CHAPTER VIII. 



SPRINGS. 



Car springs. Carriage and coach springs. Buffers. Cart and truck springs. Wagon seat ana 

 rail chair springs. Whale springs. Door springs. Improved door springs. Lock springs. 

 Gun lock springs. Stirrup springs. Umbrella springs. Elastic bands. Elastic ties. Improved 

 hose ties. Girth springs. Hinge springs, or spring hinges. Elastic tape. Glove springs. Shoe 

 springs. Improved shoe springs. Vest springs. Corset and stay springs. Truss and belt 

 springs. Hat and cap springs. 



A GREAT variety of springs are made from gum-elastic, 

 many of which it is difficult to make from steel, or any other 

 substance ; and if made, it might be impossible to apply them to 

 some purposes to which the gum-elastic spring is applied without 

 difficulty. 



Applications of this material for springs are constantly in- 

 creasing, but the public are so well acquainted with the elastic 

 property of India rubber, that only a brief notice need be given 

 of those springs that are most extensively used. 



CAR SPRINGS. 



Car springs, consisting of alternate discs of India rubber and 

 metal, like those represented in plate xvii., fig. 1, are the inven- 

 tion of another individual* who many years ago made experi- 

 ments with the native gum for this purpose, which were unsuc- 

 cessful. The successful manufacture of car springs of heated 

 or vulcanized gum-elastic, was commenced in America by 

 Mr. Ray soon after that time, and the extent to which it has 



* Mr. Fowler M. Ray, New York. 



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