ribs of cane or whalebone. Instead of the present top-notch and
runner, both ribs and stretchers were simply strung on a ring of
wire, and the inequality of the friction and the weakness of such an
arrangement cause the Umbrella to be always getting out of order. The
ribs and stretchers were jointed together very roughly, by a pin
passing through the rib, on which the forked end of the stretcher
hinged. The first improvement in this respect was by Caney (patent
No. 5761, A.D. 1829), who invented a top-notch and runner in which
each rib or stretcher has a separate hinge. The top-notch was made of
a notched wheel or disc, into each slot of which an axis fixed on the
top of the stretchers worked. The runner was made on a similar
principle. At the point of the rib where the stretcher joined it,
Caney fixed a middle bit, consisting of a small fork, in which the
end of the stretcher was hinged. This construction was much stronger,
and the forked ends of the stretchers were thus prevented from
wearing out the cover, as before. With modifications, more or less
important, this construction is the same as that now in general use."

The principal object of all those who have devoted their attention
to the task has been to reduce the weight of the Umbrella without, at
the same time, diminishing its strength. In its primitive form the
ribs were formed of whalebone, which possessed very grave
inconveniences; in the first place, it was cumbersome to a degree,
lost its elasticity after any continuous exposure to rain, and if
dried without very great care, was extremely liable to crack. In the
next place, the price was very high, and, consequently, the masses
remained unrepresented in the Umbrella market. The most important
improvement dates from the introduction of steel instead of
whalebone, which took place about thirty years ago, for although a
few Umbrellas were occasionally made and used of this material prior