The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-05-22
Manufacture of Clay Tobacco Pipes.

The clay of which these are made is OBJ
tanned in Devonshire, in large Jumps, which
are purified by dissolving in water in large
pits, where the solution is well stirred up,
by which the stones and coarse matter are
deposited; the clayey solution is then pour
ed off into another, where it subsidies and
deposits the clay. The water, when clear,
is drawn off, and the clay at the bottom is
>Aeft sufficiently dry for use. Thus prepair-
ed, the clay is spread on a board, and beat
Ell with an iron bar to temper and mix it;
then it is divided into pieces of the proper
sizes to form tobacco pipe; each of these
pieces is rolled under the hand into long
roll, with bulb at one end to form the
bowl; and in this state they are laid up in
parcels for a day or two until they become
sufficiently dry for pressing, which is the
next process, and is conducted in the fol-
lowing manner: The roll of clay is put be-
tween two iron molds, each of which is
impressed with the figure of one-half of the
pipe; before these are brought together a
piece of wire of the size of the bore is in
serted midway between them; they are then
forced together in press by means of 4
screw upon bench. A lever is next de-
pressed, by which tool enters the bulb at
the end, and congresses it into the form of
bowl; and the wire in the pipe is after
ward thrust backwards and forwards to
carry the tube perfectly through into the
bowl The press is now opened by turning
back the screw, and the mould taken out
4 knife is next thrust into cleft of the
mold left for the purpose, to cut the end of
the bowl smooth and flat; the wire is care
fully withdrawn, and the pipe taken out of
the mold. The pipes when so far completed,
are laid by two or three days, properly
arranged, to let the air have access to all
their parts, till they become stiff, when
they are dressed with scrapers to take
off the impressions of the joints of the
molds; they are afterwards smoothed and
polished with piece of hard wood.
The next process is that of baking or
burning; and this is performed in furnace
of peculiar construction. 1t is built within
cyllnuef OF DrlckWOfk, having Il dome at
top, and a chimney rising from it to con-
siderable hight, to promote the draft
Within this is 4 lining of friedrich, having
fireplace at the bottom of it. The pot
which contains the pipes is formed of broken
pieces of pipes cemented together by fresh
clay, and hardened by burning; it has a
number of vertical flues surrounding it,
conducting the flame from the fire CRATE up
to the dome, and through a hole in the
dome into the chimney. Within the pot
several projecting rings are made; and
upon these the bowls of the pipes are sup
ported, the ends resting upon circular
pieces Of pottery, which stand on small
loose pillars rising up in the center. BY
this arrangement small pot or crucible
can DO made to contain fifty gross of pipes
without the risk of damaging any of them.
The pipes are put into the pot at one side,
when the crucible is open; but when filled,
this oritice is made up with broken pipes
and fresh clay. At first the fire is but gen
tle but it is increased by degrees to the
proper temperature, and SO continued for
seven or eight hours, when it is damped
and suffered to cool gradually; and when
cold, the pipes are taken out ready for sale.