The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-11-18
CLAY TOBACCO-PIPES.
A Description of the Way in Which They
Are Manufactured and Various
Designs.

1t will surprise nearly every Brook
lynite, says the Eagle, to know that
nine-tenths of all the tobacco clay pipes
manufactured in the United States are
made in Brooklyn. and yet such is the
fact Over fifteen thousand gross OF
clay pipes are annually produced by the
three factories located in this city, which
together employ thirty hands, or an
average of ten each. A visit was made
to the largest of these factories, which
is situated on Koscusko street, near
Broadway, and which is run on the CO.
operative system, being the result of
combination of several small manufac-
turers, who found that the profit on the
goods was too small to allow of much
competition. Probably less than one
person in a thousand knows how the
clay pipe is made.
The clay used in the manufacture of
the common pipe is obtained from
Woodbridge, n. j., and costs at the pit
S. per ton. With freight and carting
added, the raw material costs delivered
at the factory SIS per ton. The clay
obtained at Woodbridge is said to be
superior for pipe-making to that OBJ
tained in Dorsetshire and Dev6nshire in
England, as it is more absorbent and
therefore more healthy to the smoker.
A fine bed of clay is also worked to
some extent at Glen Cove, l.. l. The
clay after being delivered at the factory
is allowed to stand in the sun for few
days to become seasoned. After being
exposed sufficiently long it is mixed
with water and ..milled," the process
consisting of running it through mill
which crushes it and removes all grit
and foreign substances. After coming
from the mill it is worked and kneaded
by hand, much in the same manner as
bread, and whatever grit remains is
carefully removed. Great care is taken
to have the clay of the same consistency
throughout rs otherwise the pipe would
crack and become spoiled under the test
of the kiln. When the clay has been
worked sufficiently it is given to the
'roller," rs the man who fashions it is
called. His tools are of the simplest, a
wooden bench. stool, rolling board,
and his hands constituting his kit"
The clay is placed on the right hand of
the bench, in easy reaching distance to
the workman, and then the second pro-
cess of pipe-making is gone through.
Grasping a handful of clay the work
man separates it in halves. and, placing
them on the board, rolls them, one with
each hand. until they have reached the
length desired, one end, of which the
bowl is made, resembling small-sized
pear. When it is remembered that
only about one ounce of extra clay is
allowed for each dozen pipes rolled, it
will be seen how difficult it is to grasp
just the exact amount necessary for each
pipe from the pile of clay without call
ing into requisition the aid of scales.
After being rolled the partly y-formed
pipe is laid on board just the length
of the pipe desired, when if the stem is
too long 1t is broken off at the required
length.
After one dozen pipes have been roll
ed in this fashion they are punched and
passed over to the helper, who sits on
the opposite side of the bench, on one
end of which is the machine with which
the pipe is made. it consists of lever,
at the lower end of which is plunger,
! the size of the bowl of the pipe to be
made. Below the plunger is a slat in
which the iron mold is placed, the slat
allowing the mold to enter until the bowl
of the pipe is directly underneath the
plunger. When the half-made pipes are
| nanueu 10 Cue mau at Tue macnlIe he
picks up the bunch in one hand, dip
ping the other in oil, with which he
oils the clay, separating the bunch as
he does so. Alter oiling the clay he
picks up the iron mold, which is double,
separating at the center, and opening
it he dips his finger in the oil and with
quick movement oils the inside of the
mold, which from constant use shines
like FURNISHED steel The mold is the
exact size aud shape of the pipe. After
the mold is oiled the workman picks up
long steel wire and, oiling it, pro
ceeds to insert it in the stem Of the