The mode of operating under the second head consists in mixing from eight to twelve parts of sulphur, with every one hundred parts of the solid material in solution, and then subjecting the mixture to the necessary degree of heat to produce the vulcanized or converted state.
The patentee mentions numerous applications of these solutions, among which may be cited water-proofing, and the employment of them as a medium for colors in painting, and in printing calico, &c.
The improvements in moulds consists in making them of a material easily soluble at low temperatures, such as D’Arcet’s metal, &c., so that they may be broken up, and easily removed from the moulded article without injury to them.
To Anthony Lorimier, London, England. For improvements in combining gutta-percha and caoutchouc with other materials. (Sealed 10th of July, 1848.)
The first part of this invention consists in cutting gutta-percha into very thin shavings, (which the patentee prefers to effect by the use of certain described machinery, or any other suitable means may be employed); then drying the same by spreading them over any suitable surface, and afterwards subjecting the shavings of gutta-percha to the action of other machinery, by which they are bent in various directions and reduced or divided into smaller pieces; by this means the impurities will be separated without the use of heat or water, and the gutta-percha rendered suitable for use at a very small cost.
The second part of the invention consists in combining gutta-percha with burned clay, burned flint, broken articles of earthen ware and china, marble, Portland, Cornish, or other stones, crushed and sifted, likewise oxide of zinc, oxide of copper, hydrate of lime, oxalate of lime, and also a compound of lime slaked with oxalic acid dissolved in water; in preparing this compound, about three pounds of acid are used to each bushel of lime; the acid is first dissolved in a sufficient quantity of water for slaking that quantity of lime; and after the solution has been added to the lime, the product is well dried and sifted. Any one or more of these materials may be combined with gutta-percha, with or without other materials, so as to produce new compounds of gutta-percha, useful for moulding articles, or for making sheets, suitable to be cut into soles for boots and shoes, straps, bands and other articles.
The above matters are to be ground very fine and sifted; and the gutta-percha may be combined therewith, by any convenient means; but the patentee prefers to lay the gutta-percha on a heated plate, and roll it into a sheet, then to sift the materials over the sheet, and fold and re-fold the same, and to repeat the rolling, folding and sifting of the materials, until the desired compound is produced; or he rolls the gutta-percha between two smooth heated rollers, then dusts on the powder and folds the sheets, and again and again rolls the same till the desired mixture is obtained. He further states that in place of using the “welding machine,” he can employ like means to those just described for combining the small pieces or shavings of gutta-percha into a mass. The compound of gutta-percha may, whilst still in a heated state, be moulded to any desired form, or rolled into sheets. When great elasticity is required, caoutchouc (India-rubber) is mixed with such compounds of gutta-percha.
Charles Hancock, of Broughton, gentleman. For “certain improved preparations and compounds of gutta-percha, and certain improvements in the manufacture of articles and fabrics composed of gutta-percha alone, and in combination with other substances.” Patent, dated May 11, 1848; specification enrolled Nov. 11, 1848.
Specification.—In making water-proof shoes and galoshoes of gutta-percha, I begin with casting the gutta-percha in moulds into pieces or blocks, of a form suitable for the purpose. * * * * I next take a last of the form desired to be given to the shoe or galosh, and draw upon, or otherwise fit closely to it, some elastic or flexible material which may serve as a lining for the gutta-percha, such as cotton or woolen cloth, or knitted silk, or worsted, or cotton. I then coat the outside of this intended lining, with a solution of gutta-percha or caoutchouc, and leave it to dry. I next select a gutta-percha block of the best form, adapted in its general outline to the said last, and, by heating it in any convenient way, bring it to such a plastic state that it may be readily moulded by the hand. I warm also the last, with its elastic or flexible covering, but not to such a degree as to decompose the gutta-percha or caoutchouc solution spread over it; and these preparations having been made, I place the last upon the block, adjust by hand the one to the other, and press the gutta-percha, of which the block consists, into as close combination as may be, with the elastic or flexible covering of the last. But, as in the course of the preceding manipulations some inequalities of surface may have been unavoidably produced, or the limits between the sole and the upper not have been sufficiently defined, I once more bring the whole into a warm or plastic state, by dipping the shoe or galosh (with the last still inside of it) into hot water, or by exposing it to steam or hot air, and then smooth it carefully all over. When it becomes cold and hard, I run a revolving stile or other suitable instrument over the contour lines, after which the last is withdrawn, which leaves the shoe or galosh complete. Sometimes I use hollow lasts made of metal, glass, or earthen ware, and heated by steam, hot air, or hot water.