The New York herald., 1875-10-09
THE GLASS TRADE.
Progress Of American Factories
Interesting Statistics.
HOW GLASS IS MANUFACTURED.
Condition Of the Worknen- The
Bastie Process.

Then too the amount OF goods manufactured in this
country annually is more than sufficient for the
tional consumption. There has, consequence, for
several years independent Of the stocks shipped abroad
been considerable accumulation OF stock which
1t will be necessary to work or before any real
improvement in existing conditions be felt An
other fact in this regard may also be considered which
s that large number Of articles made of glass
looked upon luxurics which, under the rule of rigid
economy now being practised by the people OF this
country throughout almost the breadth and length Of
the land, appear to be thought be dispensed with
Another fact which operates to create duness in the
trade is that there is large amount of foreign glass
ware being imported which necessarily enters very
much into competition with the home manufactures
This, however, is principally confined to goods upon
which largo amount OF labor has to be expended in
finishing painting, gliding embossng, such as, for
instance, toilet SETS odor boxes, bouquet holders
jewel boxes smoking SETS cologne and extract bottles
phias smelling salts bottles, vnaigretes fruit bowls
preserve dishes fine gobets wine, champagne, clare
and hook glasses and numerous other articles Of like
nature. We at home are at a disadvantage in the com
petition, mainly account of the
HIGH PRICE OF OUR LABOR
compared with the foreign prices of production Here
II requires skilled workman to finish the smallest
article, while in foreign countries like Bohemia family
of sometimes ten is oitentmes employed in finishing
cutting. The youngest child is brought up to make
itself useful in the finishing of goods, and families
from generation to generation are employed by the
manufacturers. As a consequence the hands always
prove to bo excellent wokmen and artists while at the
time they afford, through the help they OBJ
tain from their children. to do the work considera-
bly, smaller rate than it could possibly be done here
PROGRESS IN THE PAST TEN YEARS.
Notwithstanding the drawbacks in the Ways above
mentioned the progress made in the manufacture of
glass in the last ten years has been very great in
America and will, there is every reason TO believe,
increase each yearn the future This is and will be-
duo to the inventive genius of the workmen the app
ances and tools continually being introduced by the
cheapenng of labor and saving of time, which largely
enter into the calculation in the production Of every
kind of glass For instance, ten years ago pressed
goblets selling from 81 so So SO per Dozen
only about thirty dozens being made daily by each
''shop at the factories. shop consists of a drawer,
presser and fnisher and a boy. The former,
with long iron pipe draws from the pots
Of metal sufficient glass to make the article in
tended This he hands to the prcsser, who places it
in the mould after which the plunger attached TO the
press is compressed into the metal and the goblet is
formed 1t is then handed to tho 1nsher who finishes
the foot and mouth, making it smooth, when it is
through which 1t is passed. and it becomes a finished
article. Now it is the custom to turn out forty-fve
dozen daily for each ''shop" They are sold at from
SOC TO 81 % per dozen, which is great reduction OF
former prices This partly due to the increase of
competition, but particularly TO the cheapenng
OF the raw material used in the manufacture.
FLINT GLASS.
In former years all table goods made OF what is
known flint glass, but the greater part of this
class Of ware is made of what is termed lime' glass
which is constituted OF large proportion of lime and
great deal soda ash which makes cost produc
tion very much less than in the of pure flint The
lime glass; too is neatly finished that it requires
an expert to detect the difference between tho two
glasses.
Flint glass is composed Of sand red lead carbonate
Of soda arsenic and kep The sand is first washed and
thoroughly dried over the anneang ovens until it be
comes fine powder. 1t is then carried into the
mixing room and placed what is known the
mixing trough, when the other ingredients added
and thoroughly Incorporated together. Then is added
about half the quantity of
BROKEN GLASS,
or as il is known in the factories culetn Great care
has TO be taken in the selection of the broken glass
that inferior 10 the quality desired to be pro-
duced is allowed to get in. The whole is then thor
oughly mixed up again and placed IN the pots ana
+ st as the mass melts and sinks to the bottom more
material is added until the pots well filed The heat
is increased until the metal becomes pure glass which
takes about thirty hours TO accomplish. The fire Is
often reduced during the cooling in order allow the
scum to be skinned of the molten mass as well as 10
prevent possibility of the metal burning While II Is
the fire il resembles soup, and requires careful
watching to prevent scorchng Ailer being skinned
OF all impurities IL is ready for All the pots used
for melting kept covered TO prevent foreign sub
stances from settling into the al The red lead Is
used to give the glass briancy and weight. The sand
used found in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, and
is well known throughout the world large quantities OF
il being shipped abroad.
'GREES'' GLASS.
The manufacture of green glassware Is AT this time
a most important branch Of the business Itls princ
paly used by druggists chemists and liquor dealers
The quantity made is enormous. There is also large
trade done with the vendors OF patent medicines cal
phals year. Green glass is also largely used for pickle
and mustard jars, well for telegraph and lightning
rod nsulaors The price Tor green glass i now as low
IL any time before the and in this article
tho competition is exceedingly keen and strong espec
ally between the Eastern and Western factories The
advantage, however appears to be slightly in favor OF
the manufacturers west of the Allegheny Mountains.
The rates for freight being much cheaper
goods (which bulky to the Western and Southwest
States than DO obtained in the East Besides
the railroads whose interests lie with tho Pennsylvania
pers by making special contracts, at low rates. with
them for the transportation Of their goods The West
and Southwest arc very large Of green glass
GREEN MADE
Factories open pots and generally Of larger size
than in flint glass factories The ingredients used are
much the same, except that red lead arsenic is
used but in place Of these soda ash. There is not so
much care either necessary ITS manufacture and the
sand is OF inferior quality to that use in making flint
glass 1t found in Morris River New Jersey, where
near by large number Oft factories have been built
LEAD AND CLAY.
The red lead used Is mostly from the New England
and Boston and Sandwich C0mpany's works they hav-
ing the preference the imported metal for the
son that being glass manufacturers themselves, they
appear understand the wants Of glass makers and turn
the lead accordingly The clay used in all factories
Is the German, which Is imported in very large qnanti
ties II considered superior for making pots and has
aarrqu AUOuuuS
prOluson in this country and has similar appearance
TO the German; but costly experiments have been
made from time to time by manufacturers and not
proving satisfactory has been resolved TO use only the
German.
coLoRISG.
To give color 10 glass gold, silver and other costly
metals are used to some extent as they impart rich
coors
THE NUMBER or FACTORIES AND WHERE SITUATED.
The large profits made during the materially led
TO large increase In the number OF manufactures.
Ten years ago there were but 127 where there are
now 2l3 This number includes all classes OF manufac
tories where every Kind OF glass Is made, and indeed,
every style. These factories principally situated IN