, 1885-11-05
LEAD PENCIL MAKING.
TRIP TROUGH THE FABER FACTORY,
NEAR NUREMBERG.
Treatment ~ the Graphite and Clay
Jsetsd to Intense He.t-Thsw Work
men In C~-dar-FInal Stages
of development.


We uF-t tnttr a lhTKe Dhsemthl RUIN
containing two rows Of huge watts placed
in a descending series. like steps one
row is devoted to the publication OF the
graphite. the other to that OF the clay.
aud The process Is the same for both sub.
stances The raw material Is thrown into
the nrst vat and "a quantity OF water added.
The mixture is then thoroughly stirred and
afterwards allowed to settle. when the
aluable Ingredients rise to the top.
OF remain IN succeeding strata. while
tine earth and stones sink to the bottom.
\ plug is then Withdrawn about mid way
in The val. aud the thiekly impreg
lated water falls into the second recepla
Gle while the mass Of mud remains III
The first Ia this manner the materia
passes through water five times. when il
has become sufficiently pure to be poured
into a bag OF thick cloth. which is sub
iecled to Il heavy press until the water IL
drained away, and the lead or clay is left
Ia a solid mass. when it is placed in iron
ans and dried in a furnace.
N IiE MIL.
After The lead and clay have been dried
and mixed in suitable proportions, water
is added. and the mass Is put into a mill
consisting Of rows of separate stones. &C
rnpying the whole length of a large
apartment. and connected with the steam
engine by bands running along the upper
wall. nder each mill stone Is a tub to
collect the mass which slowly escapes
from the tremendous pressure, and falls
in thick gray drops from the wooden
trough beneath the stone. This process
IS repeated Ten or twelve times, when the
mass Is again dried Ia the oven. After.
wards il is laid upon a fiat surface aud
hammered for IA considerable time. hen
shaped into a cake and sent TO the second
press, from beneath which 1t falls in
spirals Vi different sizes corresponding to
the aperture through which II is pressed.
These long spirals are collected and
handed to operators. who sit before u ia
be aud busy themselves In Strengthening
lhe still flexible cords by laying them into
boards grooyed 10 a corresponding size.
The boards when filled are laid upon
shelves Just bclow the ceiling where the
warm All VI the room will have most
ell Get
After u day or W the leads are placed
IL other hands 10 be cut 10 the length
required for pencils. and carefully as
sorted the perfect specimens are then
laid in boxes and sent to another room.
where they are enclosed in larger boxes Of
iron Dramatically sealed and subjected tc
tie intense heat OF IL furnace fire for fivt
hours. when the lead is sufficiently tenn
pcred for writing purposes, and passes
into the care of the workmen who fur
nish the wooden enclosure. though il
must iirst bear The scrutiny OF the faith
iul proprietor. who personally makes
rial Of IA specimen of the contents Of
Zach box before he allows 1t to go forth
under The stamp Of his honest name.
WuRklNG ~ CGDAR.
We may now leave the lead manufac
tory aud enter the long building appro
praled 10 the workmen in cedar. As we
ascend the stairs tho air Is heavy with the
spicy perfume. and great blocks and slabs
Of the pink aud white wood. Just as they
were hewn In their native American for
ests, are lying in the passage. On open.
ing the door which leads into the first
work room. We lind ourselves in a cloud
of dust and amidst heaps Of soft shayings,
the work of the many fine saws which
are revolving so rapidly in their frames
rs TO appear stationery, while the hoarso
gTowl Of the machinery below is ex.
changed for a sharp buzz. as though
gigantic bees and nies were ~endeavoring
TO escape from spider-webs rs strong as u
ships cable
Here we see the whole process of cutting
the wood for pencils me workman holds
the block under IL saw which works with
frightful force. and prepares the slabs for
"A more delicate machine. which saws them
to the proper thickness another set Of
tools. als1 worked by steam, gives the
requisite angles 10 each half Of the form;
another makes the groove for the lead.
The next room is furnished with tables.
around which the workmen sit. each per
forming n special lask according to u
sytematized division of labor. and then
giving what he has finished TO another
until il thus passes from hand to hand
NWAamN Tho UH.nunatWH. TO-. 81 .IaUr.Iaa
mcni. One lays the lead into its groove.
aauther Clues it over, "a third applies the
cover OF wood aud CLUES the halves
together. In the room devoted to the
final proecss-the polishing. coloring.
gliding. Stamping. arranging. and pack.
ing OF The p~encils-cnly women and girls
are employed