192 THE RUBBER INDUSTRY 



porary buildings erected for the treatment of the latex, 

 drying, and smoking. Frequently hand machines were 

 used for creping and for rolling out sheets. In fact, 

 most primitive methods were customary on the great 

 majority of plantations. During the last three years, 

 however, a complete change has occurred, and modern 

 machinery driven by Tangye, Diesel, Hornsby, Black- 

 stone, Crossley, and many other types of engines, has 

 been installed on all estates of any importance. Hither- 

 to many estate managers have preferred to send their 

 latex to a neighbouring factory for treatment ; but, as 

 greater areas of trees begin to yield, it is found more 

 economical and satisfactory to undertake the curing and 

 preparation on the estate than to pay for having the 

 work done outside. On many large estates where the 

 fields are far distant coagulating stations are established, 

 and the latex treated with acid before being sent to the 

 factory. 



The expense of a modern factory is comparatively 

 light apart from the cost of the building. This, as a 

 general rule, is steel-framed, with corrugated iron roof 

 and sides. Concrete floors are laid down, with adequate 

 guttering to allow free drainage for constant sluicing 

 and washing, for cleanliness is regarded as a necessity 

 in the preparation of the latex. On one side of the 

 factory are installed the machines for washing, creping, 

 or rolling sheets, and these are driven from overhead or 

 underneath shafting served by engines of the type 

 already mentioned. The machines most in use are the 

 Shaw or the Bridge patent, and these are of three 

 grades, for the purposes of breaking down the coagu- 

 lated latex, rolling, and finishing. Opposite the machines 



