The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-04-20
ABOUT BRUsHEs.
Facts About Their Manufitcture--NVheret the
Hrietles Come From.

many other articles that are universally
employed there are many interesting
facts concerning them and their manu-
facture. The varieties and kind of
brushes are so great that it would be inn
possible to give all due consideration
within the limits of newspaper article,
but a few facts concerning ordinary
bristle brushes may interest the average
reader.
1t may seem somewhat singular that
1t should be necessary to import any
article or material entered into the con.
struction of ordinary brushes, and yet it
is said that there are millions of pounds
of pigs bristles imported into this coun-
try every year. America is considered
a great country for the pig. We export
pork in immense qualities, so why do
we have to import bristles2 The reason
is simply that the bristles on the back
OF an American pig are not sufficiently
stiff, and are of no value except in the
very cheapest grades of brushes. In
this country the pig is bred for pork,
and it is usually slaughtered when one
year old, and hence the bristles do not
have the opportunity to become very
stiff and hard. The best and most
valuable of all bristles are those which
come from Russia. In all that country
the hogs run wild, frequently reaching
the age of eight or ten years. They
are hunted and shot down, and thou
sands of pounds of bristles from their
backs are exported to America, where
they are worth about So per pound. In
Poland nearly or quite as good bristles
are obtained. In both countries the
hogs feed upon bark and roots, are lank
and lean, and valuable only for their
bristles. Large quantities of bristles
are imported from Germany, which,
though not quite so heavy or stiff as
those first mentioned, are much superior
to American bristles, being worth SO
per pound. Bristles are also imported
from France, being of finer texture,
more suitable for fine varnish brushes,
and worth $3.50 per pound. American
bristles are worth all the way from thirty
five cents to 50 per pound, but, as stated
before, are used only in the cheaper
grades of brushes. 1t is stated on good
authority that until within the last five
years all tooth brushes were imported
from England or France, but that within
that time their manufacture has begun
in this country, and that now the home
manufacturers can compete with their
foreign brothers. Another article used
in the manufacture of brushes is tam
peeo, sort of wild grass that grows in
Mexico. When this is colored it is
difficult to discern it from hair. It is
imported in large quantities from that
country, and is worth twelve cents per
pound. Horsehair also is largely used
in making brushes. 1t is sometimes
mixed with bristles, and sometimes used
by itself. Strange to say, it is impossi-
BILE to obtain sufficient supply in this
country, and large quantities are i'm
ported from South America, where it is
obtained from the names and tails of
wild horses. 1t is worth fifty cents per
pound. Rice root from Brussels is
another material that enters into the
construction of some kinds of brushes,
and considerable quantities are i'm
ported.
The manufacture of brushes is not
particularly interesting in its various
operations, though some branches of it
require considerable skill and ingenuity.
The material into which the bristles are
set usually comes to the brush manu-
facturer partially ready for use but
considerable labor is required to put
the goods in condition for the market,
even after the bristles are set. The first
process is to sort the bristles by taking
handful and passing them through q
row of upright steel points, like the
teeth of a comb. There are about as
many methods of making brushes as
thsre are kinds of brushes. In paint
brushes the bristles are arranged around
the small end of conical stick and Sc
cured by twine wrapping A great
many brushes are made by inserting
tufts ofbristle into holes bored in rows.
Ostentimes they are secured by dipping
the root ends into hot pitch, winding a
piece of string around these ends, then
dipping them again, and quickly and
dexterously introducing them with a
twisting motion into the holes, where the
pitch sets and holds them. Many brushes,
notably hair brushes, are made by driv-
ing 4he bristles through holes and
fastening them with wire. A skillful
person is known to have drawn five
hundred tufts in an hour, but one hun
dred in an hour is considered good
work. An ingenious machine has been
invented for making fiat brushes, which
fills from sixty to eighty holes per hour
Much of the work with bristles is per.
formed by girls and women, many OF
whom become quite dexterous in the
business. The delicate brushes, called
also hair pencils, used for water colors
are made of hair of the camel goat
badger, sable, squirrel and other an
mails, by binding bundle of them to
gether, after being carefully arranged
and their points temporarily protected
and sliding this through the large enc
of quill till the points project suffi
ciently far through the smaller end
The tube having been previously soft
ened by water, contracts as it dries ant
holds the bundle of hairs fast. TIL
best brushes of this kind are made o