Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-01-31
LEAD PENCIL MAKING.
TRIP TROUGH THE FAeeR FACTORY,
NEAR NUREM6URo



We hrst enter large basement room
in descending series, like steps. ODe
row is devoted To the purincation Of the
graphite, the other TO that Of the clay.
and the process h the same for both sub
stances. The raw material b thrown into
the flrst vat and . quantity Of waisf added.
the mixture il then thoroughly stirred and
Afterwards allowed TO settl4 when the
valuable Ingredients rise 70 ths top.
or remain In succeeding strata while
the earth and. stones sink 70 The bottom.
A plug 10 then withdrawn about midway
In the vat, and the thickly impreS.
mated water falls into the second recspso-
Gle, while the mass Of mud remains In
the first. In this manner the material
passes through water i've times. when Il
has become sufficiently pure to be poured
into bag Of thick cloth. which 10 sub.
lected to heavy press until the water 10
drained away, and the lead or clay Is left
in q solid mass. when It is placed in iron
PANS and dried In . furnace
IN THE MILL.
After the lead and clay have been dried
and mixed in suitable proportions. water
is added. and the mass is put into mill
consisting of rows Of separate stones. &C.
cupying the whole length Of . largo
apartment. and connected with the steam
engine by bands running along the upper
wall Under each mill stone u Q tub to
collect the mass which slowly escapes
from the tremendous pressure. and falls
in thick gray drops from the woodsa
trough beneath the stone This process
is repeated ten or twelve times. when tbs
mass is again dried In the oven. After
wards 1t is laid upon hat surface and
hammered for considerable time, then
shaped into cake aud sent to the second
press. from beneath which il falls In
spirals of different sizes corresponding to
the aperture through which 1t b pressed
These long spirals are collected and
handed to operators. who cit before Q u
bic and busy themselves in STRENGTHENING
the still flexible cords by laying them into
boards grooved TO corresponding sizs
The boards when filled are laid upon
shelves just below the ceiling where the
warm ar Of the room will have most
effect
After day or two the leads are placed
In other hands to be cut to the length
required for pencils. and carefully =
sorted, the perfect specimens are thsa
laid In boxes and sent to another room,
where they are enclosed in larger bexss of
iron Dramatically sealed and subjected %
the intense heat Of furnace fire for I've
hours. when the lead 10 suiiiciently ten
pered for writing purposes and passes
into the care of the Workmea who fur.
nish the wooden enclosure, though it
must first bear the scrutiny Of the faith
full proprietor. who personally makes
trial Of Q specimen Of the contents Of
each box before he allows IL 10 70 forth
under the stamp of his honest mama
WORKING IN CEDAR.
We may now leave the lead manufac-
tory aud enter the long building appro-
priated to the workmen in cedar. A. ws
ascend the stairs the cir Il heavy with the
spicy perfume. and great blocks and slahs
Of the pink and white wood. just - they
were hewn in their native American foe.
ests. are lying in the passage On opea-
ing the door which leads into the drss
work room, We find ourselves In cloud
of dust and amidst heaps Of soft ahavines,
the work of the many fine sa,ys which
are revolving 80 rapidly in their frames
n to appear stationery. while the hoarDo
growl Of the machinery below b ex.
changed for . sharp buzz. as Though
gigantic bees and flies were endeavofi1y
10 escape from spider webs as strong -
ships cable
Here wesee the whole process of cutting
the wood for pencilA one workman holds
the block under . saw which works with
frightful force. and prepares the elsbs for
, more delicate machine. which saws them
to the proper thickness. another ses Of
Tools. also worked by steam. gives ths
angles 70 each half Of The form;
makes tho groove for the lead
The next room ID furnished with tableA
around which the workmen oil. each psr-
forming . special task according to .
y temaiizsd division Of labor. and then
giving what he has iniahed to anoshsr
until Il thus passes from hand to hand
through the successive stages Of develop
ment One lays the lead into it, groove,
another CLUES It over. third applies 1hs
,over Of wood and glues the halves
together. In the room devoted 70 IL
inal process-the polishing. colosine
riding. stamping. arranging and pack
ng Of the pencils-only women and girls
lre employed