The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-07-22
Casting a Statue.


A Paris correspondent of the New York
Home Journal describes the casting of Mr.
Bartholdi's original statue of "Liberty En-
tightening the World" This statue. meas
uring thirty feet from the feet to the end of
the torch, is a reduction of the gigantic pha-
ros which is to ornament the bay of New
York.
The operation takes place in a spacious
workshop or atelier. In one corner is the
metal being melted down in brick oven of
gOodly proportions; through a small side
door the workmen stir the mass and see to
the fire; the iron bars with which they Oper-
are show as they leave the furnace incandes-
cent and dazzling that the medal is ready
for the mould. The mould is partially hid
den in a subterraneanchamberjfo the facili
ty of the operation, but there is still enough
of it left above ground to require scaffolding
all around to facilitate the mems movements
from above. In the middle of the shop is
another subterranean chamber. less deep
than the first, from which issues the core
of the statue. 1t will be remembered that
large bronze pieces are never cast solid on
account of the great weight which would
render them difficult to handle and of the
considerable amount of metal which would
call for great outlay.
Look around the atelier, the strange and
shapeless masses which cover the floor, en-
circled as they are with strong iron girdles,
are the various parts of the mould; once
brought together, and clasped tight, they
form within statute, but its outside APP
pearance is grotesque and meaningless. The
size of a statute covered with a moul is sim
gularly increased. Here is the trunk of an
inverted horse; i'm this case the mould is be-
ing prepared for a bronze casting. Every
thing about it is unexpected and novel for the
prOfane. A strong wooden derrick stands
by the mould to aid in handling the metal
in fusion. Tie furnace full of melted bronze
is provided with spout or conduit, over
which the metal will run and fall into an im-
mense iron cauldron lined with clay, sus-
pended by means of strong chains from the
derrick
Presently the doors are closed for the
metal Is to pass from the furnace to the caul-
dron, and all draughts must be avoided in
order not to chill the metal. The casting is
going to begin, the guests all take their
places and all eyes turn to the workmen who
labor at the furnace, with powerful crow
bar at a place where the masonry has been
freplaced by clay; an issue will soon be Of
Tered to the metal. 1t is interesting to OBJ
serve the eager, expectant faces OF the visit
A hole is at last pierced and the
mass effects its escape over the conduit
into the cauldron, which has beforehand
been heated by means of a brazier let down
into il. The bronze runs for few moments
in little stream the color of light blood by
degrees It's Color CnduScS anu becomes more
and more incandescent and brilliant, while
the vein grows larger, the heat stronger and
the interest more intense. The workman
who stands by the furnace to keep the open
ing free-a real type of one of Tenier's figures
has his hands and arms protected from the
heat by small bags which they wear as nit
tens; but the heat is such that these imprO-
| vised gloves catch fire continually. The
metal now runs i'm vein eight inches wide,
| IFS liquid mass is as dazzling as the sun
| thick white vapors rise as steam from an en-
| CINE, and the building is plunged in a mist.
All the metal having run from the furnace,
| the cauldron is raised by means of a derrick
and placed in position over the mould, ready
| for casting. This is the second phase of the
| operation. The opening in the mould Is
| funnel-shaped to receive its contents by lis
upper extremity; the metal will run down
between the core and the outside mould
| through four orifices which are now closed
| by means of a contrivance consisting of four
vertical rods yard long. The vacuum has
| been effected within the mould. The
cauldron which stands ready over the
mould to pour out its precious con-
tents is worked by means of cog-wheels,
| which give to il a steady and gradual incli-
nation, so as to avoid accidents. In spite OF
| this contriyance several tons of molten metal
must be handled with great circunspection
and skill. We are approaching the critical