The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1885-01-22
PROCESS or MAKING SHOT.
How the (slObules Arc Formed In Their
FALL Through the Tower.

How the G,obules Ara Formed III Their
FALL Through, the Tower.
New York TribuDe.l
Every person who has walked about
the lower part Of this city must have
noticed 4 high, round tower, as high is
the roadway Of the bridge, which rears
itself high above the surrounding BULL
ings, aud llas small windows ut different
places. This tower is iii Center street,
near Worth street, and belong,
to the tolwcll Lead company.
There arc several of these towers
in this city. They arc places built
csle tally for the casting and manu-
facture OF shot, Tho tower rises TO 4
height of TO feet, and il nifty feet in
diameter Mt tho base. 1t dimiIisllcs In
diameter rs it ascends, laing about
thirty feet across at the top. Il is d.
vidcd into several stories. 4 circular
stairway, made Of iron, extends to tho
summit, giving access to the several
stories Treat height is essential for
casting, rs the lead m,lst cool in the
descent, and thus assume spherical
shape. Ii hot, it would ilatten when 1t
strikes the water in which il falls.
Tho first method is making what is
called temper" This is Il mixture of
arsenic and lead. Tho mixture is
melted in large kettles, and is con-
stan,ly skinned and stirred. 1t is cast
in bars, the same as lead. When tho
temper is made it is carried to the top
floor, where there arc kettles and fur
mace for melting it. The temper is
mixed with lead, rs pure lead would as
sumo various shapes in casting; but
when mixed with tho temper IN the
proportion of three tons of lead to one
Of temper, it takes the shape OF globules
when It is cast.
The casting pans are large colanders
round pans with holes perforated in
the bottom. The casting is done on the
top floor, and tho colandcr is suspended
over an opening in the floor. which goes
through the entire height Of the build.
ing to the ground, where there is Il we'll
Of water. The lead is melted in large
kettles, and is dipped out and poured
into tho colendcr with ladies which have
long handles. 1t oozes through the
holes in the bottom of the rolander and
falls through the opening to the ground
floor into tho we'll. Tho shot is taken
out Of the well by small buckets fastened
to aM endless belt, which runs OVER 8
wheel, which carries it from the well ul
TO long hot metal table. Here thu
SHOT is constantly stirred by men Will
long rakes, and the heat rapidly dispcl.
the moisture, and the shot soon become,
perfectly dry.
1t is taken from the drying table t,
the ''screencrs," series OF tables with
narrow openings between them, tn,
tables being set 1T slight angle
Ito shot is round and perfect, it roll
rapidly along these tables, skipping til.
openings, until il reaches box ut tn
extreme end into which it falls. lit i
imperfect, it cannot roll fast, and fall
into the openings, under which tn
/. bones are placed.
! The shot then goes to the "separators.
! winch arr series oi drawers, not I'm
liso bureau, which loess backward an,
forward by machinery. Tho shot i
I poured into the upper drawer, whicl
hrs an iron bottom perforated witt
ll..cs Of 4 certain Sic, and so on dow,
to tho lowest drawer, the bottom o