Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1845-08-23
MAKING KNIVES AND FORKS.

n
Tie gene Of knife and fork is one that we
in the West perfectly Understand. Blu, how
these useful instruments of the table are made !
and tina. they are manufactured and admira-
bly, and extensively manufactured amongst the
rocks and hemlock trees Of Maine, will be
news to many. The following accoun, of the
manu- facturc OF cutlery at Sacarappa, in Maine,
.owh onnms c,nden, of the Portland Bull
leach".l a" s,.r. H@
This dingy looking building on the
right, as we pass the bridge, is the
/" Knife and Fork Mandatory" con-
Quoted by Mr.. ID. N. Ropes, a gentle
man whose well known politcness as
sures us Of an admittancc. We will
commence at the basement story and
notice the various processes necessary
to the completion of knives and forks.
Here is team unloading steel, brought
from Portland. You will perceive that
the bars are of two kinds--one fiat,
about an inch and quarter wide, and
three sixtecnths thick, for knives the
other round, about three quarters Of an
inch, for forks. They are Iaarkcd
"Sanderson e. Brothers finest cast
STEEL" and are imported from England
by the proprietors. Here is work
man cutting with powerful machine
similar bars into short pieces, each con-
tanning metal enough for two knives,
which boy is conveying 10 room
containing the foregoing apparatus.-
We will follow him do not look so
frightened; the blilding is not tum-
bling in upon you, however your car
may bear testimony TO such an occur
renee. This terrific noise is ccasioned
by the heavy "trip hammer" and in
the numerous fires you see burning
around, are those short pieces OF steel
Taken from the furnace red hot, few
blows Of the hammer reduce them to
the proper form for the press. A die
fitted into the hammcrmoulds the round
pieces in an incredibly short space Of
time. Look, you see him take shor,
piece from the fire, few seconds pass
and behold we see fork, nearly per
feet, shank, stock, but instead Of Tho
"tvnes," fiat blade, therefore, mus
: be subject to the press for the purpos,
Of cutting out the supcrnuous steel 81
as to form hc"prongs." In this room
likewise, the process Of snnealing ane
tempering are going on, but we will
now visit the press room. Here is tn,
press, what immense power is displayed
by that instrument it cuts the cold
bard steel like cheese
From this room, the knives bcin,
brought TO the right shape by the press
are taken TO another for grinding /; ans
having seen them ground to the requis
lite thickness, we will witness the stamp
ing operation, which is performed by
the press, into which "die" is fixed
with the necessary letters cngravcl
upon it. Now they are taken to tn
room containing the wheels covere,
with emery, TO be polished. How th
fire flies the wheels in motion re
semble the "Roman whecr OF tho
pyrotechnist. They are now ready fol
handling. The handles are made il
another room, to which we will repair
Here the workmen are saving horns
wood and ivory, into blocks of suita
bic size for handles; others arc smooth
ing those blocks on the coarse emery
wheels, after which, they arc bored
preparatory to being placed on the
shank or stock of the blade.
In another place we shall find mum.
Der Of females preparing holsters OF
collars, which you will perceive arc
placed between the end Of the handle
and the blade. The bolster is driven
by machinery on the stock, after which
the handle is fitted on and firmly at
tached by means OF cementing and riv-
citing. The forks arc prepared in the
same manner you have noticed. The
handles Of both are now polished by
means Of what is termed rag wheel /;
and after being examined and cleaned,
are packed by females, labelled and
ready for market. Some Of the best,
and certainly some Of the most bcauti-
full knives and forks 10 the world are
now made at this establishment. -
About fifty workmen are employed,
who finish on an average FIVE hundred
pieces per day. But VIC will now leave,
If you please. Here is the team we
saw unloading steel. taking a load Of
knives and forks--they are going to
pbiladelnhia