Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1886-09-02
MAKING TOBACCO PIPES.

Manipulation to which the Clay Il Sub.
jected-Ready for the Kiln.
The clay after being delivered at the
factory IL allowed to stand in the sun for
o few days to become seasoned. After
being exposed sufficiently long it ID
mixed with water and 4milled," the pro-
csss consisting Of running it through a
mill which brushes it and removes all
grit and foreign substances. After COM
Ing from the mill IL IL worked and
kneaded by hand, much in the same
manner as bread, and whatever grit re-
mains Is carefully removed. When the
clay has been worked sufficiently it Is
given to the ROLLER" as the man who
faahions 1t 10 called. His tools are of the
simplest. A wooden bench, stool, a
rolling board, and his hands constitut-
Ing his "kit." The clay is placed on the
right hand Of the bench in easy reaching
dintance Of the workman, and then the
second process Of pipe-making is gone
through. Grasping a handful of clay
the workman separates it in halves, and
placing it on the board rolls them, one
with each hand. until they have reached
che length desired, one end. of which
the bowl is made. resembling a small
sized pear. After being rolled the partly
formed pipe is laid on board just the
length of the pipe desired, when, if the
stem is too long, it is broken Off at the
required length.
After one dozen pipes have been rolled
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. 1t consists Of lever,
at the lower end of which is a plunger,
the size of the bowl of the pipe to be
made. Below the plunger is Stat in
which the iron mold is placed, the Stat
allowing the mold to enter until the
bowl Of the pipe is directly underneath
the plunger. When the half made pipes
are handed to the man at the machine,
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. After oiling the clay he picks
up the iron pipe mold, which is double,
separating at the center, and opening it,
he dips his finger in oil, and with quick
movement oils the inside of the mold,
which from constant use shines like bur-
nished steel. The mold is the exact size
and shape of the pipe. After the mold
Is oiled the workman picks up long
steel wire and, oiling it, proceeds to in
sert it in the stem Of the pipe. pulling
the clay on in about the same manner as
glove is put on the hand.
After the wire has oeen inserted nearly
10 the bowl portion OF the pipe, the clay
Is placed in the mold which is then
closed and placed in the slot of the ma
chine, care being taken that the wire in
the stem does not reach to the bowl, as
If it did the plunger which forms the
bowl would break it. The mold is
pushed as far as possible into the slot.
and while being held there with one
hand the workman turns screw at the
side of the machine, with the other hand
forcing an iron plate against the mold,
the pressure forcing out all superfiuous
clay and forming the pipe. The lever to
which the plunger is attached is then
lowered, the plunger entering the bowl
portion of the mold forcing out the clay
and making the bowl. The mold is then
withdrawn from the machine the wire
in the stem being forced into the bowl
of the pipe making the hole through
which the smoke is drawn. The clay
which has been forced out of the mold
Is then cut away with knife, and the
pipe removed from the mold and placed
upon tray.
The wooden trays when full are placed
in the sun to allow the clay to dry mod
erately. They are then taken by a girl
and each pipe is carefully polished with
q piece Of hard wood. A -rimmer,"
block Of hard wood, is placed in the bowl
and turned around to smooth the bowl,
while piece of iron attached to the
Trimmer cuts the wreath on the out
side Of the bowl. The stamp that is seen
on the front of the bowl is then put on
by means Of hand-stamp, and the pipe
Is ready for the potter" another girl
who places the pipes bowls down, into
an earthen pot called a "sagger," which
after being filled wit pipes is covered
with fat earthen cover and placed in the
kiln. The clay before being fired is of slaty
blue. The various decorations, such as
wreaths, fern leaves, figures, etc., seen
On the pipes are formed 10y the mold.
After the kiln has been filled with the
Asaggers" containing the pipes the door
Is closed and the fire built.-"V. D." in
Brooklyn Eagle.