164 Formation of flexible, Elastic Tubes. 



much better than would commonly be imagined. These 

 strips are wound over the covering of tape, or ferreting 

 above mentioned, in a spiral manner from one end of the 

 coil to the other, and this, in my instance was twice re- 

 peated — care being taken to lay, as far as practicable, the 

 fresh cut surfaces in contact with each other, drawing them 

 so tightly, as to cause them, from their elastic property, to 

 stretch to two, three or four times, their ordinary length. 

 When this was done, another covering of strong tape (lin- 

 en is to be preferred) was laid likewise spirally over, or 

 around the same from end to end — and secured upon it, 

 by very strong twine laid as closely as could be done, and 

 drawn as tightly as the material would permit. The rod 

 of iron was next withdrawn — the recently formed hose was 

 then so far bent into a circular form as to be received into 

 a vessel of water in which it was boiled for an hour or two, 

 when it was taken out, the external covering taken off, and 

 the internal wire and tape withdrawn. 



This latter operation, at first gave me some trouble, in 

 consequence of the stiffness of the wire — but, in preparing 

 other tubes of the kind, this difficulty was overcome by an- 

 nealing the wire, previous to commencing operations. 



In the course of my little practice in pursuit of this ob- 

 ject, I found that if the hose so prepared, be, for any purpose 

 subjected to a second boiling, it has the effect of reducing 

 the size of the hose considerably, so that if this second 

 boiling be even intended, though I know of no reason to 

 desire it unless it be to unite two pieces of hose together, 

 this circumstance should be taken into the account. 



I know very well that hose or tubes, of this material, 

 made upon glass or metal rods, are stated to have been fab- 

 ricated — yet as I was unable to succeed in that way in spe- 

 cimens exceeding four inches in length, I concluded, that 

 where twice or thrice that number of feet were wanted, 

 the method was impracticable, and therefore pursued the 

 one I have detailed. It resulted in a hose, perfectly elas- 

 tic, as you may well conceive, and though not very elegant 

 on its exterior, yet very light, and perfectly impervious to 

 the gases it conducts to the blow-pipe to which it is at- 

 tached.* I am. Sir, yours, <&ic. 



THOS. SKIDMORE. 



* Note — A specimen of the tube is in our possession, and perfectly an- 

 swers the description. — [Ed.] 



