CONTENTS.

  PAGE
CHAPTER I.
THE SOURCES OF INDIA RUBBER AND ITS HISTORY.
The Trees—The Sap—Caoutchouc—Early Uses by the Indians—First knowledge of it in Europe—Goodyear, Day, and Mackintosh 9
CHAPTER II.
THE NATURAL HISTORY AND COLLECTION OF INDIA RUBBER.
African, East Indian, Central and South American Gums—Different Methods of Collection and Coagulation 15
CHAPTER III.
PROPERTIES OF UNVULCANIZED AND VULCANIZED INDIA RUBBER.
Properties of Unvulcanized Rubber; its Cohesion and importance of this property—Analysis of Sap and Caoutchouc—Effects of Heat and Cold—Distillation Products—Vulcanized Rubber, and its Properties 24
CHAPTER IV.
THE MANUFACTURE OF MASTICATED, MIXED SHEET AND VULCANIZED INDIA RUBBER.
Treatment by the Manufacturer—Washing and Sheeting—Masticating—Making Sheeting and Threads—Mixing—Curing—Coated Tissues 35
CHAPTER V.
INDIA RUBBER STAMP MAKING.
Mixed Sheet—Outlines of Moulding—Home-Made Vulcanizing Press—Further Simplifications of Same—Securing Accurate Parallelism of Platen and Bed—Distance Pieces—Wood vs. Iron as Material for Press—Use of Springs on the Home-Made Press—Metal Flask Clamps—Large Gas-Heated Vulcanizing Press—Preparing Type Model—The Matrix—Plaster of Paris and Dental Plaster as Substances for Matrices—Dextrine and Gum Arabic Solutions for Mixing Matrix—How Matrix is made—Shellac Solution for Matrix—Matrix Press and Spring-Chase—How to retard the Setting of Plaster of Paris—Oxychloride of Zinc Matrices—Talc Powder—Moulding and Curing the Stamp—Kerosene Heating Stove—Manipulation of Press—Degree of Heat—Simple Test of Curing—Time Required—Combined Matrix Making and Vulcanizing Apparatus—Chamber Vulcanizers—Object of Steam in Vulcanizers—Temperature Corresponding to Different Steam Pressures—Jacketed Vulcanizers—Gas Regulator—Flower Pot Vulcanizer—Fish Kettle Vulcanizer—Making Stamps without any Apparatus Whatever—Notes on Type, Quadrats and Spaces—Autograph Stamps 47
CHAPTER VI.
INDIA RUBBER TYPE MAKING.
Movable Type Making—Simple Flask and Matrix—Precautions as to Quantity of Rubber—Moulding—Curing—Cutting Type Apart—Special Steel Moulds—Wooden Bodied Type 73
CHAPTER VII.
THE MAKING OF STAMPS AND TYPE FROM VULCANIZED INDIA RUBBER.
Ready Vulcanized Gum as Material for Stamps—Simplicity of the Process of Using It—Advantages and Disadvantages—Availability for Type 77
CHAPTER VIII.
VARIOUS TYPE MATRICES FOR RUBBER STAMPS AND TYPES.
Electrotype Matrices—Papier Maché—Flong Paste—Flong Matrices—Beating into Model—Drying and Baking—Struck-up Matrices—Chalk Plates 80
CHAPTER IX.
THE MAKING OF VARIOUS SMALL ARTICLES OF INDIA RUBBER.
Suction Discs—Pencil Tips—Cane and Chair Leg Tips—Corks—Mats—Cord and Tubes—Bulbs and Hollow Toys 85
CHAPTER X.
THE MANIPULATION OF SHEET RUBBER GOODS.
Sheet Rubber Articles—Toy Balloons—Uses of Sheet Rubber in the Laboratory 94
CHAPTER XI.
VARIOUS VULCANIZING AND CURING PROCESSES.
Liquid Curing Baths—Sulphur Bath—Haloids and Nitric Acid as Vulcanizers—Alkaline Sulphides—Sulphur Absorption Process—Parke’s Process 97
CHAPTER XII.
THE SOLUTION OF INDIA RUBBER.
Mastication with Solvent—Peculiarities of the Process—Different Solvents and their Properties—Paraffin—Vulcanized Rubber Solution—Aqueous Solution 103
CHAPTER XIII.
EBONITE, VULCANITE AND GUTTA-PERCHA.
Ebonite and Vulcanite—Manufacture—Manipulation—Gutta-Percha and its Manipulation 108
CHAPTER XIV.
GLUE OR COMPOSITION STAMPS.
Substitute for Rubber Stamps—The United States Government Formula—Models and Moulds—Dating—Handles 113
CHAPTER XV.
THE HEKTOGRAPH.
How Made—The French Government Formula—Hektograph Sheets 121
CHAPTER XVI.
CEMENTS.
Marine Glue, and other special Cements 125
CHAPTER XVII.
INKS.
Hektograph, Stencil and Marking Inks—White and Metallic Inks 129
CHAPTER XVIII.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Preservation and Renovation of India Rubber—Burned Rubber for Artists—India Rubber Substitutes—General Notes of Interest 134