Dec. 1, 1864.] THE TECHNOLOGIST. 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 215 



making shoes — one set of workmen cut the work out and another 

 sew them. The cutting-out with economy requires great skill ; from 

 two to six dozen pairs constitute a day's work. The remnants from 

 cutting the body of the gloves are used for the thumbs and smaller 

 pieces. 



The sewers are generally females in the country adjacent to the 

 factories ; the prices paid per day for sewing varies with the quality, 

 the finest work being the best paid. The price of gloves is very much 

 higher than formerly, as all the raw materials that enter into the manu- 

 facture are much enhanced in price. Many gloves are made of cloths 

 of various kinds, or woven or knit. 



The manufacturers are numerous, and carry on the business on a 

 large scale, in some instances to the amount of 500,000 dols., or even 

 more annually. Investments are large in material, but they calculate 

 to " turn" them and realize within almost eighteen months, sometimes 

 twice in the year. The works are run constantly, with the exception 

 of about two weeks at the New Year, when all the scattered stock and 

 material are called in, inventories taken, and the business adjusted for 

 another year. 



Fur Gloves. — A variety of fur gloves is made in this country. 

 Nearly all manufacturing furriers make them. Gloves are sometimes 

 made with the inner portion or palm of kid or dog skin, and the back 

 of fur. They are lined with flannel or an inferior quality of fur, usually 

 the white squirrel or coney, and are well adapted to use in winter 

 travelling for driving, &c. As they are easily made from the small pieces 

 of fur left in cutting larger articles, they are very profitable to the 

 manufacturer. The sewing of these, as of most kinds of gloves, is done 

 by women, and gives employment to a large number. 



India-rubber Gloves. — A large number of india-rubber gloves are 

 made in this country under Goodyear's patent. They are manufactured 

 principally at Naugatuck, Connecticut. The heavy rubber gloves and 

 mittens are intended for the use of manufacturing chemists, druggists, 

 and photographers, or all who work among acids, alkalies, and other 

 caustic materials. The rubber is not affected by these articles, and 

 effectually protects the hands. They are also adapted to the use of fire- 

 men, hatters, tanners, lumbermen, and a variety of mechanics. They 

 are useful to dyers, and to those whose avocations expose them to 

 storms. These heavy gloves are made of solid rubber, as the india- 

 rubber overshoes were formerly. 



The first process in the manufacture is to heat slightly a mass of the 

 gum, called a " batch," which in this state is passed between revolving 

 cylinders and becomes a fiat sheet of the required size. From this sheet 

 the gloves and mittens are cut by gouges similar to those employed in 

 the cutting of leather gloves. They are then joined by placing the edges 

 in contact, and covering them with strips of heated rubber. 



The lighter styles of rubber-gloves are made thus : a piece of 



