New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-07-27
TERRA cOrTa MANUFACTURES.

s,d ont. ON the side next Fory-second-st variety
Of specimens of new American manufacture, called
Terra Gotta This is not new invention for u has
b,eu ursctced through long ages Of the world Tsrrs
-eaTih-oo;G--buTnt or baksd-the term means pre-
paration Of earth b. hre similar to that practiced
when it was said, hath NOS the potter power over
the clay - the time when he wrought from the
same lump whatever form i. pleased him 10 make
Terra Gotta does not simply the articles IN me
Exhibition upon which the visitor viii find the name,
but it lie the general term applied to everything manu-
featured by mixing slumna and quartz-6ne clay and
sandin TIE proportion OF about one third OF sand to
two thirds OF clay, and nterungDg the compound by
adding water aud grinding and then baking by the
most intense heat that can be given without melting
the articles 50 rs 10 deStToy The form
Without Terra Gotta, civilization would make but
poor figure tor all bricks OF kind of this
usnulscture and al eartheu plates and dishes
other krd-al baked earth However. as the term Is
ucy applied, il m, aDs more strictly combination Of
two kinds Of clay, varying slightly in their compost
ton. though both known as potters clay with clean
sand nom the sea beach mixed INTO plastic mortar
ard nodded into statues vases, holdings and ornaments
Vi buildings, inside and OUT window and door hntels
ornamental chimney tops, nnacles, heys, eo:oeis
brackets trusses columns aud IN short every fescrp
ton of work usually carved IN stone which are then
burned in Kiln to such intense degree, thar be-
cones actually more indtstructibe than many OF the
kinds of used for the purposes and although
the manufacture is yet IN Its infancy, II is rapidly be-
coming a mon substitute for carved stone orna-
[
up with Terra Gotta ornamental work pass I'M
suspected as the most elaborate and expensive
carvings in stone. Among these we VIII instance the
St Dennis Hotel corner OF Broadway and Eeventh-st
a new building corner Of Nassau and Lloerty-sn
eicLt houses opposite DR. 1yBgs church in Slxteenth
ST : four houses on Thirty .htth-st between Second
ard Ihird.ays the old olympic Theater building in
Broadway, near Howard.st The lintels OF the last
mentioned building cost 50 each. The visitor will no
tce one Of the articles in the Exhibition ~ large
that nh llp homo tao IA
Cooper Institute, building on the block between
the Third and FOurth.ays and Eighth-st This may
be considered OF the highest testimonials OF the
estimation which this and cheap material for or
namental building should be held in, as without the
most convincing proof of It's durability it would not
be adopted by the architect or allowed in structure
built under the immediate superintendent OF the do
nor 70 be enduring rs lron brick stone can make
it, These large arched windows, twentyfour IN nun
| ber are from the mandatory OF John w. Roche "
! Co Other articles exhibited by Toman, Hatha,
vsv & Stone and Quinn Il Hill. The ornamental
and Terra Gotta brick.wOrk exhibited in the yard s
! from the mandatory OF Winter ~ Co, Newark
Thearch window in the collection inside surrounded
BY large eagle having all the appearance and possess
inc all the durability otOne cut in solid gray stone srom
the mandatory of Alexander Young in Fortyhre.st,
/ between Second and Thirdays., who originated the
business in this City, and only preceded by one
other in the United States an establishment at Wor
cester Mass, which got to work few months before
Mr Young This was in the year 1919, tho business
being It'll in in its infancy, though growing in public
favor much rapdity, perhaps rs any new build
/ ing material ever introduced.
| MIR Young was builder of this city, and saw the
orpat want of something for ornamental work cheaper
than cary ed stone and set about studying every work
within his reach that treated upon Terra Gotta nanuiac-
/ ure Meager as this information was and without any
one To instruct him, he determined to commence the
busness and did so upon a small scale at first, at his
present location, which we have lately visited for the
purpOse OF gaining some information hch may oe use
iul TO our readers The material used b. Mr. Young Is
one Part jersey clay, article well known By air
the potters in that, his and the NewEngand States,
and Long Island clay, one part and sand from Rock
away beach, part, which are ground together IN
common tub mill with horse attached to sweep
like tie common brick clay Mil or old fashioned cider
mill
when the clay is worked TO the right temper for use.
il is packed away in the cellar where IL will keep Just
moist enough to mold well When new design is
furnished the first process is TO mold the clay into the
desired form, with pedestal back ii designed % set
in the wall or if for the hey OF arch with the prop
er form, besides the Ornamental part for the position
it is to FL. Now the expense OF this process would
never allow of the article being used as cheap
building material. To Obyiate this, plaster
mold is taken, which IL formed Of as many
pieces may be necessary to allow the art-
Gle when cast to be removed from the mold with
facility. Sometimes these plaster caste taken In
FIVE and twenty different pieces 10 one mold When
thus formed, the whole is placed in box Of suitable
size aud shape that when liquid plaster il poured in
il forms ease of sufficient strength, the SIDES being
two or three inches thick TO hold the various parts OF
the mold firmly in their place The original labor0usy
prepared model being removed, the workman has per.
feet matTce in which he duplicate his desgns to
any desired extent The process of doing this IL to
have the matrice in its plaster on table before
him. with his prepared clay which he takes 10 bis hands
and throws and presses il into every part until his mat
rice is full the plastic clay having taken every form
however minute, whether Of face, or leaf feather
The is then rolled over and lifted off OF the mold
which is taken away piece by piece from the article
formed which is left TO dry until firm enough 70 handle.
when it is taken to the finishing room and trimmed
and repaired If there any imperfsctOns and
then taken TO the drying room, until ready
for the kiln This s an oven by Is feet and ~ feet
high The articles are set in this and heated by the
consumption Of tun Of buminous coal day for six
days, bringing the clay to white heat and nearly H.
the melting point The degree Of heat applied Ia
d hin OF brick would melt down all the arches The
articles in the drying prepared for burning BY
the escape heat OF the Kiln When well burnt they
like gray stone than anything else, and may be
used without paint though that is generally applied ~
produce uniform color Mr.. Young manufactures
$4,000 worth year end the other works 10 this city
probably as much more. That at Newark is beginning
TO do an extensive business, and produces very
good specimens Of work.
The difference between Terra Gotta and stone work
prices tie most apparent where the amount Of carving
is the largest. Window lBels OF fancy patterns with
carved work keys corbels and trusses complete, are
from $l2 TO 25, about third tho price OF stone
Such panels nr Young making tor Ornamental
work OF the Mercantile Library in the alterations OF
the AstOr Opera House. would be Sl5 eacn' inese
sre It. inches BY 2 Fl inches representing az o
amid q cluster Of Oak leaves and branches enioeh,'
of wisdom and Arcadian lore, in aito-re "rIch
will be very effective ornaments, at small cost ION
,;r = he trifh