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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-WORK. 



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, w^hen 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 



