Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1883-05-16
Meerschaum and Amber.


of clay, of delicate texture and very
white color 1t is fished from the
water close to shore, and is generally
found in Jumps varying in quantities
from the size of an egg to that of a
half bushel measure. Small pieces
are sometimes found ashore, where
they have been washed by the waves
1t is caught and raised by a sort of
dredge, and is soft, pliable and pulpy.
1t goes at once to the dressing-shops,
where the imperfections are clipped
off, and after drying the piece is POI
ished smooth. 1t is then packed in
boxes, about as large again as peach
crate, and placed upon the market.
Each case contains 100 pounds and is
worth from 800 to 5000, according
to the size of the pieces, the largest
ones commanding the premium, be-
cause they are generally of better
quality and make less waste in the
manufacture. We endeavor not to
disturb the original texture any more
than is necessary, so that the larger
piece is, the less pairing there is to be
done, because several pipes can be
taken from one block"
"Then you do not crush and mold
the material ?"
ooh, no, sir. That would destroy
the texture by closing the natural
pores, the very thing that is undesira-
bic. 1t is that that distinguishes pure
meerschaum from the limitations. The
material, as it comes from Vienna, is
sent to the mandatory and placed
in cold water. In the course of a few
hours it becomes soft, resuming its
primitive condition, and is about as
pliable as soap. The cutters then
take it, dissect the blocks, and with
their thin-bladed knives, cut out the
pipes, and if the design is fancy, carve
the limitations. The green pipe is
then placed in an oven where currents
Of warm air flow freely, and it is thor
oughly dried, resuming before it is
taken out the hard condition in which
we receive it. The cutting is very
difficult work, and no Americans have
ever been able to become adopts at il.
All our cutters come from the old
country. They earn about s35 n
week, and are always able to command
situations, because the opportunities
for learning the trade are so limited
that the supply cannot become great
er than the demand.
After the green pipe is hardened
it goes to the dressers, who remove the
false mouth-piece used to keep the
pipe from shrinking while in the oven,
and smooth the surface with a sort Of
sandpaper known to the trade as
'schachtelhain.' The polishers, who
are generally girls, take the pipes,
cover them with melted beeswax,
and rub them with soft flannel until
the surface shines. The stems are
then placed in position, each being
made for a particular pipe. The case
makers take the measure, and make
the cases in which the pipes
are presented to the public. 1t gen
orally requires about week to make
a pipe, because the processes of soft
ening and hardening are dangerous if
they are hastily conducted"
"How are imitation meerschaum
pipes made 2"
"The shavings Of good pipes are
mixed with plaster of paris and other
such substances, making pliable
compound that is taken through the
same process as the genuine material
You can distinguish the genuine from
the imitation by its texture and color,
the latter having yellowish hue and
more solid appearance. 1t can
not be colored as prettily as the gen.
uine because the process Of pulping
which it passes through in mixing
closes the natural pores and kills the
substance"
"You also manufacture the amber
stems %
Eyes, sir; and that is an art in
which even more skill is required than
in making meerschaum ware. Amber
is a product of the Prussian coast, and
is procured from the same source, and
by the same methods as the meer-
schaum, although in much less guam
titles. 1t is carved while it is soft
and is dried gradually. The polish
ing is done by immersing the dressed
ware into liquid mixture of alcohol
and beeswax, and rubbing with soft
flannel until it glistens."
"And it is very expensive?"
"Much more costly than any goods
we handle. This piece, which is about
eight inches long and elegantly pol
ished and carved, as you see, is worth
about 5000. 1t was made for display,
and would be too heavy for convent
ent usage"
"What part Of the process in amber
requires the superior skillY
"The bending. Until short time
ago, it was necessary in getting a curv.
ed piece of amber to cut it out of
the block, but there are few men
who can bend it. They hold the
straight piece over heated jet until
it begins to soften. They cannot let
it out of their fingers, and the heat is
such that it would be impossible to
retain it in one position, so that they
must bend it while fumbling it, and
have to do it very quickly. They
have no opportunity to measure or
survey, even by their eyesight, the
curves, so that they must he so skill
full that they can tell by the weight Of
the goods at the various angles when
the bends are completed. Chicago
News.