Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-07-16
mggRscHAum ANp AmRse.

The world buys its mesrschaum st vi
emma. The crude material is a sort of clay,
of delicate texture and very white color,
which IS formed by the sediment of sea
foam. Il is fished from the water close to
the shore, and is generally found in Jumps
varying in quantities from the size of an
egg 30 that of q bushel measure. Small
pieces are sometimes found ashore, where
they have been washed by the waves. It
is caught and raised by q sort of dredge,
and Is soft, pliable and pulpy. 1t goss at
once to the dressing shops, where the i'm
PROJECTIONS are clipped of. and after drying
the piece is polished smooth. 1t is then
packed in boxes, about as large again as a
peach crate, and placed upon the market.
Each case contains 100 pounds, and is
worth from 500 TO 5000, according to the
size Of the pieces, the largest ones com.
msnding the premium, because they are
generally of a 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, be-
cause several pipes can be taken from one
block.
The material, as it comes from Vienna,
is sent to the mandatory and placed in
cold water. In the course of few hours
it becomes soft, resumiDg its primitive
condition, and is about as pliahle as soap.
The cutters then take it, dissect the blocks,
and with their thin bladed knives cut ont
the pipss, 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 thoroughly 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 it.
After the green pipe is hardened it goes
to the dresaers, who remove the false
mouthpiece, used to keep the pipe from
shrinking while in the oven, and smooth
the surface with sort ofsandpaper 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 maks a
pipe, because the processes of softening
and hardening are dangerous if they are
hastily conducted.
Imitation meerschaum pipes are made of
the shavings of the good pipes and mixed
with plaster of paris and other such sub.
stances, making piable 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 yell
lowish hue and moro solid appearance.
1t cannot be colored as prettily as the
genuine, because the process of pulping
which it passes through in mixing closes
the natural pores and kills the substance.
The manufacture OF amber stems 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 pro.
cured from the same source, and by the
same methods as meerachaum, although IN
much less quantities. It is carved while
it is soft, and dried gradually. The polish
ing is done by immersing the dressed ware
into liquid mixture of alcohol and bees
wax; and rubbing with soft flannel until it
glistens.
Until a short time ago it was necessary
in getting curved piece of amber to cut
it out of 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 fumbline
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 be go skillful that they can tell
by the weight of the goods at the various
| angles when the bends are completed. =
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