, 1885-05-12
MAKING
n Quad Tells the Boys Of America wI,ai
the Methods Are.
- E.

N IAaa AcA the DofH OF AflfiitM hHNI
the Methods Are.
Detroit Free rrrzs
The workmen were engaged in max
ing win 'o~w-glass, and proceeded IN q
way that seemed very simple. a yo.sx
man would take one Of the long hnl.v,,
iron pipes we saw the gaunt mau
Cling with, and approaching one OF i.H
mouths Of the great furnace wlth IN, IN
difference of a salamander- first. Lo s.
ever, protecting his face with a ~.es.t..ce
screen would proceed by o series ~
waye.like movements of the pine to
gather atthe end a ball of liquii gl-ss,
getting his supply from a. fire-tlay pot.
These pots contained n mi ture OF soda.
lime and sand. which had been reduced
by firing for two days. After gather
ing a wal the 81 G of a cocoanut the
young man would turn and cool it
upon an iron plate, still keeping up the
wave like rotary motion. Then he
would return 10 the pot and begin fish
ing again. then back to the iron plate
for cooling, and then more angling. By
this tine he has gathered a ball OF a ont
sixteen pounds weight and of intense
heat. Now cooling the pipe with water,
he carries his burden over and deposits
it on a larger iron plate-this one float
ing in a tub of water-gives the pipe to
a glGssl lower, and Selling another iron,
goes lack to the furnace 10 perform his
part once again.
The glassblower rolls the ball upon
the plate until hs has made the glass
assume a pear shape when he applies
the pipe 10 his lips and blows till his
cheeks stand out-like red apples, blows
till he is red behind the ears, blows
until ho becomes of a complexion as
blooming as the glass. All this while
he imparts n rotary motion TO tho pipe
and does not cease either the blowing
or the rotating until the pear shaped
glass has expan ed into tho rude sem
blance TO a bottle with no neck and a
very thick bottom. Now over he goes
to one OF the mouths of the side furnace,
into which he thrusts the pipe to warm
the mean looking bottle at the end.
AT his feet is the grave like pit.
ow watch him. lie takes the pipe
from the furnace, blows in it and let's it
swing before him in the pit. The glass
begins to lengthen out stove-pipe fash
ion; into the furnace again; now out
and up over his head. Agitate the pipe.
Blow. Now a big sweep from mid air
through the pit and up again. Blow.
WV ~ HtlAuihiAA
down-way across-backl The glass is
become a cylinder four feet long. Heat
again and withdraw. Blow. Eotate.
A little. more jugglery-here there
right sidc-left-a beautiful swing be-
low. The cylinder is over five feet long
now. The work is donel
These cylinders are placed still glow
ing on n stand. A tap with a piece of
steel releases the blow-pipe, the blower
makes a measurement with n stick,
wraps Il string Of hot glass about the
cylinder, the superluous part falls off
as though cut with n diamond, and the
completed cylinder about five feet
long and eighteen inches in diameter
is carried away to a place of safety.
Tomorrow a hot steel rod will cut each
OF the cylinders through one side, thus
leaving it like a sheet of paper twisted
until its upper and lower edges meet.
This roll will be subjected to another
gentle baking, when it will ilatten out
into q large sheet of glass. This will
be cut into sheets of the proper size,
and the work is done.
! asked the gaunt man about the trade
and its requirements: Its a hard life"
said he. 'and considering the sacrifices
We u AXE we are poorly paid. 1t takes
from seven TO ten years to acquire the
knaek Of doing this three-minute task
you see us at. | started when | was II
and finished when I was 21. But look
at me to-day. Only 80, and l feel and
appear like a man of 90. Well, this is
the common fate of all in my line of
work; a glass blower at 40 is an old
man, is broken down and must quit the
work. | have to work ten hours a day
five times a week here in the bla ,e-of
this hell-fire. | don't mind the heat
much now, though, for I've been baked
right through and through, but with all
my ~toughness ], like all my fellows, find
it impossible to stand here and work for
over twenty minutes at a time in the
hot summer months. How long can |
Blow ! never tried, but / wouldn't
have any trouble blowing-very slowly
of course-for twelve or fifteen minutes.
Long timel Well, some of us get used
to second nature. A good blower ought
to earn $3.50 or 5000 amonth. But very
few of EN- save anything he added,
with n grim smile.