The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-09-28
MANUFACTURE OF GOLD LEAF.

Inc process OF SOld DeatlnS IS exceeding
ly interesting in its various details, and is
one which requires the exercise of much
judgment, physical force and mechical
skill. The gold must first be properly
refined. The process is as follows: The
coin is first reduced in thickness by being
rolled through what is known as "mill,"
machine consisting of iron rollers oper-
Grated by steam power. After being roll
ed, it is annealed by being subjected to
intense heat which softens the metal It
is next cut up and placed in jars contain
ing nitro-muriatic acid, which dissolves
the gold, and reduces it to mass resemb-
ling Indian pudding, both in color and
form. This solution is next placed in a
jar with copperas, which separates the
gold from the other components of the
mass.
The next process is to properly alloy the
now pure gold, after which it is placed in
crucibles and melted from which it is
poured into iron molds called ingots,
which measure ten inches in length, by
one inch in breadth and thickness. When
cooled, it is taken out in the shape of bars.
These bars are then rolled into what are
called ribbon" usually measuring
about eight yards in length; of the thick
ness of ordinary paper, and retaining their
original width. These :ribbons" are
then cut into pieces an inch and quarter
square, and placed in what is called
"cutch," which consists of pack Of
French paper leaves resembling parch-
ment, each leaf three inches square, and
the pack measuring from three quarters
of an inch to an inch in thickness. They
are.then beaten for half an hour upon
granite block, with hammers weighing
from twelve to fifteen pound, after which
they are taken out and placed in another
pack of leaves called a " shoder." These
leaves are four and half inches square,
and the gold in the "shoder" is beaten
for four hours with hammers weighing
about nine pounds. After being beaten
in this manner, the gold leaves are taken
out of the " shoders " and placed in what
are called "molds.,, These "molds con-
sist of packs of leaves similar to the other
packs, and made of the stomach of an OK.
After being made ready in the "molds.'
the gold is beaten for four hours more
with hammers weighing six or seven
pounds each.
1t will be noticed that the thinner the
leaf becomes, the lighter are the hammers
used, and it is also necessary in beating
the gold, especially in striking the "mold,"
that the blow should be given with the full
flat of the hammer and directly in the
center of the "mold." Should the beaten
strike with the edge of the hammer, there
is every chance that the leaf will be broken
and the pack spoiled. The leaf, after
being taken out of the mold" is cut
into squares of three and three eighths
inches, and placed in "books" of common
paper. Each shook" consists of twenty
five leaves, and they are twenty ''books'' in
what is known as a "pack."
The same process is used in the manu-
facture of silver leaf, the only difference
being that the metal, being softer requires
less time to manufacture.
Gold foil is made in manner similar to
gold leaf, except that the sheets are thick
and are annealed separately, while the
chief distinction is that it has, if a genuine
article, no alloy whatever. The article
known as German gilt" is not made
from gold at all. The wood upon which it
is to be placed is first made exceedingly
smooth, and then painted with a prepare
ton which, being covered with silver leaf,
has the property of producing gold-like
appearance.