Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1885-06-18
. MAKING WlNooW-GLAss.
N. Quad Tells the Boys Of America What
the Methods Are.

Detroit Free PresSl
The workmeu were engaged in maxi
ing win wglass, and proceeded in a
way that seemed very simple. \ young
man would take one of the long hollow
iron pipes We saw the gaunt man ug-
Cling with, and approaching one OF the
mouths OF the great furnace with the in
difference of salamander- first, how
ever, protecting his face with a leather
screen would proceed by a series OF
wave-like movements OF the pipe TO
gather at the end tall of lii uil glass,
getting his supply from a fire, lay pot.
These pots contained mi ture al soda:
lime and sand, which had been reduced
by firing for two days. After gather
ing wal the 81 of a cOcUannt the
young man would turn aud cool 1t
upon an iron plate, still keeping up the
wave like rotary motion. Then lie
would return TO the pot and begin iish-
ing again, then back to the non plate
for cooling, and then more angling Ky
this time he has gathered ballot II out
sixteen pounds weight and of intense
heat. Now cooling the pipe with water,
he carries his burden over AN deposits
il on larger iron plate-tH', one noat-
ing IN tub of water-givcN t.u rlpe 10
a glassnlower, and Seizing another iron,
goes Lack TO the furnace 10 rriOrm his
part once agan.
The glassblow Z rolls tln boil upon
the plate un,il he has made the glass
assume a pear shape when he applies
the pipe 10 b 5 lips and flows TIL his
cheeks stand out like red apples, blows
till he is red behind the cars blows
until he Lecomes of a COMPLEXION as
blooming as the glass Al. his while
he imparts rotary motion 10 the plle
and does not cease either the blowing
or the rotating until the pcar shaped
glass has eXpan ed into the rude sem
blance 10 a lottle with no neck and a
very thick bottom Now over he goes
TO one o. 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
Now watch him. He takes the pipe
from the furna e, blows in il and lets it
swing before him in the pit The glass
begins to lengthen out stoye,pIpt fash
ion; into the furnace again now out
and up over his head. Agitate the pipe
Blow. Now Zig sweep from mid air
through the pit and up again. Blow
Now pendulum-l like movement-up-
down-way across-back, The glass is
become cylinder four feet long. Heat
again and withdraw Blow. Rotate
A little more iugglery-here-th there
right Side-left-a beautiful swing Ge.
low. The cylinder is over five feet long
now. TIE work is done.
These cylinders are placed still glow
ing on stand. A tap with a piece of
steel releases the blow-pipe, the blower
makes a measurement with stick,
wraps string of hot glass about the
cylinder. the superiluous part falls of
as though cut with diamond and the
completed cylinder five feet
long and eighteen inches in diameter
is carried away to a place of safety.
Tomorrow hot steel rod will cut each
of the cylinders through one side. thus
leaving il like a sheet of paper twisted
until its upper and lower edges meet
This roll will be subjected to another
gentle baking, when il will fiatten out
into a 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 hard life, y
said he. "dnd considering the sacrifices
We make We are poorly paid. 1t takes
from seven TO ten years TO acquire the
knack Of doing this three-minute task
you see us at. started when | was IL
and finished when | was 2l. But look
at me to-day. Only 80, and feel and
appear like man Of 55. 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 day
five times a week here in the bla 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 time in the
hot summer months. How long can |
blow, | never tried, but wouldn't
have any trouble blowing-yery slowly
of course-for twelve or fifteen minutes
Long timer Well, some of us get used
TO second nature. A good blower ought
TO earn $3.50 or 500 amonth. hut very
few of 'em save anything" he added,
with grim smile.