The Portland daily press., 1864-11-01
Stone Ware Mandatory.

Near the north end Of behring's Bridge,
and few rods from the main road to Wood
ford's Corner, in Westbrook, is the manufac-
tory of the Portland Stone Ware Company.
The main building was erected in 1s47, and is
100 feet long by IS feet wide. The machinery
required for grinding clay, &C., is run by
steam engine of six horse power.
The clay used in this establishment is
brought from Long Island, N. Y, by vessel.
A superior kind for glazing the ware il OBJ
tanned in Albany, N. Y. The clay is put into
a pen, where it is moistened; it is then run
through mill and thoroughly ground and
converted into pulp or mass capable of be-
ing moulded into any desirable shape. 1t is
then put into Jumps of one hundred pounds
each, and carried by an elevator to the room
above, where it is put into the hands Of the
workmen engaged in turning the ware. Each
piece of ware requires certain inunber OF
pounds of the mass, which is accordingly
weighed out. The clay thus prepared is put
upon wheel which is turned by the foot and
the ware formed entirely by the hand. This
wheel is sometimes driven by steam, especially
In making some of the common kinds of ware.
One man can make from three to four hundred
beer bottles in a day, the wheel moving very
rapidly by steam, but it requires great deal
of experience and physical endurance to do
that amount of work. The handles are put
on to such ware as require them in about
twenty-four hours after the ware is made, after
it has become somewhat hardened by drying.
The furnaces are heated intensely hot, fire
being kept burning constantly, about thirty
six hours The ware, after being put in the
| desirable shape, some vessels being made to
honor and some to dishonor, and properly
| glazed with the Albany clay, are put into the
furnace, heated as hot as is required, where it
| is allowed to remain thirty-six hours, and then
taken out and transferred to the store houses.
About 1900 cords of wood are required q
year for heating the furnaces, which must be
thoroughly seasoned. as
There is but one other establishment of the
kind in the State, which is at Gardiner, and
was established by Mr.. Thompson, but is now
in other hands. The Portland Stone Ware
Mandatory has been under the direction Of
Mr. J. T. Winslow from its start, and Mr.. J,
N. Winslow, of Winslow's Express, is the
Treasurer. This Company gives employment
when in full operation. to from twenty to
twenty-five men. Every kind of stone ware
is manufactured by this company, supplying
the market in this vicinity and sending a large
quantity into the Provinces, and to different
portions of this State and into other States.
The ware made at this establishment is moi
inferior to that made in any part of the coun.
try, and can be sold on as favorable terms. II
costs no more to get the clay herethaH to any
port in Massachusetts, and the wood, an i'm
portant item, can be purchased at less price
There is no reason why the business of the
/ Portland Stone Ware Mandatory may not BIZ
extended much beyond its present limits
Its managers ase energetic, enterprising men
and will undoubtedly be prepared to fill any
orders however large. We learn that they
have recently received orders from Californis
| for some kinds of ware. aera IA s..r