348 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. 



TRUNKS. 



Common wooden trunks may be rendered water-proof by 

 covering them with gum-elastic materials, of different kinds, 

 and a further improvement may be suggested in the use of a 

 fabric, with gum-elastic nails or studs of non-elastic compound 

 or packing. In either case, short wood screws may be inserted 

 through the studs into the wood part of the trunk. This will 

 obviate, in a great measure, the common liability of trunks to 

 chafe and damage. This method is certainly preferable to the 

 common one of loading trunks with heavy metal nails, which 

 give little more than a sliuw of strength and protection to the 

 trunk, while at the same time they serve to damage evei'y thing 

 else with which they come in contact. 



PAPER TRUNKS. 



The improvements which have, of late years, been made in 

 the manufacture of pasteboard, have rendered it suitable for 

 many substantial uses. It is, in many cases, equally or more 

 substantial than wood when protected from dampness. Its being 

 liable to be damaged by water, and being so difficult to nail or 

 fasten together by any means heretofore known, has undoubt- 

 edly prevented its being used for a great variety of purposes 

 for which it might otherwise be suitable. 



A plan is adopted in the manufacture of these trunks, which 

 might be applied to other things made of pasteboard. They are 

 cemented together with gum-elastic bindings, and afterwards 

 covered with the gum-elastic fabric, being strengthened with 

 bands and braces of tin, sheet-iron, or other suitable supports 

 covered with the same material. 



It is believed that trunks of this description will be found 

 more durable than those which have commonly been made of 

 wood. 



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