The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-11-11


cuttcr, although, owing to the great varie-
ty of the work he has to execute, are
OF necessity numerous, yet partake of the
simplicity observable throughout the vari-
Gus processes of the manufacture. In
every establishment shaft causes the
revolution of numerous large wheels or
drums fixed thereto, and each of these,
connected by band with pulley on the
axle of small wheel, occasions the latter
to revolvc with great celebrity. These
small wheels are the cutting instruments.
They are all so arranged that any one can
be unfxed and another substituted in its
place without difficulty. AS regards their
form, they are either narrow or broad, fat
edged, mitrc-edged-that is with two
faces, forming sharp angle at the points
OF meeting-convex or concave and of
these different wheels a great number are
always to be found in the workshop of the
glass-cutter.
The materials employed in the forma
tion of these cutting implements are iron,
both cast and wrought, stone, and willow
wood. Wrought iron is only used for
cutters of the narrowest dimensions, which
it would not be possible to make sufficient
ly tough of cast metal. Iron wheels are
only used for the first or toughest part of
the operation, and their employment is
dispensed with altogether where it is in
tended that the pattern shall be at all
minute, as the metal and the sand, which
must be used in connection with it, would
act too roughly, aud frequently portions of
the glass would be Clipped away. For
such minute work ine-grained stone,
moistened with water, must be used. The
further smoothing and subsequent polish
ing Of the cut surface are effected with
wooden wheels; for the first of these oh :
jects the edge is dressed with either pumice
stone or rotten stone, and for imparting
the highest degree Of polish that is re-
quired for properly finishing the process,
putty powder is employed.
Beneath each one of the cutting wheels
a small cistern is fixed to receive the sand,
water, or powder, which has been used |;
and over the wheel a small keg or conf
cal vessel is placed, the cock or opening at
the bottom of which is so situated and reg
ulatcd that the requisite quantity of mois-
ture will be impaired from it to the wheel.
The vessel, which is placed over the iron
wheel, is furnished with fine sand, and
into this water is admitted in such guam
titles as will insure the constant delivery
of the moistened sand upon the face of the
wheel, in such proportions as the workman
finds most desirable. The emery powder,
rotten. stone, or putty powder, are applied
from time to time, as required by the
workman, on the edge of the smoothing or
polishing wheel.
The grinder seats himself on stool in
front Of his wheel, and taking in his hand
the glass to be ornamented, applies this to
the face Of the cutter, calling into requisi-
tion the steadiness Of his hand and the
correctness of his eye in the successive ap-
plications to the wheel of those parts which
are to be cut. Placed at his right hand,
each workman has a small tub containing
water, which he uses from time to time to
wash away the PARTICLES of sand or powder
which may adhere to the glass, that he
may the better judge as to the progress of
his work.
The grinding of glass, or frosting it, is
usually applied to the inner surface of
globes and shades of lamps, and to effect
this the article is fixed in lathe, and the
workman, holding in his hand piece of
wood, which is covered with wet sand,
causes this to rub with the necessary de-
gree Of force against the inner surface dur
ing the rapid revolution of the glass.
Ornamental figures placed on articles of
glassware are produced by compressing a
portion of glass 10 a mould, and then they
are attached to the article. These designs
are usually raised, and they have an ad-
vantage over engraving by retaining pol
ish, but the edges are not so clear and
sharp as when cut by the wheel; and there
is another objection-fgures on glass
ought to be treated in intaglio, and not in
relief
Another method of engraving is to en-
ploy fuoric acid to bite away portion of
the surface Of the glass, leaving the figure
in intaglio. For this purpose the whole
surface, with the exception of that taken
up by the design, is covered with a var
nish, either solution of isinglass, or tur-
pentine varnish mixed with a small pro-
portion of white lead, and the acid is then
applied to the exposed parts, which it
gradually eats away till the required depth
is obtained. If the figure is to be left in
relief, then the design is traced with the
varnish, and the rest of the vessels sur
face is subjected to the action of the acid.
By this means the figures are left in relief
with their original polish.
In the six hundred and twenty-fifth
part of an inch the following words have
been engraved upon glass, " Lowell & SEN
ter, watchmakers, 60 Exchange street,
Portland. Written by Fremont, at Paris,
1852" This is equal to forty-six thou
sand eight hundred and seventy-ave let
ters in the circle of an inch in diameter.
The most powerful magnifying glass re-
veals only few apparent scratches, but
with microscope of great power the in
scription can be plainly read. The body
of an ordinary pin, placed between the
inscription and the microscope, completely
covered the inscription, the circle in which
it is inscribed being smaller than the head
of common pin.
But even this has been surpassed, the
Lords Prayer having been executed with
in the same compass and within the one
hundredth part of square inch, that Is,
the 6ftieth of an inch in length, and the
two-huudredth of an inch in width, the
following lines have been engraved:
A point within an epigram to find,
In vain you often try
But here an epigram within point
You plainly may descry.n
The process Of engraving consists of q
mechanism by which the point of the
graver or stile is guided by a system Of
levers, which are capable Of imparting "a