Retread repair shop walls

I have mostly finished the two primary walls of the retread repair shop.  The other two walls are mostly blank.  The main shop doorway still needs two doors which will be open.  The shop will sit on a floor which will be added when the walls are complete as I need to be able to add the interior details.

The chimney is for an interior "fireplace" used to providing a heating source for the retread work.  There is no roof at this point.

Below are a few photos of vintage pneumatic tire construction.

The photo above shows building of the tires.  The principal phases in making a pneumatic tire were building, finishing and curing.  The operator at the left is building up what was known as the carcass. A demountable wheel with a core the size of the inside of the tire was first coated with rubber solution.  A  layer of fabric, under tension, was then stretched and balanced on the core.  Next the fabric was puled down to fit tightly to the core with no creases or air bubbles.  That was done using two small wheels called stitchers one on each side of the revolving core.  The stitcher wheels gradually work down on the revolving fabric from the center of the circumference pressing inwards toward the rim.  The process was repeated for each layer of fabric.  After the second layer was in position, the bead was applied - one on each side of the rim of the core.  The remaining layers of fabric were then applied and folded over to secure the beads in position.  The number of layers of fabric depend on the size of the tire.

Above the chafer strip is applied.  It reinforces the bead and prevents the tire from rim cutting.

Above shows adding the side wall which was made entirely of gum compound.

More to follow.