The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1886-11-10
.rxCrs Anour PENCILS.


Hhe consumption of lead pencils in this
sountry is estimated at 250,000 day. This
is at the rate of one per day to every 160 of
population, or about 100000 year.
Graphite, which is the softest substance dug
from the earth, is taken in the lump direct
from the mouth of the mine to the redue-
ing mill. Here it is pulverized by stamps
under water, the particles floating off with
the water through series of tanks. 1t
comes to the factory in Brooklyn in barrels,
in the form of dust. The powder is lustre-
less and of dingy color. 1t is finer and
softer than any flour, and can be taken ur
in the hand just as water can, but is hardly
retained more easily than water is. If one
attempts to take a pinch of it between the
forefinger and thumb it is as evasive as
quicksilver, and the only sensation left is
that the flesh is smoother than before.
The first process in manufacturing is to
separate the graphite dust further, accord
ing to fineness. 1t is mixed with sufficient
water to run very freely, and is then turned
into hopper, from which the water runs
slowly through series of tubs. The
coarsest and heaviest particles settle to the
bottom of the first tub, the next coarsest
and heaviest in the next, and SO on, the
movement of the water being made very
gentle. On reaching the last tub, the
powder, being twice as heavy as water and
sinking in it if undisturbed, has SO far set.
tied that the water discharged at the top is
nearly clear. After tho flow is stopped and
The powder allowed to settle, the clear
water is withdrawn by removing successive
ly' beginning with the upper one, num-
Der of plugs inserted in holes in the side of
each tub, care being used not to agitate the
contents SO as to disturb the deposited dust.
This being done properly, the deposit is
removed through gates at the bottom of
each tub. The separation is thus perform
ed, by this ingenious process of " floating"
more perfectly than it could by any direct
handling, dry treatment being wholly i'm.
practicable. For the finest pencils the de.
post from the last tub only is used, but fol-
ordinary and cheap grades that from the
two before the last will answer.
The graphite is now ready for the clay.
This is peculiar pipe clay from Germany.
After being subjected to the floating pro-
cess the finest is mixed with the graphite,
in proportions varying according to the de-
gree of hardness required, The more clay
used the harder the pencil. For the medium
grades the proportion is about seven parts
of clay to ten graphite, by weight. The
graphite and clay are mixed together with
water, to the consistency of thick cream,
and the mixture is fed to the grinding
mills, which consist of two fiat stones
about two feet in diameter, placed horizon
ALLY, only the upper one running. Be,
tween these the mass is ground like paint,
for the finest pencils as many as twenty
four times, thus securing the most perfect
strength, uniformity and freeness from
grit in the leads. After grinding the mass
is inclosed in stout canvas bags, and the
clear water forced out by hydraulic pres
sure until it becomes thick dough-
1t then goes to the forming press Thin
is simply smnll vertical iron cylinder
having solid plunger or piston driven by
a screw. A plate is inserted in the bottom,
having IN opening of the shape and size of
the lead desired, and the graphite is slowly
forced through the hole, exactly as water is
forced from u syringe, coiling itself round
and round like a coil of wire on board sci
beneath the press. The coil is taken ur
# intervals, Grove" off straight by the
oo,de ;ut 1ar,,fl,a "a o;o,A 49,. 49,. L. A.
which are Strengthened out, laid in order on
board and pressed fiat by putting cover
over them. They are finally hardened ty
placing them in crucible and baking in
kiln. The handling must DO done exped,.
tiously, as the leads begin drying immed;.
ately, and become brittle as they dry but
on first issuing from the press they are so
plastic that knots may be tied loosely in
them.
The leads are now ready for their wooden
Ease. For the cheapest pencil pine is uaod
for the common grades an ordinary quality
of red cedar. At the saw-mills the cedar is
cut into blocks, about seven inches long,
and these are sawed into strips about three
and half inches wide and three-sixteenths
of an inch thick. The pencil consists of
two parts glued together, with the lead be.
tween. Each strip is wide enough to make
the halves of six pencils. The pencils are
made six at time, and imperfect strips are
put together so rs to make a full strip out
Of the parts. When these boards (Which
are now ready for shaping) reach the fac
tory, they are first passed into continuous
line, under cutter which cuts six little
grooves, round or square, for the leads, and
smooths the faces by the same stroke. The
lead in the foreign pencil lies wholly in
one-half of the wood, the other slip being
put on rs cover, as nearly everybody has
found occasion to know by the covers com.
ing of and leaving au unpleasantly fiat sur
face; but the American method has tn,
groove equally in each strip. Accordingly
tho fwo strips are glued alike.
Filling the leads is done by girls, sitting
Vt brass-covered tables. The first takes a
grooved slip with her left hand and a bunch
of leads in her right. Spreading these out
in her fingers like the sticks Of fan, she
dexterously lays them in the grooves and
passes the filled slip to the girl at the left,
who puts over it another slip which hat
Just received a coating of hot glue from
brush welded by third. Any two slips
Git together, and the united pairs are laid il
row and pressed together in an iron
frame by screw, and the row of slips ia
left to dry. The rough ends of the slips
md the projecting parts are next ground
smooth against a wheel covered with sand
paper, and are then ready for the process
of separating and shaping, which is dons
by machinery.
Plenty 10 Eat.
"Them billed potatoes said the tramp,
"was little bit spongy." Its not often
We git as good dinner as that, I'll warrant
ye,n declared the woman. Not in this