CHAPTER XXII. 



FANCY AND ORNAMENTAL USES. 



Daguerreotype frames and boxes. Fancy boxes. Looking-glass and picture frames. Improved 

 picture frames. Portable picture frames. Ornamental mouldings. Fancy baskets. Gimps. 

 Coach lace. Banners and flags. Fringes and tassels. Pocket-books and wallets. Walking 

 sticks, or canes. Meerschaums. Medalions. Cameos. Umbrella and cane heads. Plated 

 ornaments. 



Numerous fancy and ornamental articles may be made from 

 the different vulcanized caoutchouc compounds, including the 

 whole assortment that have heretofore been made of gutta 

 percha in its native state. Some things made of the softer com- 

 pounds, such as gimps, fringes, tassels, &c., are of less import- 

 ance ; but it is obvious that those articles which are made of the 

 hard compounds entirely, and also those which are enameled 

 with these materials upon wood and metal, are better on many 

 accounts than the same articles made of many other substances. 

 The superiority of articles made of these materials consists, 



First, In their extreme hardness and susceptibility of polish, 

 which is given them simply by the smoothness of the forms in 

 which they are vulcanized. 



Second. They are not liable to crack or warp. 



Third, They are much harder, and stronger than the same 

 articles made of wood, plaster, and other compounds, because 

 they are made in one entire piece without seam. 



Fourth, They admit of the numerous styles of finish, like other 

 substances, such as inlaying, embossing, &c., while the expense 

 of manufacturing is less than that of the same things made in 

 separate parts of wood, and other materials. It is sufficient to 

 specify a few of the applications of the substances for these pur- 

 poses. 



