The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-05-30
How Brushes are Made.

DRUSH MAKING is largely cariod
D on in Worcester, and furnishes
an example of the value Of bristlcs. an
article apparently unimportant when seen
upon the back of its producer, the much
abused pig. The best of these (OristlcS,
not pigs are imported from Germany,
Russia and other parts of the old country,
and command very high price. |
was shown by manufactures here ease
containing $50 pounds, which cost $500
in gold. These, of course are used in
the finer class of paint and whitewash
brushes.
An inferior quality of bristle, grown
in this country, principally in the West.
is worked up into busters aud cheaper
class of goods. The manufacture of Il
brush seems simple operation, thoua I'll
it may have its difficulties to the green.
hand 10 describe first the common long
duster used so much by good housewives:
the wooden portion is bought ready-madc
by the manufacturer at cost OF two cents
apiece-cheaper than he could buy the
wood and have them turned, though hc
puts the finishing touch to them by bor-
ing the small holes on the upper side oil
the broad end to hold the bristlcs.
The stock is then taken by the work
men, male or female, sitting before Il
small table covered with shect-ron. to
make a smooth surface, and fitted with a
cement dish in the center and reels OF
thread at the side one for each person.
From a large bunch Of bristles in the left
hand the operator takes small portions,
evens one end on the iron surface. dip,
the same end into the hot cement, winds
a piece of thread around tightly. dip>
again into the cement, and then forces
the little bunch into one of the holr>,
and in this way in short time ILLS all
the holes and turns the brush over u
the cutter
After trimming they are vanished.
dried, and are then ready for the market.
Certain kinds of long machine brushes
are made in the same manner. Other
brushes, of the scrubbing- brush cIa,s,
are made by using wire instead Of cement
to fasten the bristles, by fastening the
wire back and forth through the holes
over the middle Of wisp Of bri,tIes.
which is doubled up and forced into the
holes when the wire is tightencd. White
wash brushes of the best class are made
from foreign bristles carefully bleached,
weighed and combed to get all short picc-
es out.
The wooden backs, made elsewhere
are laid on Il bench before the workmcn
at his right side is cement dish, and
near by pair Of scales. After con,bing
and weighing, the upper ends of the bristles
are dipped into the cement, thcn spread
over the lower part of the wooden back
and fastened into place by a.strip of Ieath-
cement is hardened by cold the brush is
as solid mass and will probably last as
long as the bristles will wear. The ordi-
nary brushes Of this class are usually
made Of American bristles, unbleached,
after the style of the first described dus-
; ters.
The fine quality paint brushes made at
the manufactory | visited differ from any
other have ever noticed in this respect
Instead of being wound on the handle
with twine, the ends are first dipped into
the peculiar cement used there, then
placed around the base Of the stick
and an iron lerule passed over them
which keeps them tightly in place. This
ferule is made without seam by Il punch
ing process invented within few years,
and can bear great strain. The price
F of brushes, such as described above, runs
from friction of dollar up to six dol
lars, and even more, according 10 the
kind and quality Of the bristles used. |
should Judge from appearances that bust
f ness is good, and, probably, profitable.
Dsag" Some years ago when one of the
inrrrn M ln,,,nn,,ino ne LIZ ri cnrl E,..t o.