The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-07-17
THE PIPE OF CLAY.
cvoiution OF the Clay Tobacco Pipe. and
How 1t Is Made.

HOW u Is olanes
There are few industries the processes
If which are more interesting than that
# the manufacture of clay tobacco pipes.
The writer recently wandercd-more by
chance than interest-into a factory
where many bushels of the popular clay
ripe are daily made and shipped to all
rarts of the country. Over 5000 gross
dr nearly a million cheap clay pipes, are
annually cent out from this factory
lone.
Said the proprietor of the establish
ment visited when asked by the writer
for some information concerning tho
manner in which the pipes were made !;
We manufacture more than dozen
ii fcrent varieties and designs Of clay
ripes This is the latest"
And the manufacturer exhibited neat
ltlle pipe of the reddish hue, with an ex.
cellent likeness carved on the bowl, and
the legend "Our Next President.
stamped on he stem.
The clay used in making the pipes.
went on the manufacturer, lis obtained
chiefly from pits located in New Jersey.
although there is large bed Of clay be
irg worked at Glen Cove, l.. l. The
CLAW costs So ton at the mines, but,
with freight charges, etc, 1t amounts to
about s. per ton before 1t is landed at the
factory. As soon as it arrives the clay is
spread out and seasoned by being exposed
10 the heat # the sun, which generally
occupies several days. II is then mixed
y.ith water and passed through mill
which brushes 1t and removes the stones
md grit which cling TO the crude clay.
IL is then kneadcd with the hands in the
same manner in which bread is kneaded,
and carefully freed from all foreign sub
stances.
After the clay has been brought to
the proper consistency il is carried to a
workman called roller, who sits be-
fore bench. on the top of which
lies a smooth. square board. In making
a pipe the roller takes in each hand a
small lump Of the fresh clay and deity
rolls il ont 10 the desired length and
thickness, leaving a knob like lump at
the end of each piece, which later is
formed into the bowl of the pipe.
AT this stage Of its manufacture tho
half made pipe is laid upon measure
which marks the regulation length of the
stem If the latter has been made too
long it is then clipped off. When dozen
pipes have been thus formed they are
passed 10 another workman. who sits at
complicated machine, in which the
pipes are further manipulated. The man
Al the machine first oils the clay, after
which he places the rudely shaped pipes
IN a mold and inserts an oiled and pol
lshed wire through the stems, making
The aperture through which the smoke is
drawn in using. The mold is then placed
in the machine and the superAuous clay
IS forced out.
The pipes have now taken on their
final shape and are laid in the sun TO dry
after which they are polished and put in
a large earthen receptacle called a sag
ger which is covered and arranged with
a dozen other saggels in the kiln. The
door Of the kiln is then securely fastened,
and the fire, which is fed with charcoal
and coke, is started and kept at whito
heat for fifteen or twenty hours. The fire
Is then allowed to die out slowly, and
when quite extinguished the doors are
opened, the saggers allowed to cool and
their contents examined. The pipes,
which before were Of a dull blue color
and very limp and soft, have become per
fectly white and hard The finished
pipes that have been examined and found
perfect are carefully packed in barrels
and boxes. and are then ready for ship
ment. New York Evening Sun.