Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-05-05

How Billiard Balls are Manufactured.
From the Albany Argus.
The manufacture of billiard balls from cellu-
Ioid and bonsilate is a peculiar industry from
the fact that the only factory Of the kind in the
world is in this city. A large proportion of the
balls now made are of celluloid, but only for the
reason that the machinery is not as well adapted
TO the manufacture of bOnsilate balls. The time
WIZ come however. when all balls will be made
OF the latter material. The celluloid, which is
received In large white sheets. is first
cut into small square pieces about -eighths
OF an inch in size. These are placed into
moulds, previously heated by steam to the
proper temperature They are then placed in
the hydraulic presses. and with pressure of
rom i 800 TO z, 600 pounds to the SQUARE inch
are roughly moulded. heat at the same time
being applied. The various positions Of the
blocks in the mould give the ball the peculiar
notified appearance when finished. Experi-
ments have been made by grinding the celluloid
TO powder and using 1t In that form. but
nothing has succeeded so we'll as the present
method After being taken from the moulds
tne pals are turned absolutely spherical by an
exceedingly ingenious device
Inc processes IN the manufacture Of bOnsilate
oails are quite different in many respects. The
material Is placed In the mOulds in powder and
the balls, after being roughly pressed up. con-
siderably larger than the required size are
covered with rubber and tin foil, to prevent the
material from being injured BY water, and are
tnen placed under water pressure By means
OF this. which is the only machine of the
KIND In existence, the balls are placed under
pressure Of from 5000 to 1900 pounds to the
square inch The water touching the ball at
every point, and the pressure being EQUALLY
transmitted, the result Is q perfectly pressed
sphere, Of just the same specific gravity In one
spot as In another. Without this apparatus the
successful manufacture Of billiard balls from
o0nsilate would have been impossible A simple
but ingenious continuance Is also EMPLOYED to
ascertain when the balls are perfectly poised or
balanced. They are first weighed and are then
placed In fiat dish Of mercury This subtle
nuid detects the slightest shade of inaccuracy.
ana the balls are put In the lathe and corrected
until they are absolutely true. Not only billiard.
put pool and bagateIe balls are made The
prices at which they are sold are far below
tnOse charged for ivory. ranging from S5 so to
Sl5-oO per set Of four balls for billiards. and
from go to $50 per set Of sixteen balls for pool
Since Edward Holman was sent to iail in ST
Louis few weeks ago his fellow prisoners
have admired his wife's constancy afa devotion
ND enyied him the fine bananas which she
f0ught him almost daily, to crafty IA She
often explained, his extraordinary longing for
that fruit. One day the taller was moved to
follow up what seemed an absurd stispicon and
opened one of the bananas which the wife had
inst brought. 1t contained small file. and in
the cells of several prisoners were found sly
asws and three files which the woman had in
geniously conveyed to her husband In the same
manner. The discovery was made Just In time
70 prevent general Jail delivery.