Guttapercha is manufactured into similar articles.
Leather. Most of the varieties are manufactured from the skins of oxen, sheep, goats, deer, horses, dogs, hogs, and seals, and the larger skins are divided into butts, shoulders, cheeks, and bellies, the dimensions depending of course upon the size of the animals. Ox hides are the largest and kid skins the smallest in general use.
For mechanical purposes ox hide, raw or tanned, is chiefly used, as for valves, seatings, belts, piston leathers, &c. Sheep skins can be obtained either strained, half-strained, or unstrained; the first are hard and comparatively stiff, the last-named soft and pliable as cloth. Other soft varieties are goats’ skins and chamois leather. There are many imitations of leather, but they are rarely employed in mechanical constructions.
Vulcanised fibre is often used for similar purposes to leather, as for valves, seatings, joints, &c. It is made in two varieties, medium and hard, and in sheets up to 1″ thick.
Ebonite. A hard, black, horny substance, moulded into any required shape.
Papier mâché. Solid paper, moulded from pulp into any required form.
Asbestos, in sheets, cord, packing of various sections, loose fibre, millboard, &c.
Ivory, from tusks and teeth.
Bone.
Vegetable ivory; nuts about the size of eggs.