SODA FOUNT CORKS. 101 



to which they are attached, corks of this kind may be considered 

 cheap and economical, although their first cost is more than 

 other corks ; and certainly so if they preserve the contents of the 

 bottle in cases where they would otherwise be lost by the use of 

 defective corks. In a cheap bottle, these corks may be said to 

 answer all the purposes of an expensive bottle and ground 

 stopper. 



The query is here proposed, whether it is more economical in 

 the corking even of cheap liquids, beer, soda, cider, &c., to use 

 in the course of a season one hundred cheap corks for one bottle, 

 or one good cork attached to the bottle one hundred times. 



The deterioration of liquors and other articles from defective 

 corks, is a thing of constant occurrence, in particular after the 

 cork has been once drawn by a cork-screw. It is confidently 

 expected that gum-elastic will prove an effective remedy for 

 this evil. 



EXPANSIVE CORK. 



This cork is made of gum-elastic compound, with a screw of 

 metal or caoutchouc whalebone passing through it. Turning 

 the screw compresses and enlarges the cork, and makes it fast ; 

 reversing the screw allows it to be drawn : see plate , fig . 

 This cork is the invention of another. 



SODA FOUNT CORKS. 



These are made in general like phial corks before described, 

 with the exception of a hole passing them, for the purpose of 

 allowing them to be screwed to the fountain fixtures. 



They are found to answer the purpose for which they are in- 

 tended completely, and their extra cost is of little account, con- 

 sidering their durability and convenience. 



