Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-07-14
Misfel.antons.



The world bnys its maerscllsum at
Vienna The crude material is a sort of
clay. of delicate texture and very white
color, which is formed BY the sedimet of
sea foam. 1t is fished from the water
close to the shore. and is generally found
in Jumps VARYING in quantities from the
size of an egg to that of half bushel
measure. Small pieces are sometimes
found ashore, where they have been
washed BY the waves 1t is caught and
raised BY sort of dredge, and is soft,
pliable and pulpy. IT goes at once to
the dressing shops. where the imperfec-
tons are clipped off and after driving the
piece is polished smooth. 1t Is then
packed in boxes. about as large as peach
crate, and placed upon the market. Each
case contains 100 pounds and is worth
from 800 to 800. according to the size
of the pieces. the largest ones command
ing the premium, because they are gen.
orally 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
a piece is, the less parting there is to be
done, because 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. 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 disign 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 dressers. who remove the false
mouth piece. nsed to keep the pipe from
shrinking while in the oven, and smooth
the surface with a sort of sandpaper
known to the trade as 'schachtehatn.'
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 eases in which the pipes are presented
to the public. 1t generally requires about
a week to make "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
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 a
yelowish hue and a more solid appear
ance 1t cannot be colored as prettily as
the genuine. because the process of pulp
ing which it passes through in mixing
closes the natural pores and kills the sub
stance. The manufacture of amber stems
is an art in which even more skill is re-
quired than in making meerschaum ware.
Amber is 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 quantities.
1t is carved while it is soft, and is dried
gradually. The polishing is dove by
immersing the dressed ware into liquid
mixture of alcohol and beeswax, 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 a 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 verv quickly. They
have no opportunity to measure or survey,
even by their eyesight, the curves. so that
they must be so skillful that they can tell
by the weight OF the goods at the various
angles when the bends are completed
Chicago NeaCs.