210 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. 



was attempted in America. It has been successfully prosecuted 

 in those countries, where various useful articles have also been 

 made and continue to be made from the native gum 



The objections to the native gum do not apply to these goods 

 with the same force as to articles in which the gum is not cov- 

 ered, because, as in the case of the Mcintosh goods, the gum is 

 protected from destructive agents by the various fabrics with 

 which it is covered ; the improvement of the vulcanized gum- 

 elastic is therefore not so indispensable to them as to the other 

 goods. 



The method of manufacturing, is to wind or braid over the 

 gum after it is cut into thread, with silk or cotton, by which 

 bounds are set to its elasticity, and greater strength given to it 

 at the point of its greatest tension. This is done by machinery 

 such as has been long used for braiding whips, &c. This braid 

 is ingeniously applied to the manufacture of braces, and of many 

 small but useful articles, such as watch-guards, shawl pins, um- 

 brella ties, &c. 



ELASTIC CORDAGE 



Is made of elastic compound. On account of the great diffi- 

 culty, if not the utter impossibility of splicing or securing it by 

 any fastening after it is vulcanized, it is necessary that it should 

 be made up at the manufactories, into the articles for which it 

 is used, with the fastenings attached. It might, therefore, be 

 treated of as a heavier description of spring, with equal propri- 

 ety as cordage. 



This cordage is designed to be used in connection with hemp 

 ropes or cables, to ease off the strain which would otherwise 

 come upon them too suddenly. For further explanation see 

 diagram, Vol. II., page 



