the writer. His opinion in reference to the drapery, whether medicated or not, is this; that in sudden and slight attacks of rheumatism, stiff necks from cold, &c., it is a useful remedy, but in cases of chronic rheumatism, and gout, it is of no value. On this head, the inventor speaks from per- sonal experience. As a remedy in the case of slight though very painful burns and scalds, it may be highly recommended. - 186 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. CAOUTCHOUC CLOTHS. These are made of thread spun from the elastic compound, and woven into cloth. Only a few yards of this fabric, as spe- cimens, have yet been made. The first yard was woven in a hand loom in 1841. Machinery is yet to be constructed to spin and weave it to advantage. To speak of its utility would be premature, until facts that are obvious to the mind of the inventor shall be demonstrated to the satisfaction of others. It is porous like other woven cloths; it therefore would not, like other India rubber fabrics, be objectionable for wearing apparel, on account of confining the perspiration of the body. Although it would not, like them, be water-proof, yet it would shed rain much bet- ter than fibrous cloths of cotton or wool. Its great recommen- dation would be durability, economy and cleanliness. The opin- ion is entertained that fabrics of this sort will ultimately be made to advantage, in imitation of camblets and the coarser kinds of silk, similar to the specimens which have already been produced. The same general remarks may apply to this fabric that have been made relating to porous fabrics, although they would differ from them in two particulars—the caoutchouc cloths would be more cloth-like in appearance, but more expensive than the porous fabrics. 187 TUFTED SPONGE. SPONGE. During the process of vulcanizing, the blistering of the gum presented originally an obstacle to the art which at dif- ferent times it seemed impossible to overcome. It was the occasion of great loss and hinderance, both to the inventor and the licensees who first engaged in the manufacture. This cir- cumstance led to the production of the substance now called gum-elastic sponge. After the cause of the blistering was found to be owing to gases generated in the gum under certain circumstances, it became necessary only to compound the gum with such substances as would generate the gases freely, so as to make the whole mass a sponge. Subsequently the effect of the gases was to produce great irregularity in the shape of the gum that was sponged, so that no particular form could be given to it; but on resorting to the expedient of heating in moulds, as in the case of hollow-ware, it is now made to assume any form which is desired, and any degree of porousness, whether of fine or coarse texture, which has given rise to many useful applica- tions of the article, among the most important of which may be specified horse-collars, saddle and harness pads, corks, clothes brushes, cushions, toys, &c. In order to form these articles with a smooth surface they are coated with a sheet of elastic compound previous to being vulcanized. This substance will be found ex- ceedingly durable for any purpose to which it may be applied. = 188 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. TUFTED SPONGE. This is formed by vulcanizing a sheet of the sponge mass be- tween two air-tight fabrics, which forms a coat upon each of the - fabrics, resembling a heavy shag, fur, or plush, which is used as a veneer or coating upon the bathing gloves and mittens, de- scribed page. SPONGE FABRIC. Gum-elastic sponge may be formed into a sheet of any desira- ble thickness, unconnected with any other fabric, or it may be laid upon or between other fabrics, either in the process of manufacture or afterwards. The uses of the gum-elastic sponge fabric will undoubtedly be very numerous; but the article is so very novel that it is yet too soon to attempt a very particular account of them. FIBROUS FABRICS: HEREAFTER DESCRIBED AS TISSUE, VELLUM, PLATED FABRICS, FELT, AND CORDED FABRICS. After the change was wrought in caoutchouc by the process of vulcanization, comparatively few mechanical obstacles re- mained in the way of its successful application to any articles required to be made of the gum alone, or when uncombined with any fabric or tissue; but in all combinations where a A ‘ es 4 FIBROUS FABRICS. 189 fabric or tissue was coated with the vulcanized compounds, the same obstacles of chafing and Decne from the fabrics con- tinued to exist as before. . The great liability of the gum to peel from all woven cloths, has been well known to all manufacturers, since the first manu- facture of India rubber. This difficulty was not removed by the discovery of the vulcanizing process, and the sanguine hopes that were entertained, that gum-elastic could be made a substitute for animal leather, to any considerable extent, were for a time nearly abandoned. For many years the inventor sought to surmount the difficulty, by applying the gum to every description of fabric that could be found, that would be likely to answer, and to others which he had made expressly for the purpose, at great expense, without attaining the object. The difficulty remained until it was obviated by the manufacture of the fibrous fabrics. In these goods the fibre is so completely incorporated with the gum that it is impossible to peel it. The primary importance of the vulcanizing process has been repeatedly alluded to; but it has become generally available and extensively applicable, chiefly in consequence of the inven- tion of the fibrous fabrics here described. The invention of these fabrics is only secondary to that of vulcanization, and is as important in the mechanical combination of the materials as vulcanization is in their chemical combination. These fabrics, and their uses, are so various, answering the widely contrasted uses to which paper, cloth, and leather are applied, that a description of them under the general head of fibrous fabrics, would not be sufficiently explicit. They are therefore described according to their thickness, as tissue, vellum, plated fabrics, felt, and corded fabrics. Perhaps the most valuable application of gum-elastic, is its substitution for leather. It could not be so substituted, to any considerable extent, previous to the invention of the fibrous fabrics. be A 190 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. TISSUE. Tissue is formed of a layer of cotton wool, which is sized before it is coated with gum. The dissolved gum is combined with it by the spreading machine, which makes a complete admixture of the two articles. The fibre of the cotton is not broken, as in the manufacture of paper, and it is, therefore, very much stronger, and when corded, stronger than woven fabrics of the same weight. Knowing the very low cost at which this fabric will be ultimately manufactured, the inventor does not hesitate to ad- vance the opinion, that in the course of a few years it will be used instead of the more costly kinds of paper; and occasionally, if not ordinarily, for the issuing of mammoth sheets, placards, handbills, &c.; after having been used for such a purpose, the printing may be removed by boiling in a strong solution of pot- ash or common lye. The owner of such an article would have goods suitable for a lady’s apron, a cape, the covering for an umbrella, or some other useful article. It might be re-orna- mented, or it might serve again its original use. Tissue has, therefore, an intrinsic value, which paper has not. Its adapta- tion to the printing of pocket maps, school atlases and globes, is already beginning to be well understood; and for the papering of walls, particularly in damp situations, its advantages are too obvious to need comment. The same remark may be'made of it for the covering of paper bandboxes. It is like drapery, useful as a substitute for oil silk. To suggest the idea that it may be made useful for ladies’ capes, bonnets, hoods, and also for rib- bons, may appear absurd to some who do not yet understand the high state of perfection to which the manufacture is destined to be brought; and yet it is evident that some of these articles must be desirable in stormy weather. Tissue is perhaps the most useful of all the fabrics, in a warm climate, as a protection from rains; and also when napped, it is equally well adapted for that use in cold climates. Ea VELLUM. This is made of a bat of cotton, of about one-quarter to one- half an inch in thickness, like that commonly made and used for cloak wadding. The gum is pressed into, and intermixed with the wadding, at one operation of the spreading callenders ; and like the other fibrous fabrics, it is manufactured with great rapidity. It is made impervious to air and water with much less gum than the woven fabrics; besides, the gum is not liable to peel off as it does from other fabrics. It is, for most purposes, the cheapest, as well as the best of the non-elastic fabrics ; and when corded, as described in the chapter on corded goods, page —, _bids fair to supersede the coated cloths entirely for many pur- poses, particularly for light articles of wearing apparel, and also, when corded, for the heavier uses of India rubber can- vas. It is made, when desired, in imitation of various kinds of morocco, kid, and buff leather, and of different thicknesses and degrees of strength, according to the thickness of the wadding. When embossed in imitation of hair cloth, or other- wise ornamented and perforated, it may be used for the cover- ing of chair and sofa seats. The most important uses of it will probably be those of book- binding and air-work, a particular description of which may be found under those heads. It may be safely recommended for most, if not all, the pur- poses for which common sheep skins and skivers are used, and for many uses it is more durable than the best calf or Russia leather. For wearing apparel, various thicknesses of this fabric, with different kinds of nap, are suitable, according to the climate or the occupation and wants of the wearer ; it is exactly suitable, on account of its softness and durability, to be used for the cover- ing of counting-house, portable and school desks, and writing tables. a a 192 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. PLATED FABRICS. The term “plated” has been adopted to designate a peculiar method of coating cloths with caoutchouc and its compounds. Plated fabrics are made by the interposition of a thin bat or fleece of cotton or flax fibres between the gum and any fabric to which it is applied, whether woven, knit, or felted. The gum, when applied in this manner, is partly intermixed with the bat or fleece of fibre, and both are securely united to the fabric, and are held firmly even upon linen or any canvas made of hard- spun thread. The coarser and more open the fabric, the greater is the economy, and the advantage every way in plating, instead of coating it by the old method of applying the gum to the cloth, because the plating is laid over imstead of being forced znto the meshes of the canvas; the consequence is, that the coarsest and most open canvas is, when plated, ren- dered water-proof with about the same quantity of gum as is required for the finest muslin. Heretofore, when gum-elastic was applied to woven fabrics, and especially to linen or coarse fabrics, without the interposition of fibres, the gum was not only easily peeled or chafed from the fabric, but it required so great quantity of it to fill the meshes of the fabrics, and render them water-proof, that their expensiveness, together with their great weight, almost wholly prevented the manufacture of this class of caoutchouc fabrics. The same obstacles of weight and ex- pensiveness have always existed to prevent the manufacture of heavy oil or other water-proof cloths sufficiently strong and yet cheap and light enough for the uses for which such fabrics are desirable. By this improved method of plating fabrics, they are made so cheap and light, and yet so durable, that there is good reason for believing that this method will be generally adopted, but more especially for linen goods, heavy canvas, and bagging. ———EEE “y FELT. 193 FELT, OR VEGETABLE LEATHER. This fabric is very similar to the other fibrous fabrics. It however differs from them inasmuch as it is made of a greater variety of fibrous materials which are put together in a different way; it is also applied to some uses to which the other fibrous fabrics are not applied, such as sole leather, different kinds of ‘packing, foundation of carpeting, &c. The fibrous materials of which it is made, such as cotton, cotton waste, flax, hemp, hair, wool, rags, waste leather, &c., separately or combined with one another, are first picked and then thrown together in bats or sheets of a suitable thickness, instead of being carded in alternate layers, as in the other fibrous fabrics ; consequently the fibres of the bat or sheet are more entangled and not so likely to split. When this fabric is used as a substitute for sole leather, to be used on shoes and for some other purposes, one- fourth to one-half its thickness is made of caoutchouc whale- bone, in order to give greater firmness and hardness. 194 BARRED GOODS. CORDED FABRICS. Tissue and vellum are made very strong, (and are difficult to be torn,) when corded with silk, thread, twine, or spun-yarn, for the same reason that muslins and other woven fabrics are strengthened by being barred or corded with threads stronger than those of which the cloth is made. The different fibrous fabrics, when corded in this manner, are even stronger than India rubber fabrics that are made of woven cloths. The uses of these fabrics are the same as those of tissue, vellum, and vegetable leather; but on account of their great strength, they are more extensively applicable to many purposes for which those fabrics would not answer, such as ships’ sails, tarpaulins, coach cloths, &e. The great recommendation of these goods is, that they possess the greatest strength with the least possible weight, at the same time that the gum does not peel or chafe from them as it does from coated cloths. BARRED GOODS. These consist of various articles made of the vulcanized fabrics, which are strengthened by narrow bands or strips of coated canvas, which are cemented upon the outside of the articles or fabrics in a sort of net-work. By these means a lighter fabric can be made use of for any given purpose than otherwise could be, and the greatest strength is thereby obtained with the least weight. The wear of the articles made in this way comes very much upon the bands, which makes them better adapted for ships’ sails, tents, mail-bags, awnings, &c., than the plain fabrics.* * Of this fabric, manufactured from a light and inferior article of cotton duck, a topsail of the packet ship “ Stephen Whitney” was made; fora report upon the qualities and performance of which, the reader is referred to the letters of Capt. Popham, page § of this work. - ~ - conn © = SHIRRED GOODS. 195 KNIT GOODS Are made of knit fabrics covered on one or both sides with gum-elastic. Until recently, India rubber, as well as the vul- canized gum-elastic, has been put invariably upon woven cloths, but it is supposed the use of the woven cloths will be in a meas- ure discontinued, and the unwoven fibre substituted in their stead for the manufacture of caoutchouc fabrics. There are, however, certain uses of the knit goods, for which, on account of its elasticity, together with its strength, it will probably always have a decided preference over both the woven and the fibrous fabrics. Among these uses may be specified boots, shoes, gloves, mittens, some kinds of springs, and carriage cloths. For further particulars, reference is made to the specifi- cation of Patent granted for these goods in the United States. SHIRRED GOODS. When these fabrics were first made known, their novelty attracted much attention, being justly considered very curious. The inventor was indebted to this cireumstance, as has been previously stated on page _, for his success in drawing the at- tention, first of his friends, and afterwards of the public, to the more important discovery of vulcanized gum-elastic. The goods were first made of ribbons, and used for suspend- ers, not long after of silks and muslins. Shirred or corrugated goods have been used for springs of various kinds, besides sus- penders, particularly shoe and corset springs. The license for manufacturing this fabric was sold to Mr. H. H. Day, in 184 , since which time the manufacture of these goods has been exclusively in his hands. A brief description of the method of manufacturing them may be found in Chapter 196 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. PACKING. Packing is made of cotton, wool, or other fibrous substances, ground up with elastic compound. In consequence of the in- vention of this fabric, great economy is introduced into the manufacture of gum-elastic, as the scraps and sweepings of the factories, that were formerly thrown away, are now made into the best goods of this kind. This fabric is used for engine- packing, and deck-scrubs for ships. It is also generally used for the soles of gum over-shoes, for which it is preferred, being lighter, not so likely to slip, and more durable than soles made of gum-elastic only. GRITTED GOODS. India rubber fabrics are gritted with different substances for different purposes, with sand, as patented,* for car covering, &c., to prevent their being slippery, and also to prevent their igniting by sparks from the engine, and with emery, pumice, and other substances for buffing, sharpening edge tools, erasing pencil marks, &c. Recently some specimens have been made of gritted goods, which, it is supposed, will be used as a substitute for slates, memorandum paper, &c. The grit, of the kind required, is first ground and incorporated with the gum, after which the fabrics are coated with it in the usual way. * By Nelson Goodyear, brother of the writer. A NAPPED GOODS. 197 NAPPED GOODS. Specimens of India rubber cloths napped with woolen flocks, were manufactured by different persons as early as 1835, and before they were made by the writer. These goods decomposed like other India rubber goods of that time, only sooner than others, on account of their decomposition being accelerated by the oil in the wool. Napping has recently proved successful upon the heated vulcanized fabrics, and for many uses they are superior. For wearing apparel, they are more com- fortable and pleasant, and for blankets and imitation buffalo robes, they are warmer than India rubber goods that are not napped. The different fabrics are also, by being napped, made exactly suitable for the covering and protection of furniture, in such articles as table spreads, pianoforte covers, &c. The different methods of napping are noticed under the head of Manufacture, Chap. X. 198 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. EMBOSSED FABRICS. The fabrics which are embossed with the greatest advantage, are gum-elastic veneers, plated goods, and vellum. This leaf is a specimen of the thinner sort of embossed vellum, such as is designed for pocket books, paper boxes, &c. The heavier kinds are made in imitation of morocco and leather, for book-binding, trunks, and other uses to which leather is applied. The art of embossing with cambrics, and other fabrics, was first adopted by the inventor in 1835, before the discovery of either the acid gas or the vulcanizing process. The method of embossing, which is described page , 1s of importance on account of its simplicity and cheapness, for although gum-elastic goods may be embossed with callenders, like leather or other fabrics, the figures cannot be made to endure the heat of the vulcanizing process so well in that way; and the cost of the patterns, if embossed with callenders, is enormously increased by an expensively engraved callender, which is required for each pattern. By the method of embossing with other stuffs, the figure is first transferred in the manner described, into a piece of India rubber fabric ; which, after it is vulcanized, answers all the pur- poses of a costly engraved metal callender, for embossing other India rubber fabrics. The original not being injured by the copying of it into gum-elastic, gives to this process the ad- vantage of an unlimited variety of styles and patterns, at a very trifling expense. a 4 a7 VENTILATED GOODS. 199 VENTILATED GOODS. The unique appearance of these goods may make them objectionable at first, as wearing apparel, and yet they are not more novel in that respect than many articles that be- come fashionable. When applied to horse blankets, tents, &c., there can be no objection of this sort. These goods are made of barred or corded vellum. The articles are perforated im- mediately underneath the bars or cords in different parts, according to the construction or use of the article; a leaf or fly is cemented upon the bar or cord over the openings. The leaf or fly is a little raised by the bar or cord above the openings, so that perspiration can escape, while rain or wet is prevented from entering. The leaf or fly should in general be a little fulled on the upper edge, and tacked or cemented on the lower edge. For further description see diagrams, Vol. II., page Another kind of ventilated goods, such as pillows, cushions, life- preservers, &c., are ventilated by being perforated, as represented in the drawings of those articles, Vol. I., page _.. 4 ia 200 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. QUILTED FABRICS Are made of the laminated fibrous fabrics, in a manner very similar to the method of manufacturing air-work, already de- scribed. The goods are quilted in any desired pattern, by cut- ting the patterns either by hand or machine punches, from bats of cotton or wool; these are next placed upon the surface of the fabric, at the distance of from one eighth to one fourth of an inch apart ; another sheet of the fabric of the same size as the first, is then laid over the whole, and pressed down either by hand or by machinery, the callenders or rolls of which are covered with an elastic substance. The effect is that the two pieces of the fabric adhere together in the spaces between the patterns cut out of the wadding. If tubes are inserted into articles of this kind, they form the safest and best kind of air-work, with the exception that the goods made in this way are not quite so light and portable as those which are inflated with air only. These goods have, how- ever, one recommendation, which is of more importance than portability or lightness ; they are safe, and may be depended on as life-preservers. A newly invented description of garments are made in this manner, which are convenient to be worn, and yet may be con- sidered infallible life-preservers, whether they are inflated by the tubes or not. Air is necessarily inclosed in the cells of these garments with the wadding, in the manufacture. A cape, coat, or poncho, which is divided into a thousand cells or compart- ments, might be damaged or perforated in five hundred different places, and it would yet infallibly prevent the wearer from sinking in the water. For further description see Vol. IL, page be Ak y PERFORATED GOODS. 201 PERFORATED GOODS. These are made either from the laminated fibrous fabrics, or drapery. A peculiarity of all these fabrics is, that they may be pierced without any material injury as to strength, and the fibrous fabrics will not fray or ravel as the coated cloths would do, if pierced in the same way. Some of the uses which are contemplated for these goods, are shoe-springs, bandages, sieves, cullenders, strainers, bolting cloths, &c. It may also be substi- tuted, in a great many cases, if not very generally, for woven wire cloth. Besides these uses, there are others which it is thought will become yet more important in their application to shoes, gloves, and wearing apparel. Perforating the goods will, of course, chiefly destroy their water-proof quality. Durability, cleanliness and economy would, however, be the object contem- plated in the use of these fabrics. co Pi 202 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. CARD CLOTHS. This article, or at least its application as a substitute for leather for machine cards, is originally an English invention. It was first made of the native gum by cementing a number of woven cloths together. Beside being used for the above purpose, it has been found useful, when vulcanized, for some descriptions of light belting, and particularly for the rail way belts of cotton carding machines. COATED CLOTHS. Cloths of every description may be coated with compound — when it is desirable to make them water-proof or very durable, with greater or less advantage. The writer considers them generally less useful than the laminated fibrous fabrics called tissue, vellum, and plated fabrics, although some of them, particularly very light silks, have the advantage of greater strength in proportion to their weight, and they can also be wrought into different articles by stitching, better than the fibrous fabrics, which is often a convenience to the purchaser. The uses of these cloths are already so well known, and their application is so often referred to in the following pages, that a further description here is considered unnecessary. = x POROUS FABRICS. 203 POROUS FABRICS. Probably no new property has ever been given to caoutchouc fabrics, which will serve so much to extend the use of them, as that of porousness. That which has been chiefly aimed at heretofore, has been to make their water- and air-proof qualities to the greatest extent available. The idea was never, until recently, entertained of making the goods porous, so that they might be used instead of leather for shoes for constant wear, and also for clothing and other purposes. But now that such a fabric is produced, that is pervious to air and impervious to water, when not under pressure, (two _ properties which are not found united in any other fabric,) it is not easy to foretell how far the use of gum-elastic may be ex- tended by the introduction of this improvement. Any one who will consider the subject attentively, may per- ceive that there is very much needed, especially for the poorer classes, some cheap and durable fabric, which will not be easily soiled, and which will not, like cotton and woolen fabrics, accu- mulate filth when brought in contact with it; making it neces- sary to submit them to the cleansing process of scouring and washing, which is commonly attended with much expense of time and money. The writer anticipates a material or fabric in the porous cloths, which will in a great measure, if not wholly, meet the want which is so obvious, and which will give to the humble and laborious classes of mankind all the advan- tages of cleanliness and decent apparel, that are now enjoyed by those having ample means. The materials of the fibrous, the plated, and the porous fab- rics are the same, and the method of manufacturing them is the same, except that the gum is applied in the case of porous fabrics in a more liquid state than is done when the same fabrics are made impervious. They are made more or less porous, at the option of the manufacturer, by the gum being aA a 204 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. \ made more or less liquid. Porous fabrics may also be made by mixing with the compounds substances that are soluble in water, which can be dissolved out. INDELIBLE GOODS. These are of three kinds. The first consists of fibrous fabrics, silks, and other fancy stuffs, which are printed and afterwards coated over with a thin coat of gum-elastic cement. The second kind consists of maps, globes, charts, carpeting, table and piano covers, &c., which are printed or painted by different methods, upon the various India rubber fabrics, and being coated over in the manner before alluded to, the printing and painting become indelible in every sense of the word; so much so, that they cannot be altered or removed by any art of chemistry, without destroying the fabric. The third kind consists of carpeting, &c., in which the pat- terns, or figures, or colors, are applied with a brush, or by sten- ciling, the coloring material being a thick cement of dissolved caoutchouc. This is an art which has not yet been practiced to any con- siderable extent, but enough has been done with it to give assurance that it will prove of great utility, when carried on extensively. _——— 4 HOLLOW WARE. 205 JAPANNED GOODS. The high lustre which has recently been given to the sur- face of vulcanized fabrics, renders the use of these fabrics of less importance for japanners, than was at first anticipated, and also obviates the necessity of their being finished by japan- ning. Cord ware and wicker-work may yet be japanned to ad- vantage, for although the vulcanized fabrics are made with a high finish, equal in appearance to the oil japan, yet the finish has not the brittle hardness or lustre of the oil, and is more easily scratched than the oil japan. HOLLOW WARE. These goods are made of elastic compound, and consist of balls, toys, breast-pumps, bottles, and a variety of other articles, described hereafter among the applications. The goods are vulcanized in moulds, and by the expansion of the air within the articles while heating, they are caused to fill the moulds, which may be made of any shape, and of a figured surface if required. The moulds are commonly made either of block-tin or cast- iron. The number and variety of this class of articles has been greatly increased by the moulding and heating of gum-elastic sponge, which is found to answer for many uses better than ar- ticles which are quite hollow. From present appearances we may venture the opinion, that the articles of gum-elastic hollow ware will become as numerous as those made of iron. 206 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. CORD WARE. This ware is made of vellum cord, which is commonly wound closely upon a pattern or form of the article designed to be made. When the shape of the article is irregular, or larger at the bot- tom than at the top, the form is made in pieces like a hatter’s block, so that they can be easily removed. Before being wound, the patterns or forms are covered with gum-elastic vellum or plated fabrics, so as to form a smooth surface for the inside of the articles, as well as to strengthen them by holding the cord together ; for these purposes, the cord is sometimes flattened or made half round or square. A great variety of articles are made in this way, such as buckets, bowls, ewers, trunks, valises, hat-boxes, &c. Articles are more expeditiously made in this way, and they are much more durable when so made, than the same articles are when made of coated canvas; vellum cord being better calculated to resist the kind of damage to which such articles are commonly exposed. WIRE-W ORK. These goods are made by covering metal wires with a num- ber of thicknesses of vellum; these may be twisted or laid and cemented together so as to form a strong rope or strap; the strength of metal wire is made available in this way, the wire being kept by the elasticity of the gum from being bent so short as to break. The single cords, when netted or braided like wicker-work, or wound like cord ware, make a description of articles of the most substantial kind, such as the water-hose and mail-bags, described among the applications, Vol. II, which, in addition to the common advantages claimed for other articles AIR-WORK. 207 of the kind, have one peculiar to themselves, that they cannot be cut with a knife. Under the above head may very properly be included some articles such as trunks, boxes, &c., which are strengthened by having combined with them straps, or pieces of iron, which are first covered with gum-elastic vellum, or tissue. Some of these articles will be found described in Vol. II. WICKER-WORK. Wicker-work is made in the same manner as the cord ware already described, except that the vellum cord is braided or woven chiefly by hand, in open-work, into baskets and such other articles as are commonly made of willow. When lined with gum-elastic vellum, the same are substituted for baskets lined with tin or zinc. The advantages proposed by this description of ware, are du- rability and cleanliness. The more bulky articles of this sort may be made by covering rattan, reeds, or willow, with vellum. Among other things, a very light and durable row-boat may be made of lined wicker-work. AIR-WORK. This is a term which has been technically applied to all arti- cles that are inflated with air, such as beds, pillows, cushions, life-preservers, &c. Some observations upon this kind of work, and descriptions of many articles such as have formerly been made, may be found in Vol. II., page —-. But the work which is particularly referred to here, and is thought to be entitled toa description as a separate class of goods, is of a very different kind, and but recently invented. The simplicity, cheapness and completeness of these goods an 208 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. is attained, in consequence of the previous invention of the fibrous fabrics, and the gum-elastic tube, described in Vol II., page —. The method of manufacturing these goods is as follows: The patterns which form the cells, or air chambers of these goods, are cut from napped gum-elastic tissue, of any form to suit the fancy, but more commonly in rings, squares, or diamond patterns. These are laid between two pieces of gum-elastic tissue, vellum, or vegetable leather, in pairs, with the napped sides of the patterns placed together ; the effect is, that when the two fabrics between which they are placed are pressed together, one of the patterns will adhere to the upper, the other to the lower piece of fabric. The two patterns are prevented from adhering together, by the nap on the surface; conductors of the same material are placed between the cells, to connect them all together, to be inflated by one tube; or in separate rows, to be inflated by a number of tubes, or one tube for each row of cells ; thereby rendering the article more safe. When the two pieces of fabric are pressed together, they adhere only between the cells, by which means the article is formed into as many com- partments as there are patterns. ‘Two pieces of the fabrics, of from thirty to fifty yards, is first covered with the patterns, so placed as to form the bed, life-preserver, or other article de- signed to be made; another piece of the same width and length is placed upon them, the two are pressed together by hand rollers, or what is much more expeditious, being passed between callen- ders, covered with an elastic substance, the articles are formed and ready to be cut apart, when, after the tubes are inserted, and they are vulcanized, the articles are finished. Those who are acquainted with the manner in which air-work has to be constructed, when it is made of coated cloths, will at once perceive that great complexity of workmanship is obviated, as well as material saved, by the method above described; and as these goods may, like shirred goods, be made by machinery, with great rapidity, it may reasonably be expected that a com- plete change will hereby be effected, both in the first cost and quality of air work. A 209 ‘ BRAIDED CORD. ELASTIC CORD. The art of cutting the native gum into threads, was first prac- ticed in Europe, where machinery was invented for the purpose. The native gum bottles were pressed out to a flat surface, and threads were cut from the circular pieces. Beside being used for the manufacture of braided and wound cord, these threads were also used without covering, as a warp for making woolen and cotton stuffs elastic. It can, however, answer the latter purpose very imperfectly, compared with its use for the small arti- cles that are less exposed to perspiration. It is well known that thread of native gum, such as here alluded to, soon loses its . elasticity when exposed to perspiration, and also by long contin- used tension; which difficulties are obviated in the heated or vulcanized thread. The threads of vulcanized gum-elastic are cut with machinery very different from that used for the native gum, as represented in No. . They are cut from sheets of about a yard in width, of any thickness or length desired. This thread answers all the purposes for which that of the native gum was used, and many others for which the native gum does not answer at all. When spun and twisted in a green or unheated state, before being vulcanized, this cord makes a very superior and durable article for fringes, tassels, &c. It will, for such purposes, pos- sess the advantage over common stuffs, of durability, and not being liable to soil. It is also sometimes used for covering small phials and bottles, instead of vellum cord. BRAIDED CORD. The manufacture of elastic cord covered with cotton and silk thread, was established in France and England long before it a = 210 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. was attempted in America. It has been successfully prosecuted in those countries, where various useful articles have also been made and continue to be made from the native gum The objections to the native gum do not apply to these goods with the same force as to articles in which the gum is not cov- ered, because, as in the case of the McIntosh goods, the gum is protected from destructive agents by the various fabrics with which it is covered; the improvement of the vulcanized gum- elastic is therefore not so indispensable to them as to the other goods. The method of manufacturing, is to wind or braid over the gum after it is cut into thread, with silk or cotton, by which bounds are set to its elasticity, and greater strength given to it at the point of its greatest tension. This is done by machinery such as has been long used for braiding whips, &c. This braid is ingeniously applied to the manufacture of braces, and of many small but useful articles, such as watch-guards, shawl pins, um- brella ties, &c. ELASTIC CORDAGE Is made of elastic compound. On account of the great difh- culty, if not the utter impossibility of splicing or securing it by any fastening after it is vulcanized, it is necessary that it should be made up at the manufactories, into the articles for which it is used, with the fastenings attached. It might, therefore, be treated of as a heavier description of spring, with equal propri- ety as cordage. This cordage is designed to be used in connection with hemp ropes or cables, to ease off the strain which would otherwise come upon them too suddenly. For further explanation see diagram, Vol. II., page VELLUM CORD. PAU COVERED CORDAGE, This is made of different kinds of thread, twine, rope, or annealed wire, according to the use for which it is intended. These are first coated with liquid compound cement, and then wound or rolled with a covering of vellum or tissue, tissue being used for the lighter, and vellum for the heavier kinds. It has been suggested by nautical men, although it has not yet been proved by trial, that it would answer well for standing rig- ging, and other purposes on ship board. It is also designed for canal drag-ropes, seine twine, clothes-lines, and, briefly, for all uses where ropes are much exposed to wet, and where the first - cost is not aconsideration, which will, for this article, be greater than for common rope. This description of cordage is used for some articles described hereafter, where great strength is required, instead of the cord composed entirely of vellum. VELLUM CORD. There are two methods of manufacturing this article: one is that of cutting either by hand or machinery, and rolling up strips of gum-elastic tissue or vellum into cord of any size desired. The other is that of pressing the vegetable leather of a suitable thickness, by grooved callenders, into cord of the size required. It has not sufficient strength to be used for many purposes by itself, without combining with metal wire, or flax, hemp or cot- ton twine. Its chief use is for the covering of glass and earthen ware, for the manufacture of cord ware, and other articles here- after described among the numerous applications. La) ) a 212 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. SPONGE CORD. This article is of any size or shape required, and is made non- elastic when desired, by a cord or wire in the middle. It is manufactured either by cutting it from sheets of sponge fabric, or forming it with grooved calenders, or it may be more perfectly formed in moulds like hollow ware. Its most important, if not its principal uses, will probably be that of caulking between the planking and boarding of floors and vessels, and the making of trunks and packing boxes water and air tight, for the packing of doors and window-sashes, and coach and car window-sashes. See Vol. II., page a x HARD COMPOUNDS. 213 HARD COMPOUNDS. Caoutchouc enamel. Ivory. Buck-horn. Whalebone. Boards. Veneers, Enameled ware. Berore it was found that gum-elastic and gutta-percha, in combination with other gums and resins, could be heated, so as to form a hard compound, the greater portion of this work was written and stereotyped. It was, however, felt that a sub- stance was much to be desired which might be substituted for ~ bone, whalebone, buffalo-horn, and ivory, (all of which are gradually becoming scarce,) and one which could be moulded like gum-elastic or gutta percha; and it was anticipated that if this object should be attained, great improvements in many arts and manufactures would probably result from such dis- covery. These anticipations have been more than realized, by means of a hard compound of heated caoutchouc. Although the manufacture is as yet no further advanced than to produce an assortment of specimens, their importance is evidently such that they deserve to hold a prominent place in treating of the prop- erties of heated gum-elastic. Owing to the difficulty of applying one term to these com- pounds, which will give a correct idea of their various proper- ties, they are treated of as imitations of the following substances, namely, enamel, ivory, buck-horn, whalebone, etc. They not only make good imitations of these materials in appearance, but they are also in reality superior in quality, in some respects, to the natural substances. The hardest of these compounds resembles marble ;* that which is less hard, ivory and buck-horn; that which is still * For the modification which gives it its extreme hardness, the writer is indebted in good part to his younger brother, Nelson Goodyear. GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. softer, buffalo-horn and whalebone; while they possess, in general, more durable properties than any of the substances above named, except marble, and they are even more sub- stantial than that, in some respects; because, in all degrees of hardness, they have a great degree of toughness or tenacity, and the property of retaiming the shape into which they have been moulded and heated. Glass and the metals are too heavy for many small or light articles of convenience, too much so for some for which they are used Bone and horn are worked and finished with diffi- culty, while this material is worked and finished simply by moulding. Whalebone and ivory are every day becoming more scarce, and these also are manufactured with great difficulty and great waste, in comparison with this material. CAOUTCHOUC ENAMEL. This term is applied to this substance, because it is the hard- — est of all the hard heated compounds, and because the ingredi- ents differ materially from those of the substances which are hereafter noticed as ivory and whalebone. The process by which they are all made is the same. The principal difference is in the addition of a considerable portion of oxide of magnesia, iron, white lead, or other metal, with a larger proportion of sulphur in compounding the marble. It is some- what more brittle than the India rubber ivory, and does not an- swer for all purposes so well, but it will unquestionably be found to answer, in many cases, where a substance is desired which is very hard, and yet not so heavy or brittle as porcelain or mar- ble; it is not yet made so white as porcelain, but admits of col- oring, moulding, and variegating, like the other hard compounds. The most important uses of this enamel are probably the plating or covering of iron furniture, coach and harness mountings, &c. INDIA RUBBER IVORY. 215 CAOUTCHOUC IVORY. This material differs from the marble before described, in being compounded with less metal and sulphur, and not so hard; and yet it is solid enough to receive the finest polish. It is not affected, like ivory, horn, or buffalo horn, by being boiled in hot water, and resists the action of oils, acids, and other destructive agents, like glass. On account of the econ- omy and facility with which it is moulded, the manufacture of it is not attended with waste of material like that of bone, buffalo horn, and ivory. The cost of it per pound is about the same as the cost of the other gum-elastic compounds, and it contains "about the same proportion of gum-elastic as the vulcanized car- springs. To attempt to enumerate all the articles to which it is supposed it may be economically and profitably applied, is im- possible and unnecessary. It is certainly well adapted, and perhaps better, all things considered, than any other substance, to make the handles of table cutlery, for the reason that they can be put on while in an adhesive state, and vulcanized so that they will not come off. It is also well adapted to make fine brush handles, fancy boxes, and numerous other articles that are now made of bone, buffalo horn, and ivory. How far it may be substituted for veneers and fine wood, in the manufacture of musical instruments and fine furniture, and to what extent it may be applied to these and other uses, on account of its being more substantial, and not being liable to crack or warp by the changes of temperature, is a matter of curious inquiry.* Many special advantages may be obtained from this substance, on account of the facility of uniting or cementing it as part and parcel with the softer fabrics, in the same way as peculiar ad- * Some new and peculiar methods of using veneers of this material for furniture may be found Vol. I1., Chapter ,and also a novel method for the manufacture of musical instruments of this new material, Chapter 216 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. Ke} 2) \ vantages are obtained from uniting or welding hard steel with soft iron. This is exemplified in its use for the mouth of a bottle, the tube of a globe or life-preserver, where it is first cemented to, and afterwards vulcanized with the article, in which case it becomes a substitute for metal, far better than metal, because it does not corrode, and is perfectly joined, so as to form part and parcel of the article. Some of the advantages anticipated from its peculiar proper- ties, are alluded to as relates to various articles which are speci- fied in the second volume of this work. For further explanation of the method of uniting the hard to the elastic and flexible fabrics, see Vol. II., Chapter XII., Military Caps; and Chapter XX., Skates. CAOUTCHOUC BUCK-HORN. The same substance which has been described as imitation ivory, makes, also, when pressed in moulds, a good imitation of buck-horn, which will answer all the purposes to which buck horn is applied. CAOUTCHOUC WHALEBONE. In the manufacture of the hard substances which have been described, it is not surprising that between the very hard com- pounds, or India rubber porcelain and ivory, and the very soft one of drapery, there should be produced a material which re- sembles whalebone very closely. This substance has the pecu- liar odor of horn or whalebone. The ingredients and proportions differ very little from those of the ivory; a greater degree of heat, however, is required in the manufacture of the whalebone. be —— y CAOUTCHOUC DEAL BOARDS. Pall | There is good reason to suppose that this substance will be found to answer not only the general purposes of whalebone, but also those of horn and shell for hair and dressing combs, and other uses. It may be made into sheets or forms of any size or shape desired, by moulding; for which reason it can be used for nu- merous purposes for which whalebone can not be used. The advantages which, from present appearances, may be antici- pated with certainty in the substitution of this substance for whalebone, are the following, viz.: the quality of the caout- chouc whalebone is superior, the facility of working it much greater, besides the first cost being considerably less than that of whalebone. CAOUTCHOUC DEAL BOARDS. The ingredients of the compound and their proportions are the same for deal boards as for caoutchouc whalebone, and they are vulcanized with the same degree of heat. They are formed of alternate layers or sheets of the compound and cloth or can- vas, until the desired thickness is obtained, commonly with the cloth outside upon one or both the surfaces of the board ; or the board may be formed by coating the cloth, and afterwards splicing the different thicknesses together. A plastic wood or flexible board is thus formed, having the properties of caout- choue whalebone, and on some accounts preferable to it, being cheaper for the same amount of bulk and strength; besides it can be worked or formed into articles after it is vulcanized, in some ways that the whalebone cannot, as it may be stitched or cemented together for boats, trunks, boxes, &c., on account of its being formed with cloth, and having cloth upon the outside. | | 218 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. CAOUTCHOUC VENEERS. Perfect imitations of rosewood and other fine veneers are made from the hard compounds, and varieties of color may be produced such as are not found in any of the ornamental woods. They may be made without seam to any pattern; so that there is no waste in working in applying it. They are sometimes made with cloth on the back, which renders ‘them strong enough for many articles, boxes, &c., without any frame- work of wood; in this case, however, especially where the cloth is a thick one, the substance might more properly be called caoutchouc pasteboard or whalebone. The superiority of these veneers is greatest where wood is most defective, since they are no way liable to warp or crack in the hottest room, and the facility and cheapness with which they are applied, together with little or no labor in finishing, renders the exten- sive use of caoutchouc for veneers a matter of certainty. ENAMELED WARE. This title includes a very large assortment of articles, such as carriage and harness mountings, and a great variety of articles of hardware, which are commonly plated, tinned, japanned, or covered with leather; and many articles commonly made of wood, earthen, porcelain, and glass. Various materials may be covered with caoutchouc enamel advantageously : by it iron is protected from rust, glass and crockery from breaking, and wood is rendered stronger and more ornamental. In the manufacture of enameled ware, the caoutchouc material is first applied in the green or plastic state to the iron or other foundation mate- rial, and the whole article thus combined is submitted to a high degree of heat, by means of which the materials are firmly united together and the enamel surface obtained. “y CHAPTER XII. PLANS OF THE INVENTOR. The author adopts the plan of granting licenses to manufacturers, who stamp all articles made under the various patents with the author’sname. Advantages and disadvantages resulting from the plan adopted. Remarks onthe want of security to inventors by the present patent laws. New articles to be presented to the public. The utility of these articles in the advance- ment of education, and preservation of life, health and property. Ir may seem to be of little consequence to the public to know what are the plans of an individual, but it may be of importance to him that they should be known, when their execution depends upon the co-operation of others. If they are reasonable and just, and the interests of others as well as his own are involved, especially if their utility be susceptible of demonstration, the interests of the subject may be advanced by their publication. Enough has been said of the obstacles which were encountered in first bringing the discovery of vulcanized gum-elastic to the notice of the public, and in its successful application to the articles that were first made of the substance; but it is thought that justice to the subject demands that a statement should be made of the causes that have continued to operate, since the time of the discovery, against the progress of the art. Previous to the discovery of the vulcanizing process before described, and for several years after the writer began his ex- periments, he entertained the idea of carrying on the business, and of establishing a reputation for himself as a manufacturer of gum-elastic. Subsequent to the discovery, however, upon taking a survey 226 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. of what remained to be done to perfect the prominent fabrics, and extend the application of the discovery, the extent of which he did not, even then, fully understand, he abandoned the idea of all practical operations as a regular manufacturer, and has since that time confined himself, with a fixed purpose, to perfecting a series of improvements, embracing the various processes, and so far as possible, all the important fabrics and the most im- portant applications of them, so as to form a connected system of inventions, and to render their application as practicable and perfect as the nature of the substance would permit. In pursuance of this plan he has granted licenses under his patents, for some few branches of the manufacture, which were first appreciated, and with which the public were familiar. These branches have for the most part been conducted with credit, as well as profit, to the manufacturers, embracing in all, at this time, (1851,) some twenty establishments for the manu- facture of heated or vulcanized gum-elastic, conducted by cor- porations or individuals, under his patents, with the stipulation that the stamp of the patent should be put upon the articles, as the patent law requires. In consequence of this public use of his name, it has been erroneously supposed that he pursued the business as a manufac- turer of the goods that are so stamped. This is a mistake which needs to be corrected. The whole manufacture, under these patents, is now conducted by licensees, in different parts of the United States, as advertised by them, and as the labels of their articles indicate. It would be the wish of the writer to pursue the calling of a manufacturer of gum-elastic, as a means by which he might hope to establish a better reputation for the manufacture than others will be likely to establish for it, did not cireum- stances conspire to prevent this; but he must content himself to leave the manufacture to be pursued by others, hoping to obtain such compensation from them as will enable him to devote the remainder of his life, (so far as feeble health and a constitution broken by too close application to the labors of experimenting will permit,) to making application of this substance to the use- L GRANTING OF LICENSES. 227 ful purposes and inventions, which would otherwise probably escape the notice and attention of others, as the original discovery might have done had it been sought after with less enthusiasm by the writer. The granting of licenses to others has been attended with much harm, as well as many advantages, in bringing the manufacture into notice. A great number of establishments, with means to operate, have accomplished much more in a practical way, within the time, than one individual with limited means could have done ; but on the other hand there was danger that the reputation of the invention would suffer from so many persons, unacquainted with the manufacture, being engaged in bringing it forward. Thus it has suffered much harm in various ways, and oftentimes the credit of the invention has suffered from a wrong or defective mechanical construction of the articles, when the quality of the materials were otherwise good. Articles of various sorts have been very imperfectly vulcanized, (many of which were made for the Government of the United States,) insomuch that the credit of the discovery, in some places, has been much impaired, or nearly lost for a time, and nothing but its real merit could have sustained it under such disadvantages. These, however, are accidents to which all manufactures, and especially all new manufactures, are liable; for the writer there was no alternative but to intro- duce his inventions by the granting of licenses. On the whole, as the inventor anticipated, the good predominates; the dangers which threatened have passed by, and there are now twenty ex- perienced establishments engaged in the manufacture, where otherwise there would have been but one. By pursuing this course the inventor has been enabled to devote himself to per- fecting the processes, inventions, and fabrics appertaining to the discovery. In the further prosecution of his plans, a serious obstacle was presented by the conflicting of his views with those of his asso- ciates, as well as his counsel. In the attempt to prosecute any enterprise, where there is a want of facilities for carrying it on, and especially an untried f AAO; 228 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. enterprise, where there is a want of knowledge with regard to it, no obstacles are more directly calculated to hinder its success, © than those connected with the differences of opinion between the projector of the enterprise and his associates. In this instance, having observed the embarrassments of the inventor in consequence of his protracted experiments, the licen- sees engaged in the manufacture of those branches which were already appreciated, with the determination to avoid, as far as possible, all experiments. ‘This was prudent as related to their pecuniary interests, but was a serious hindrance to the develop- ment of the whole subject. Although the writer had taken the precaution to stipulate with the Naugatuck Company, which was the first company licensed, that they should manufacture the various articles which should be suggested by him for the purpose of developing the applications, and aiding to carry out his plans; the difficulty of making his views to bear upon the minds of others was such, that he was virtually compelled to relinquish the claim he had upon the company to do this. With kind intentions, no doubt, they, together with his other friends, earnestly deprecated his devoting more time or money to experiments, and constantly urged him to turn his attention to obtaining a pecuniary compensation from the branches already established. The articles first manufactured of the new substance by these licensees, were suspenders, shoes, and elastics, with some descrip- tions of clothing. These branches were appreciated and en- gaged in sooner than other equally useful, if not more important uses of gum-elastic ; for the reason that the public had become acquainted with their utility and value, by the previous use of the native gum for these purposes. The manufacture of these articles being found lucrative to the licensees of the inventor, who assumed the business, they pursued it with a laudable enthusiasm. The whole subject, as might be expected, appeared to them to be embraced in those branches in which they were engaged. In their view, and that of ‘the public, the invention was considered as complete, when it u oo 8 NECESSITY OF FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS. 229 answered the purposes to which it was then applied; while the successful application of the substances to these purposes, only gave assurance to the inventor that it was fairly commenced, and that these were but small items in the account of its utility, or the units in the sum of its value. Although, as now fully ap- pears, the importance of those branches was in no degree over- rated by them or the public, yet the proportionate value as relates to the whole invention was over estimated. While the manufacturers were engaged with difficulties which are always to be encountered in rendering a new business pro- ductive, it could not be reasonably expected that they would enter very cordially into the plans of another, which could not be fully explained until they were further advanced, or forego the advantages which were certain to forward the wishes of another, when it was perfectly understood that the projector intended to reserve to himself the control and direction of those projects if they were successful. Consequently, the interests and the views of the inventor and the licensees became almost diametrically opposed to each other. While the licensees were desirous of the inventor’s co-opera- tion in forwarding the branches of the business, which were already developed, and his counsel insisted upon the importance of his devoting his time and services for the defence of his legal claims, he deemed it of the first importance to complete his plan of improvement. It will therefore be readily perceived, that the very success of the discovery, as applied to the few articles that were perfected, presented one chief obstacle to the further development of the subject, and led them into the mistake of attributing the views of the inventor, and his persisting to con- tinue his experiments, to an inveterate propensity for in- venting, and a fondness for new things. He now hopes to be better understood, and to have attributed to him the wish to perform a duty which he felt had been allotted to him, rather than any desire for the unenviable distinction of an inventor. Without assuming any thing, the writer may say that a com- prehensive view of the subject was taken by himself; and, being “Y 930 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. confident that no greater improvement could be made in gum- elastic than was wrought by the heating or vulcanizing, and the acid gas processes; and, as has been stated, relinquishing the idea of becoming a manufacturer, he became the more anxious to make such use of his opportunities as would enable him to complete a system of the inventions in gum-elastic, so that those persons who might in future assume to conduct the manufacture under his improvements, would at least have a field for extending a manufacture, in which they would not be exposed to impediments in their progress from subsequent improvements and patents by others, he having made it an invariable rule thus far, to put them in possession of all subsequent improvements of his own, upon the things licensed, without charge. It has been a prominent object with the writer, to make this manufacture not only one of general utility, but of national in- terest in his own, as well as in foreign countries; and it has always been the intention of the inventor to introduce his im- provements into foreign countries, when completed ; the attempt to introduce them prematurely would have been prejudicial to his interests, and the completion of them in any other sphere than that in which they were commenced, if not impossible, would have been delayed longer than they have been by the hindrances spoken of. There was, therefore, no alternative for the inventor, but to persevere in his course under the disadvan- tages which have been stated. It is believed that the series of improvements in gum-elastic, under consideration, are now so far completed, that when the facts and advantages connected with them are fairly presented and investigated by the public, the attention, skill and capital which is necessary, will be appropriated to them, and that this branch of business will be looked upon as an important and staple branch of industry, in all civilized countries. The adaptation of gum-elastic, and many of the fabrics made of it, to military, maritime and naval purposes, is remarked upon in connection with the description of these articles. That they are of great value for many of these uses, there can be no a... = \ MILITARY AND NAVAL ARTICLES. 231 question ; especially is this the case in those countries where the navies and the armies are large. The nature of the substance makes it peculiarly adapted to those countries where there is the widest field for its appropriate use. Influenced by these consid- erations, the movements of the inventor have been governed in reference to preparing for its introduction into those countries. The applications of a material like this, in all its combinations, to the various articles required for the use of the different de- partments of government, is an object that might well demand the efforts of a lifetime. It is, however, believed that the design of the writer to do this has been so nearly accomplished, that there is no sufficient reason for delaying longer a statement of his views; and also that the series of improvements in vul- canized gum-elastic is so far completed, that his purposes can be satisfactorily explained, and that what remains to be done can be accomplished with much less hindrance than has hereto- fore attended his efforts. The writer is fully aware that reason- able objections may be made to the extension of government patronage, and especially that of a republican government, to particular branches of industry ; and that it is deemed impolitic for governments to manufacture those articles which can be made by private individuals. The objections, however, apply more particularly to those articles which are used in common, both by the government and the people. But it may be said that it has been found expedient for governments themselves to make those articles which are needed only for government pur- poses ; not only such as ships and fire-arms, but also cordage and other equipments, made at their public docks and ship- yards. Upon like grounds it may be urged, that many of the navy, maritime and military articles now made, and proposed to be made of this substance, are of a class demanded specially for government uses, and therefore deserving their attention. If it is admitted that the substance is adapted to a small part only of the equipments, and other articles enumerated under the heads of maritime, naval, and military articles, and also that it is adapted to ships’ sails, mail-bags, life-boats, and the general pur- ay - a ee ee ° ( g ve) -——__—_————_ 232 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. poses for which leather is used, the subject must address itself forcibly to all interested in affairs of government in any country. The articles before enumerated, and also carpeting, tissue, and vegetable leather, being made of raw cotton, in combination with gum-elastic, an additional argument will be presented to the government of the United States, in favor of its use, as connected with the great cotton interests of the South. Individuals of the mercantile classes, finding it more lucrative to follow the demands of the market, are not induced to make experiments for government purposes; and, beside, they have generally less information respecting the wants of govern- ment, than the officers and engineers in its service. A branch of business like this, therefore, is not so likely to be de- veloped for the purposes of government, without its special attention. The writer cannot doubt that after sufficient opportunity for examination of the facts presented, the subject will obtain even from a republican government, that consideration which it so justly merits. There is a portion of this subject in which the writer feels a deep and absorbing interest, and one to which he would be glad to devote himself in the evening of his life, should that be spared beyond its meridian, and also one which he would take delight in as a manufacturer; which is, its philanthropic and humane department, comprising articles for the preservation of life and property. There is danger, even now, notwithstanding all that has been done, that it will be too much neglected, in comparison with other branches of this manufacture, which, although per- haps more immediately available in a pecuniary point of view, are of much less importance. There is great danger that this part of the subject will not be sufficiently understood, and so far appreciated, as to be developed so that the present generation can be benefitted by it, as they otherwise might and should be. That the attention of the reader and the public may be drawn to this particular subject, I have classed all the articles under one head, that appeared to me to be of prominent importance in this A REMARKS RESPECTING UTILITY, ETC. 233 department of the business, in the chapter on “Articles for the preservation of life and property.” The inventor would here appeal to mankind in general, by affirming that there is no real necessity for such constant loss of life and property, by the sea and waters, as annually occurs. A proper investigation and public trial of the articles proposed, by a competent comimission appointed for the purpose, will demonstrate the truth of what is here stated. What! must men continue to be drowned because their fathers were! must treasures continue to go to the bottom of the deep because there are offices where they can be insured! The loss to the world on that account is none the less, and such a state of things in the present age need not, and ought not, to exist. The articles classed as educational, by which the cause of education may be materially advanced, as well as those belong- ing to the medical department, whereby suffering humanity may be relieved in numerous ways, deserve especial notice; and it is to be hoped that at no distant day the public mind will be roused to apprehend the importance of these inventions, and that when duly appreciated, the manufacture will be prosecuted, either by individual or public enterprise, with capital and energies com- mensurate with their importance. Nor is there any good reason to doubt that the manufacture of these classes of goods might be made a source of profit to those engaged in the manufacture, as well as a benefit to mankind. in Ate My are < Seidl sk Me uh a “2 CHAPTER XIII. INVENTIONS AND PATENT LAWS. ‘‘ All things, rare or gross, own one common Father. Truly spake Wisdom, There is nothing new under the sun: We only arrange and combine the ancient elements of all things: Invention is activity of mind, as fire is air in motion. A sharpening of the spiritual sight, to discern hidden aptitudes. From the basket and acanthus, is modeled the graceful capital : The shadowed profile on the wall helpeth the limner to his likeness: The footmarks stamped in clay, lead on the thoughts to printing ; The strange skin garments cast upon the shore suggest another hemisphere : A falling apple taught the sage pervading gravitation ; The Huron is certain of his prey, from tracks upon the grass ; And shrewdness; guessing on the hint, followeth on the trail: But the hint must be given, the trail must be there, or the keenest sight is as blindness.” PROVERBIAL PHILOSOPHY. Ir is no easy matter either to ascertain or define what it is that constitutes an invention, or makes one an inventor, either in the eyes of the law or in fact. The law requires that in order that an individual shall be entitled to a patent, the thing discov- ered must be both new and useful. It is extremely difficult to determine what constitutes novelty, and also difficult to determine what is useful, before the invention has been sub- mitted to the test of time and experience; as regards novelty, all that man can do is to form new combinations, and make new applications of substances and things that are old. It is a mistaken idea with many, that the invention of an improve- ment consists in the first vague idea of it. It takes far more than that to entitle one to the merit of an invention, for, between the bare conception of an idea, and the demonstration of the practicability and utility of the thing conceived, there is almost GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. always a vast amount of labor to be performed, time and money to be spent, and innumerable difficulties and prejudices to be encountered, before the work is accomplished ; so that an in- dividual who performs all that is necessary in these ways to bring an improvement to the notice of the public, and causes them to appreciate and understand it, by dint of perseverance, is on the whole in some countries considered the author of the invention, even though the first idea did not originate with him. It is worthy of remark, that the greatest discoveries usually afford their authors less remuneration than is obtained by others for trivial inventions. ‘The more important the inven- tion, and the more it interferes with previously existing modes of industry, the more are the public interested to dispute the claims, and infringe upon the rights of the inventor. It is often repeated that “necessity is the mother of invention.” It may with equal truth be said, that inventors are the children of misfortune and want; probably no class of the community, in any country, receive a smaller compensation for their labors than do inventors. A volume might be written in explanation of the peculiar difficulties and embarrassments to which they are subject, but the whole may be summed up in few words—as a general rule their labors begin, continue, and end in “ necessity.” Their hard fortune often calls forth the expression of pity and compassion from the public; while at the same time, there are too many ever ready to encroach upon their inventions, without their knowledge or consent. However valuable and important an improvement may be, it seldom happens that the rightful owners are benefited by it. There is, however, in such cases, one alleviating and consoling reflection to well-disciplined minds, which is this; success has crowned their efforts to do that which they attempted, and they can leave the world better off for their having lived in it. As with other classes of men, the case of one inventor will apply, with some variations, to the whole; he is impelled by a wish to gratify his inclinations, or driven by necessity to cast about him for some occupation to improve his condition, and fancies he has power of invention, and opportuni- INVENTIONS. 237 ties whereby he may open for himself a new field of action; and that, having accomplished his object, he will be guarantied by a patent, the exclusive enjoyment of his newly acquired property. In most cases, he knows but little of what he has to encounter, or the uncertainty of his reward. The thing he attempts may be foreign to his occupation, and he is obliged to resort to the mechanic or machinist, to obtain as he can, various parts of the thing he wishes to make; he usually finds it the most difficult thing of all tasks, to persuade other mechanics to do that for him which is novel to them, or of which they do not perceive the utility, and which they will most likely not perceive, if it is a labor-saving machine, or an improvement in their line of business. Oftentimes the plan is ever so well conceived, and the inventor and those he has called to his aid, have done their best in the execution of their work ; it even then happens that the invention is a failure in the estimation of others, for the want of proper selection of materials, or from defect or oversight in its construction. Defeat only confirms him in his convictions that he is right, and he renews his attempts until success attends him, and he sees the machine which he has always seen to work in his “mind’s eye,’ working to the admiration of himself and others. Hope revives, and for a time the satisfaction derived from the work is a full equivalent for the suffering he has endured. The individual has judged rightly as to his powers of invention, but he has little idea how much remains to be done to make the invention productive of profit; he has probably exhausted his own resources, and the resources and patience of his friends in completing his improvements; he has not the means to conduct the manufacture of his article, and without this he cannot so demonstrate the utility of his improvement, as to derive the ad- vantage from it he expected. He takes the precaution to pro- cure letters patent for his invention, which he counts as property, but which amounts chiefly to this, that the government grants him permission to fight his own battles. Next comes the Her- culean task of convincing the public of the advantages of the improvement, and the yet more difficult one of supplying the A 238 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. market with the improvement himself, and of preventing others from doing it by encroaching on his patent. If his object is to derive a profit by disposing of his patents for his inventions, it is well known that patents are so commonly evaded in some way, and that the patent law is so ineffectual for their protection, that the public will not value them highly, if at all; nor can they be expected to do so, for in too many cases the purchase of a patent is only equivalent to the purchase of a law-suit. If it be a dis- covery of unlimited importance and universal application, a thing of necessity in the community, the danger of the inventors losing the invention is increased in proportion to its utility and importance. There will be found persons in every community, unprincipled, and irresponsible enough to pirate the invention, especially if they can make some slight alteration and evasion of it. The community, especially at a distance, cannot always be expected to understand the merits of the case, or if they do, since competition gives them the thing they want at less cost, are apt to encourage encroachments for that reason: The thing, say they, is so simple that any one could have thought of it, and no one is entitled to the monopoly of thought. It would be far better reasoning, and certainly more just, to say that the inventor should be rewarded on that very account; because his improve- ment is simple, and therefore practicable; because he has avoided the great error in most attempts at improvements, that of complication and mystery. Such is the inadequate security afforded to inventors for their rights, under the present patent laws, that unless the public are permitted, on reasonable terms, to participate in the advantages of an improvement, and above all, if it is one that brings about a great change in pre-existing manufactures, they will break into it, urging that no one has a right to supersede and thereby stop the progress of others, in their legitimate business, either by labor-saving machinery or other improvements. This reasoning is the more likely to be made use of, if the inventor is considered an innovator from another line of business. Every one is familiar with the feelings of operatives, when they are deprived oo INVENTIONS. 239 of employment by improved machinery, and it must be con- fessed there are cases of this kind, attended with evils enough, almost, to raise a question in the mind of the inventor himself, as to the benefit he confers on mankind. The objectors are commonly not aware that changes of this sort are brought about so slowly, as to affect the immediate occupants of a branch of business much less than is usually sup- posed. Poverty generally compels the inventor to part with a large interest in his invention, and then arises another great diffi- culty with regard to his patent, because the real property in an invention is not transferable ; for while the art, in relation to its manufacture, is yet new, its chief value lies in the skill, knowl- edge, or reputation of the inventor; and unless the purchaser and inventor can subsequently harmonize, the patent is usually of but little value, either to the purchaser or to the inventor. Another difficulty, as between capitalists and inventors, with- out regard to the men, is attributable to the nature of the business. The capitalist is often as incapable of managing an improvement, as the inventor is ignorant of mercantile busi- ness or practical operations, and these circumstances often render it impossible for the two classes to think alike, or harmonize together. If the inventor has parted with a considerable interest in his invention, another serious difficulty immediately arises to prevent the parties realizing pecuniary profits from the patent. The public are apt to regard the purchaser of an interest in a patent, as a speculator, destitute of those equitable claims upon the public which they might concede to the inventor if alone; overlooking the material fact that the inventor has sold, and the purchaser has bought, a share in the original, equitable, as well as merely legal, business claims of the inventor. The public conscience is thus hardened, and the community, in the case of patents, wit- nesses with coldness and indifference, infringements of vested rights, such as would, in other cases, rouse its warmest indigna- tion; and thus the inventor is deprived of the protection afforded 2g : Vs 240 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. by those social barriers with which the sympathy and moral feeling of the community surround other rights of property. The history of inventions as well as authors, with few ex- ceptions, proves that whoever attempts by inventions to im- prove the condition of others, usually impairs his own, except so far as he may add to his happiness, from the satisfaction of having done good to others. A biographical collection of the lives of distinguished inventors, would afford interesting, but sad materials for the pen of an author. Among the unsuccessful, no case is calculated more to excite our sympathies than that of John Fitch, although his experiments should in no way detract from the merit of Fulton, his successor. Yet in the recollection of his sad fate, who can but wish that he might have lived to share in Fulton’s success. Among the records of successful inventors who have made their improvements under the greatest embar- rassments, and almost unparalleled discouragements, no one is more exciting than the well authenticated, though brief history of Paisley, the inventor of the methods of cementing porcelain. The case of Whitney, although not one of pecuniary privation, will afford a striking instance of inadequate compensation, com- pared with the magnitude of the results of his discovery, and the benefits conferred upon mankind. i“ Sa PATENTS AND PATENT LAWS. 24] PATENTS AND PATENT LAWS. “Hisrory informs us that from time immemorial it has been the custom of monarchs possessed of absolute power, to grant monopolies of certain branches of trade. The abuse of this privilege, by reason of grants to favorites or unworthy persons, added to considerations arising from the intrinsic inconvenience . and impolicy of such limitations of trade and industry, has ren- dered monopolies odious throughout the civilized world, and has led to the gradual diminution and final abolition of the custom wherever constitutions and equitable laws have prevailed. ” “Patents for inventions are frequently, but erroneously, con- founded with monopolies. A monopoly is a grant of an exclu- sive right to buy, sell or trade, in some previously existing branch of human industry. It is unjust and odious, because it takes away from the public, rights which they had, before such exclu- sive grant or monopoly existed. A patent is a temporary exclu- sive right granted to an inventor, to manufacture, use and vend his inventions, provided that he will first deposit in a public office a full and faithful description of every thing claimed by him as his invention. It is not liable to the accusation of injustice, because zt does not take away from the public any right which the public possessed before, for it is evident that no such right could be claimed as part of an invention. Herein consists the essential difference between a monopoly and a patent; a monop- oly deprives the public of previously existing rights, a patent purchases for the public new rights which it did not possess before, for a patent is a contract of purchase between the public and an inventor; the consideration given by the inventor is a full and faithful description of his, before secret, property or invention, with the public right to use it after a certain limited time ; the consideration given by the public is an exclusive right to the inventor to use his invention for a limited time as a SB \ a 242 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. compensation for giving a full and faithful description of his invention, so that it may be enjoyed freely, by the public, after the expiration of that limited time. - “The letters patent are granted upon the condition that the thing patented shall be new and useful. This puts the burden of the proof of novelty upon the inventor, and the expense attendant upon the production of the necessary evidence in a court of law, commonly renders the patent of little value to the inventor.” The imperfections and abuses, as well as the difficulties of administering the patent laws of most countries, so as to do jus- tice to inventors, without doing injustice to the public, is a sub- ject not sufficiently considered. The patent law is designed to reward the inventor or discoverer of an improvement by giving to him an exclusive temporary right to manufacture and sell all articles made according to the principles of his invention. The legislators who formed the laws, presumed that if the thing im- proved were a good one, it would always be patronized and paid for by the public, according to its merits; and that, therefore, by granting a patent, the laws themselves would give to the inventor the most equitable compensation for his labors. But the reverse of what was intended commonly happens. The law guaranties to the inventor the exclusive right to manufacture, use and vend his improvements ; which is the very thing, perhaps, that he has neither the means, the capacity, nor the inclination to do; and if he had all these in order to enjoy the apparent privilege, he is obliged to prove his title suc- cessively, in every judicial district, by a tedious course of law, against every infringer who chooses to challenge him by tres- passing upon his patents, and who frequently, if not generally, derives the very means necessary to sustain litigation from the profits of infringement, thus, as it were, at the outset, unfairly : disarming the inventor and fighting him with his own weapons ! This is, to the inventor, a grievous hardship and wrong, and has no parallel in any other species of property. Possession of the field, and right to work in it, are given by law to the infringer, ——E a \, PATENTS AND PATENT LAWS. 243 the adverse claimant, the prima facie trespasser! Is not this a perversion of the natural order of justice? Ought not the inventor, who has received a patent only after severe adverse examination of his claims, by the patent office ; to be secured in his exclusive right until his patent shall have been legally set aside, and declared null and void? The English patent laws grant a patent to the man who first introduces or publishes the invention in England, without regard to the claims of the real inventor. This obliges the inventor to proceed with a great deal of secrecy in all his experiments, to avoid the danger of losing the invention by piracy; and often- times the law operates harshly, especially upon inventors in other countries, who desire to secure patents in England ; but it makes a patent more valuable when obtained, and it enables the court to make decisions according to law, in which respect the English patent laws have unquestionably an advantage over those of the United States; for in general it is much easier to decide who first made a thing public, than who first conceived it, and performed the work necessary to constitute an invention. For some years past a bill has been before Congress for the amendment of our patent laws, and it is to be hoped that ere long they will be so improved as to protect inventors more than they do at present, and give to their hardly earned rights a definiteness and security which are at present enjoyed by the more tangible forms of property. Here are presented to the reader some just and forcible remarks of the Commissioner of Patents, Edmund Burke, Esq., upon the patent laws of the United States, found in his reports to Congress for the year 184-. “Tn my former reports I have recommended a change in some of the features of the patent law as it now exists. For the nature of those recommendations, and the reasons on which they are founded, I would respectfully refer to the annual reports of this office for 1845 and 1846. In my judgment, the changes proposed are necessary to give adequate security to that valua- ble and meritorious class of our citizens engaged in inventive c% 7 ~ pursuits. As the law now is, the remedies which it affords to patentees are, in most cases, inadequate to the protection of their rights, and the prevention of infringement upon them by 244 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. that unscrupulous and unprincipled class of persons who make it a practice willfully to depredate upon patent-rights, and who, from the basely criminal character of the offence which they commit, are stigmatized by the appellation of the infa- mous epithet of pirate. Certainly, adequate protection should be given to the honest inventor who devotes his-substance, and his incessant toil for the benefit of society, against the freeboot- ers who invade, without scruple, his property, which, to him, is more sacred and invaluable, because it is the cherished creation of his own genius. But while his exclusive property in his invention exists, it must be conceded that the inventor has a right to demand of the government the most ample security and protection in its enjoyment. ‘This security and protection he does not, under our present imperfect system, enjoy. On the contrary, the difficulty and expense, and the absolute impossibil- ity, in some cases, of vindicating his rights, have rendered the present laws enacted for his protection, almost absolute nullities. To remedy this imperfection in the existing system, is the object of the amendments of the patent laws, proposed in the two former reports of the undersigned. “Tt seems unnecessary to remark upon the incalculable value of the labors of the inventor, and his claims upon society for protection in the enjoyment of his just rights. And sooner or later, the undersigned is confident they will be fully recognized and protected by the enlightened legislators of a great Republic, whose progress has been so much accelerated by their genius and enterprise.” The writer of these pages has not the presumption to present any plan of legislative action as a remedy for the evils which are universally admitted to exist under the present patent laws. The matter demands and deserves the serious consideration of the most experienced and able legislators. Is this subject too difficult for the human intellect to master, or for society to settle ee Sami QP 7 ¢ PATENTS AND PATENT LAWS. 24a upon an equitable basis? Can not a system be devised, which shall, on the one hand, interfere to the least possible extent with liberty of public industry, and shall, on the other, secure to the inventor a fair reward out of the fruits of his labors ? If, as must be admitted by all, the difficulties are so many in the way of securing to inventors their legal rights, and if the expense and perplexity of defending patents is greater than the advantages conferred by them, and if the author of the inven- tions treated of in this work is aware of all this, the question may be asked, why has he availed himself of the patent laws to secure his inventions? A satisfactory reason, it is believed, has before been given, which is, that during the progress of his experiments he received pecuniary aid from others, stipulating with them that they might avail themselves of a portion of such advantages as might be derived by obtaining patents for these inventions. The protection which is afforded by letters patent to important inventions unquestionably is far better than none at all. When any important discovery is made and patented, em- bracing numerous inventions, and when the subsequent im- provements which render the discovery completely successful are patented by the same inventor, as in the case of vulcanized gum-elastic, such patents, if they do not guarantee a complete monopoly of any particular branch of business, give to the patentee the right of action against infringements, and it would be unsafe for the capitalist to engage in the same business while this right of action was in the hands of others. Besides there is at least a satisfaction in holding a just claim to a discovery under the present patent laws, uncertain as they are, in hopes that they may be made better, even if they are trespassed upon with impunity to a limited extent. Although the penalty of violating a patent is not so certain of infliction as to prevent unprincipled or irresponsible persons from pirating an invention, yet the liability to prosecution is such that men of capital and character will not be tempted by the profits of a business, to engage in it, to contend with others possessed of capital, who are the owners or licensees of a 246 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. patented invention. There is therefore much in favor of those whose business is made in any good degree exclusive by a valid é patent, and little hope of success in the same business for those who infringe upon or attempt to break the patent. If the object of the infringer is to break down a patent, he commonly finds it a fruitless undertaking, for if he succeeds in doing that, he does not thereby gain any exclusive advantage for himself, but he breaks the patent at his own expense, and throws it open for the benefit of the public at large. Such a policy is obviously short-sighted ; for, to say nothing of the injustice of the course as relates to the inventor, or those who honorably and fairly purchase of him, it is not the best course for the individual desiring to possess himself of the same advantages, or to participate in an improvement. It is far cheaper for any one engaging in a new business to pay to the patentee a fair consideration for a license, and to have fairly imparted the knowledge which the experience of the inventor has necessarily given him, rather than attempt to gain the same information by experiment and usurpation. QO ‘ 7, \j THE APPLICATIONS AND USES OF VULCANIZED GUM-ELASTIC; WITH DESCRIPTIONS AND DIRECTIONS FOR MANUFACTURING PURPOSES. BY CHARLES GOODYEAR. MOM LL: NEW HAVEN: PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHOR. 1853. a oe. CON TiN Se WO ie IU APPLICATIONS Of heated or vulcanized gum-elastic. Its usefulness and variety. Novelty and peculiarity of con- struction, and the necessity of detailed descriptions. Extent of application. The words India rubber, gum-elastic, caoutchouc, synonymous throughout this Work.............see008 page 19 CHAPTER I. EDUCATIONAL. Bound paper. Art of book-binding. Book-binding, or covering. Outline maps. Maps. Em- bossed maps. Illuminated maps. Framed maps. Charts. Globes. Outline globes. Sectional globes. Incompressible globes. Blank globes. Embossed globes. Illuminated globes. Self- inflating globes. Black and white-board. Slate and memorandum paper. Slate and pen-wiper. Inkstands. Improved inkstands. Inkstand packing. Artists’ India rubber. Pencil-heads. Rules. Portfolios. Desk covering. Map carpets. Pens. Pencils and crayons.......... p. 25 CHAPTER II. CARPETINGS, TENTS, AND AWNINGS. Carpetings. Floor-cloths. Mosaic carpeting. Sponge carpet. Crumb-cloths. Tent carpets. Mentseesmelentents) Lentiiy. Awnings) Rooting. ceccisenecccescecetecceeceace p. 45 CHAPTER IIl. COVERINGS AND SPREADS. Wall coverings. Table spreads. Piano-forte covers. Box covering. Trunk covering. Um- brella cloths. Bellows coverings. Instrument covers. Matresscovers. Coffee, grain, and fruit covers. Hay rick covers. Storm hat covers. Jar covers. Phial mouth covers. Baggage covers. Desk coverings. Bedspreads. Bed covering and ticking.............+eseseeee p. 53 CHAPTER IY. HOUSE, SHIP, AND CAMP WARE AND UTENSILS. Clothes brushes. Portable brushes. Scrubs. Hand scrubs. Covered bottles and phials. Covered demijohns. Wash-boards. Sieves. Screens. Tunnels. Bellows. Ice-water tanks. Wood carriers. Muff bags. Muff boxes. Door mats. Table mats. Coffee-pot and urn 8 CONTENTS. Strainers. Pans and dishes. Tea and coffee sets. Improved preserve jars. Flower-pots and vases. Flower sacks. Ewer and wash bowls. Pitchers and tumblers. Water buckets. Portable water buckets. Fire buckets. Portable fire buckets. Wash tubs. Portable wash tubs. Baskets. Portable baskets. Dish baskets. Market and fish baskets. Coal hods. Table cutlery. Pocket cutlery. Furniture. Improved brushes. Elastic brushes. Paste bag. page61 CHAPTER VY. MECHANICAL. Machine belting. Well ropes. Deckel straps. Elevators. Cane elevators. Printing tympans. Printers’ rolls. Compressing apparatus. Preserving apparatus. Improved portable preserving apparatus. Steelyardsand scales. Bakers’ belting. Printing aprons. Match dies. Windmill sails. Thimbles. Sail-makers’ thimbles. Stereotype plates. Stereotype moulds. Tool HAGE Se reretetsinlatelstsleteleisiekeveisishaieistilolsielaleleleicrerc cletciersietsiveteletetelcletstetereetctereieieteteis ateleteleteteitetete riot p. 79 CHAPTER VI. PACKING, SHEATHING, AND CAULKING. Sheathing. Caulking. Engine packing. Box packing. Door packing. Window packing. p. 89 CHAPTER VII. VALVES AND STOPS. Self-acting valve tube. Pump valves. Chain pump valves. Faucet stops. Engine and bellows valves. Bagclasp. Bag vise stop. Bag slide fastening. Corks. Phialand bottlecorks. Ex- pansive cork, Soda fount corks. Jar corks. Demijohn corks. Inflating corks. Improved Seremastopper.y, LunprovedivalvelstOpp ets ieiclsieicialclinielefelslolaleleie/a)aiciaiai> sivie/alesielejeieteleleintereiiaetetaiote p. 95 CHAPTER VIII. SPRINGS. Car springs. Carriage and coach springs. Buffers. Cart and truck springs. Wagon seat and rail chair springs. Whale springs. Door springs. Improved door springs. Lock springs. Gun Jock springs. Stirrup springs. Umbrella springs. Elastic bands, Elastic ties. Improved hose ties. Girth springs. Hinge springs, or spring hinges. Elastic tape. Glove springs. Shoe springs. Improved shoe springs. Vest springs. Corset and stay springs. Truss and belt SPLINES pe atia nd Gap ySPuUOes cers\ole)-1)clolere.=1s1e\e/ete|steieieelolals sinisialeta\n'siciels elciniiestercleeialeeeeeee p. 107 CHAPTER IX. HYDRAULIC. Engine hose. Hydraulic presses. Force pumps. Water wheels. Suctionhose. Improved spiral hose. Connecting hose. Hydrant hose. Faucets. Reservoirs. Filters..............-- p. 119 CHAPTER X. MILITARY. Musket covers. Wagon floats. Ambulanche. Powder bags. Provision bags. Pistol holsters. Port-fire cases. Cannoncovers. Sword sheaths. Cartridge boxes. Camp blankets. Cannon CONTENTS. 9 sponge covers. Sword and pistol covers. Military belts. Canteens. Water tanks. Military caps. Blasting cartridges. Budge barrels. Tents and tent carpets. Bandages. Military stocks. Haversacks. Knapsacks. Miners’ knapsacks. Gun and pistol stocks. Air pontoons and pontoon boats. Air pontoons. Pontoon air boats, Air balsor. Air pontoonrafts... page 129 CHAPTER XI. NAVAL AND MARITIME. Ships’ sails. Report of Captain Popham. Second report of Captain Popham. Ship lights. Tar- paulins Ships’ water tanks. Hammocks. Tompion. Signal balls. Camels, or vessels’ lighters. Submarine armor. Ships’ lefter bags. Bread bags. Sailors’ bags. Budge barrel. Fenders. Navy belts. Sheaths. South-westers. Tarpaulin hats. Deck scrubs. Gun recoil springs. Shot plug. Life buoy. Harbor buoy. Anchor buoy. Whale buoy. Anglers’ floats. Decoys. Seine floats. Sheathing and caulking materials. Bathing tubs. Ships’ buckets. Ships’ ware and utensils. Seamens’ wearing apparel. Improved hatch. Boats. Whale-boats, yawls, jolly-boats, and row-boats. Long-boats. Club-boats and race-boats. Life boats. Ballast CHAPTER XII. MEDICAL AND SURGICAL. Bandages. Hospital air beds. Hospital water bed. Improved water beds. Hospital sheets. Dissecting gloves. Dissecting aprons. Finger ends, or cots. Crutches. Russian belts. Abdominal supporters. Trusses. Ear trumpets. Varicose stockings. Nipple shields. Breast pump. Nursing bottles. Poulticing socks. Urine bags. Gonorrhea bags. Bed-pans. Pes- sary. Syringes. Bellows syringes. Self-acting syringes. Invalids’ cushion. Ventilated wafer-beds. ‘Stethescopes. Hot-wateribottless 5 .c-ceccss oc «cc ssiocee see icccicdeccieles p. 165 CHAPTER XIII. PHILOSOPHICAL, OPTICAL, AND MATHEMATICAL INSTRUMENTS. Thermometer frames and scales. Telescopes. Gas bags. Gasometers. Hydrostatic bellows. Opera glass cases. Quadrants. Barometers and chronometers. Water levels. Squares and bevels, curves, triangles, and parallel rules. Reel measures. Leveling rods. Dry measures. Wine measures. Scalesand rules. Instrument cases. Instrument handles............. p. 175 CHAPTER XIV, MUSICAL. Fife. Flute. Clarionet. Clarionet reeds. Piano-fortes. Instrument key stops. Organs. Ac- cordions. Bag-pipes. Music boxes. Bass viols and violins. Drums...... Bierererelsleleietctelete p. 181 CHAPTER XY. GYMNASTICS AND CALISTHENICS. Gymnastic ropes. Jump ropes. Inflated bat-club. Chest expanders. Baby jumpers. Swings. Axi alids? jumpers cateriecteteleieicie rs seasinta leieleaistetorctetateleheieie et ehetele einige alatavera ove csieioveterels abocond. p. 185 <6) 10 CONTENTS. CHAPTER XVI. TOYS AND TRIELES. Dolls. Magnetic toys. Quadrupeds and birds. Air hoops. Rattle-boxes. Cross-bows. Toy guns. Teething rings. Battle-door. Picture books. Kites. Whistles. Needle cases. Watch guards. Shawl pins. Hairclasps. Bat and parlor balls. Hair loop. Churches and cottages. Wehicles; | Boats, sHardicompounditoyseeenceceeseereeeeeeeereeeeee eter eee Eeeeree page 191 CHAPTER XVII. SPORTS AND GAMES. Footballs. Parlor balls. Bat and wicket balls. Boxing gloves. Boxing jackets. Ten-pins. Billiard cushions. Billiard balls. Improved skates. Skate trimmings. Skatingcaps. Skating jackets.) yBackgammo ny boards.