BRAIDED CORD. 209 



ELASTIC CORD. 



The art of cutting the native gum into threads, was first prac- 

 ticed in Europe, where machinery was invented for the purpose. 

 The native gum bottles were pressed out to a flat surface, and 

 threads were cut from the circular pieces. Beside being used 

 for the manufacture of braided and wound cord, these threads 

 were also used without covering, as a warp for making woolen 

 and cotton stuffs elastic. It can, however, answer the latter 

 purpose very imperfectly, compared with its use for the small arti- 

 cles that are less exposed to perspiration. It is well known that 

 thread of native gum, such as here alluded to, soon loses its 

 elasticity when exposed to perspiration, and also by long contin- 

 used tension ; which difficulties are obviated in the heated or 

 vulcanized thread. The threads of vulcanized gum-elastic are 

 cut with machinery very different from that used for the native 

 gum, as represented in No. . They are cut from sheets of 

 about a yard in width, of any thickness or length desired. This 

 thread answers all the purposes for which that of the native gum 

 was used, and many others for which the native gum does not 

 answer at all. 



When spun and twisted in a green or unheated state, before 

 being vulcanized, this cord makes a very superior and durable 

 article for fringes, tassels, &c. It will, for such purposes, pos- 

 sess the advantage over common stuffs, of durability, and not 

 being liable to soil. It is also sometimes used for covering 

 small phials and bottles, instead of vellum cord. 



BRAIDED CORD. 



The manufacture of elastic cord covered with cotton and silk 

 thread, was established in France and England long before it 



B i?c 



