The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1885-09-16
PROCESS OF MANUFACTURE.


In this description, we will begin at the
beginning, and endoavor to trace tho
modus Operandi to the ond, omitting, of
course, much of the minutias, and combining
ourselves to the general facts as these are
most interesting to the general reader.
In the manufacture of white granite ware,
the principal Ingredients arc kaolin, flint,
spar, ball-Clay and water. Kaolin, from
the Chinese kRo-ling, is white, with often a
yellowish tint. It is meagre to tho touch,
burns white, and is infusible in the porce-
lnine furnace. It is found in various places
in the United States. As it is first raised,
it has the appearance Of mortar, containing
grains Of quartz, and other minerals. It is
exposed to q stream OF water and the
milky liquid is carried through series Of
settling watts, where the cOarsor particles
are deposited. The liquid is then run into
shallow reservoirs, where the kaolin settles.
It is then dried for market.
Flint is a variety of quartz, massive, dull
colored, and dark, with transparent edges.
It is ground in water, in hint-mill, and
passed through settling vats, and prepared
for market in the Same way as kaolin. Spar,
called by the pottors, "petunse." =" is ground
and prepared like flint. These seingredients,
together with ball-clny to toughen, and
make compact, are mixed, according to the
pottor's formula, with water, and the liquid
mass, called ''slip, is run through piece
Of machinery that thoroughly beats it to
the consistency Of milk, which it resembles
in appearance, and by means Of magnets,
extracts any iron particles it may contain
II is then conducted, by means Of tubes, to
a series Of selves, and silk lawn, through
which 1t passes, and all the coarse particles
are extracted. It is now treated for the
removal Of the water, by subjeoting It to
hydraulic pressure. On coming from the
press, It is Of tho consistency of q thick
dough. II is taken from the press. In sec.
tiOns Of about an inch in thickness, two
feet in width, and six feet long, and rolled
up into rolls, to be carried to the pug-mill,
where the clay Is kneeded and subjected 10
q heavy pressure, to force out all air parti-
cles, and make tho clay perfectly solid, to
prevent "blistering." As it CONES from
the pug-mill, the clay is in cylindrical
solid roll, five or six inches in diameter,
and is cut Of into pieces about two feet
and half In length, aud Is ready for use.
II is then carried TO the workmen, to be
moulded into shapes. The work Of the
pug-mill WIS formerly done in less per-
feet manner by boys, called "clny-wed-
gers, who "kneadod" and slapped" the
clay,-a process requiring less talent than
muscle.
FORMING.
When the mass is ready, it is formed in
to shapes, either by pressing, iiggoring, or
throwing, each Of which we will describe in
turn.
Prossiug-Ewers, jugs, etc., are made by
pressing. Moudlors having formed the de-
signs, these are taken to tho mouId-makers,
who form plaster moulds, which are fur
nished the workmen These moulds are
made in pieces that tit together, accurately.
In teapot, for example, there are two
pieces for tho sides, one for the bottom,
the lid, the handle, tho knob, aud two for
the spout
The workman has q block, something
like O meat block, with fiat, smooth sur
face, aud a heavy tool, called "bat " re-