The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-02-17

heres to it, and smoothed with certain
unctuous leaves which grow 10 the neigh
borhood.
The meerschaum is sold by quality and
measure, and is always packed with greal
closeness and nicely in cases which are
three feet long, one foot deep aud twenty
inches broad. There are ten distinct quail
tiles of the clay, and the price Of a case
varies from SIS to $500.
In order 10 examine the process of work.
ing the meerschaum, q visit was made 70
the establishment of +. j. Kaldenberg
No III Fulton street, New York, which
is the most extensive factory Of the kind
in this country. About seventy five per-
sons are employed here, but part are en-
gagged in ivory-turning aud the manufac-
ture Of amber jewelry. At least forty
persons are employed, however, solely in
connection with the manufacture and sale
Of meersehaum goods. The workmen are
chiefly Germans, but such as have learned
their trade in Europe, it is said have to
undergo a long training here before they
can be trusted with the finest work.
After the irregular blocks Of meerschaum
have been taken from the packing cases,
they are first cut by band-saws into pieces
Of the size required The piece is then
dampened with water TO render it soft,
and fashioned by hand labor into the form
Of pipe or cigar-holder. 1t is next baked
in an oven until dry, after which it is
carefully smoothed with sandpaper and
shave grass. This shave grass species
Of rush, with a file-like surfaces used
in large quantities, and was formerly i'm
ported from Germany at a cost Of dollar
pound. 1t is now obtained from Con-
neeticut.
The whole process Of cutting and shap-
ing meerschaum is similar to turning and
carving in wood or ivory. All the ma
ehinery and most Of the tools used are
common to the different trades, and for
this reason work in ivory is often united
with the manufacture Of pipes.
After meersehaum article has reached
the stage last mentioned, it is ready for
the important process of boiling in pre-
paration of wax. But for this part of its
manufacture it could not be eolored by
the smoker Being the most porous of all
kinds Of clay, meerschaum readily absorbs
the oil of tobacco, which would pass through
and eyaporate if the pipe were left in its
raw condition. When boiled in wax the
meerschaum partly absords this, also, and
a thin coating of wax, susceptible Of high
polish, is left on its surface As the pipe
is smoked, the oil of tobacco absorbed in
the clay is retained under the wax, and
the meerschaum grows darker in proper
I ton to the amount Of tobacco consumed.
Old pipes are boiled to restore their alb
sorbing qualities after the clay has been
burned by overheating.
The pipe bowl or cigar-holder having
been boiled, it receives the finishing touches
from the workman. When much carving
is done, this finishing process is very elab-
crate, including much of the most delicate
work The fine cutting tools used are va
rious in design, according to the prefer
ence Of the workman, or, rather, artist,
who performs this part Of the task The
stem or mouthpiece is next fitted, and the
case for the article is made Of wood, COW
cred with leather, and lined with silk or
velvet A case has to be made expressly
for each pipe or holder, as, out of a great
number of articles, designed to be Of the
seme size and pattern, no two are ever
found precisely alike, The meerschaum
being liable to be soied in some degree by
the workman who makes the case, the
operation of polishing it is deferred to the
last This is done with a soft cloth and
silicate Of lime.
The pipe-stems used are of amber, join
ing the meerschaum, and Of cherry or
other material attachable to the bowl at
will Amber is used for the mouthpieces
Of all stems and of cigar holders. 1t can
be readily cut or filed by an experienced
workman into any form desired, although
it chips and cracks under tools in an I'M
praetised hand. Mr.. Kaldenberg has ac-
quired, in the course of his business, a
very large and valuable collection of am
Der curiosities, including many specimens
with insects embedded in the gum. The
most remarkable of these curiosities is a
small piece of clear amber enclosing in its
centre a large drop of water, which rolls
from side to side Of its tiny prison as the
piece is raised or inclined The value Of
this specimen is estimated at 5000
The best meerschaum is neither the
heaviest nor the very highest obtained,
and is distinguished chiefly by the ineness
of its grain. Only this quality is used for
delicate carving OF plain pipes, while
there are many varieties in size, there are
only six standard shapes; but Of carved
pipes the patterns are almost infinite, and
on some specimens a vast amount Of arts
tic labor is expended, making them objects
of beauty to the most rigid ubstainers
from tobacco. The price of plain pipes
ranges at present, according to quality and
size, from 81 to Sl5, really fine one
being obtainable for $40. The cost of
carved pipes varies from $40 to 500, it
being very seldom that buyer is willing
to give more than the latter sum. Mr..
Kaldenberg has made pipes for sale, how
ever, the price Of which was $3.50, and
these figures have been greatly exceeded
in those made for exhibition. In all high
priced pipes the chief element of cost is
the workmanship. Mounting with gold,
silver, etc., or inscribing with monograms,
is only done to order. In the ordinary
course of trade carved pipes are sold in
about the proportion of one to every twenty
plain.
A pipe was exhibited by Mr.. Kalden-
berg at the Paris Exhibition which is val
ued at $1,000. The pipe itself is eleven
inches in length, and the amber mouth
piece eight inches. The meerschaum is
beautifully carved with figures four inches
in height, representing the first meeting
Of Macbeth with the weird sisters, and the
cover of the bowl is surmounted by a figure
Of Shakespeare.
The same maker had two large compan-
ion pipes on exhibition at the Centennial
Exhibition, which were valued at $500
each. The bowl Of one was cunningly
fashioned as the head of Mephistophiles.