REPORT OF THE SECRETARY: NATIONAL MUSEUM 123 



specimens of fancy weave cotton and rayon fabrics. The Celanese 

 Corporation of America contributed a new series of examples of piece- 

 dyed dress materials to replace the specimens presented last year. 

 To the Flatau Fabrics Corporation the Museum is indebted for ex- 

 amples of warp-printed, novelty silk crepe fabrics, finished by a 

 special process to give the material a sandy feel when handled. The 

 cooperation of Sidney Blumenthal & Co. was continued by the gift 

 of specimens of upholstery and drapery pile fabrics, cloaking and 

 velvet dress fabrics, and a printed velour bathmat, these to replace 

 some of the specimens contributed by this firm during the past 19 

 years. 



The Armstrong Cork Co. presented a full series showing the manu- 

 facture of linoleum and suggestions for the interior decoration of differ- 

 ent types of rooms; the Standard Textile Products Co. specimens 

 illustrating the manufacture of wall and table oilcloth and uses to 

 which these materials may be put; and M. J. Whittall Associates a 

 series of specimens illustrating the manufacture of wool carpet yarns. 

 The Universal Winding Co. sent examples of windings of bare and 

 insulated wires for electrical purposes, w'hich had been w^ound on 

 winders of different types. 



Through the courtesy of T. A. Keleher, a live exhibit of about 300 

 half-grow^n silkworms was set up in the textile hall. They w^ere placed 

 on shelves in a special glass case, where they were fed fresh mulberry 

 leaves every few hours until the cocoons were spun, the first week of 

 June. 



Specimens of new rubber products and a liistorical series illus- 

 trating the development of rubber pneumatic tires from 1904 to the 

 present time were contributed by the B. F. Goodrich Rubber Co. 

 The United Shoe Machinery Corporation added to its exhibit a new 

 series showing a recently perfected shoemaldng method. 



For the collections pertaining to agricultural history were received 

 three models of the Cyrus Hall McCormick grain reaper constructed, 

 one eighth size, according to the specifications of United States 

 Patents Nos. 3895 and 5335, issued June 21, 1834, January 31, 1845, 

 and October 23, 1847. The first w^as the gift of Secretary Abbot; the 

 others of the McCormick Historical Association, which also presented 

 three groups of documents, one relating to the development of two 

 hillside plows, patented by Cyrus Hall McCormick in 1831 and 

 1833 ; one to the development of the reaper by Cyrus Hall McCormick ; 

 and one to a threshing machine invented by Robert McCormick in 

 1834. 



An interesting specimen was received from Miss Anna Tiede in 

 the form of a blank book of veneer cut from western white pine. 

 The sheets were cut with a slicing knife, but, ingeniously, were not 

 cut_entirely through, just enough wood being left at the back to bind 

 them. The sheets are not glued at any point. 



