New-York tribune., 1877-08-18
SILVER WORKING.
LETTER FROM AN EXPERT.
THE METHOD or MAKING HOLLOW wARE-THE SIX


LET NOTWITHSTANDING THE SILVER
TO the Editor or The Tribune
SIR: In nv last letter | explained how re-
pousse work made. VIII now cndeaVor 10 sho"
how the ordinary silver hollow ware is manufactured
The process hammering piece Is very long, ana
consequently expensive it is only used for pieces OF
great value A rapid and cheaper mode OF manu-
acure is cmployed for such pieces teapots cream
and Ice pitchers etc. The first operation Is to transform
skillet" inot of silver into thin sheet OF metal
This by rolling When the skillet, weighing about
$50 pounds from the foundry where It has been
made by pouring melted silver Into skillet mould
is about one inch thick, eight inches long, and
six inches wide. 1t is placed between heavy iron
rollers each roller is three feet long and from ten to
twelve inches in diameter These rollers are hori-
zonta and the space left clear between them is reg
ulaed by screws which when turned draw these
large cylinders together. The moment the skillet
is drawn between the rollers II takes about forty horse
steam power make them reyolve. Thlsenornous force
ceases to be required te silver out but
Will be needed again wnen. after turn ofthe screws mas
brought the rollers closer the silver is again passed
through. This renders necessary great perfection OF
work governor of the steam engine, which must be
capable furnishing any moment large extra power
which will be thrown of soon after without any altora
ton Of the normal running speed The skillet is drawn
through the rollers repeatedly and each time turn OF
the screws drawing them closer together produces
corresponding dminutOn the thickness OF the silver
By repeated rollmg 1t is clear that the metal Whch ls
very maeable, will diminish in thickness wheii spreads
In length and brcadth-and, gwen time, IL will come
out from between the rollers n thin sheet Of metal
The mechanical process of spinning" Is the next stage
through which the silver is passed 70 make, Tor instance
teapot disk Of OF the required sze Is set on
spinning gahe il is held IN the centre between two pieces
OF wood one OF which used only hold the silver in
position while the the shape the silver has
to be into tins piece is named chuck" The lathe
is now started and the silver disk fcyOlycs with great
pdity. A wolEman armed with buvnisher which u q
tool two feet long, including the wooden handle
now attacks the edge o the disk il spins routd
and using great pressure brings the cnd OF the tool
which is shaped like a round steel knob in contact with
the metal. The length OF The tOcl-One pat OF which
rests on metallic bar forming part Of the lathe, and
technically termed a reStgiycs the lnau great power
Of leverage, and the silver dsk, soon yielding TO
the pressure OF tie tool is cui'td In. and, owing
to the mallcablity OF the metal, changes from
the shape Of disk to that Of a saucer, and, event
ually, to that Of bowl. The operation is con:in-
ued undl the metal is made TO fit close or to
"hug" as it is termed. thc shape Of The "cnuck.'
This chuck which is exactly Of the shape 10 be assumed
by the silver constructed In sections like shoe-last,
and 10y Withdrawing the centre piece eau be easily Tt
moved.
When the operation of spinning Is concluded, we
have fOr instance two pieces of silver. wiich are
intended 10 form the lower upDcr parts " tea
pot. These pieces taken 10 the slversmth, VINO
will unite them to make the body OF the teapot. To
do th.s lie takes long band Of silver, on one
side which decorative pattern has been stamped by
p,s sing it through stcl rollers, of which is cut
the pattern to be reproduced The pressure OF the
rolling prints the design the silver THIS band Of
metal i shaped into circle, forming 1t tie
equator" OF the tea-got. and tae two half Shapes
OF the body arc soldercd 10 it. Tie spout handle
and cover, next placed in the proper position
ana the piece pa the uishers. The inisher frs
all the incqualitcs of tie surface wit pumicc
stone, and when outside Of the teapot is perfectly
smooth IL is placed polishing lathe. The brushes Of
the machine cr,nar an rev0lyc withgrca velocity
three thousand turn minute Trey are made of
great number OF thckn -sses OF Cuton flannel Out
with circular punch then strongly ,stGned 20
gether at The celtre by wire CLAMPS Successive
passages from brush 10 another, the first one i'm
prceuated with oil and stone, last, covered
with ordinary rouge, brings the slrfacc of the metz
smooth polish like that of crystal mirror In some
cases peculiar. duh surface, called "satn finish" ia
thought sutJbl: to the aspect Of the pecc.
II consists in slightly indeutne the surface Of tie silver
with blows struck by harl brushes worked by steam
Which give the metal the appearance 0f being covered
with minute capitalization. DGercnt cplors OF gold
and metallic oXydes often used 20 decorate the sri-
face OF silver. cricty is OF much the
ufctu ia all these operations and IN future letter
shall give full accom-, OF methods employed, both fog
Color gliding ana producing by the cectT1deDos
OF metals Many pieces ot hollow are decorated
with chasing, cneayin end hammered WORK before they
are polished Silver walters hammered out on large
nlanyils, and the particular around tie edge is pro
duced witha "swa lge hammer The process 81 "Swadg
ing" Is very frequently used III the manufacture OF tim
and ware and consists ia hammeTius the metal with
one Hammer the face ot winch j. c1t like the pro
file Of the - be given u the metal, which
rests "a n small anvil ths siz, the ham
mcrs head aud hearing the exact counterpart OF the
the face Of ile hammer The metal struck b.
tween these pieces OF iron retains The form Ui the
"swagc" Often ornamental border 0 rolled SILVER Is
s1dcr,d the edge of the ware, While the centre Is
decorated with CRAVING. Tnc Very Interesting uai-
ufaciur, Spoons and forks worthy Of special atteu
tun. VIII describe q NJ some future t!tac.
Aew- IOrF, July 2I, 1877. FREDERIC NoEs.