Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1888-09-29
How let Buttons Are Made.

What you call jet buttons are not jet
buttons at all; they are merely glass.
but they serve the purpose just as well,
look just rs well, and are very much
cheaper. So said q manufacturer of jet
buttons in Brooklyn the other day.
Then he led the inquiring reporter into
the factory where the buttons were in
process of manufacture. Until recent
" nearly all the buttons of this kind
came from Bohemia, but they are now
made in this country, and American
manufacturers are able to compete with
the foreign trade.
The process used by this manufac-
turer is known only to himself, and its
secrets are jealously guarded. They
apply, however, more to the finishing
and the different effects given by chemi-
Gals.
In q large room which the reporter
entered dozen or more men were busy
at little work benches. The hum OF
shafting and the squeaking of a bellows
at regular intervals lent their din to tho
scene of industry, while the workmen
deity handled the long black rods Of
glass from which the buttons were
made These rods, which are round,
are about four feet long and three
fourths of an inch in thickness, and
they are made in Brooklyn. Three of
them are taken at time by the button
maker, held together, and so placed on
the bench that one end is kept con-
stantly over n tongue of fire, the gas
used being blown by wind from the
bellows, which is worked by steam
power and is connected by pipes with
each work bench. With little steel
rod, held in one hand, the button
maker picks from the new molten mass
of glass large drop. This he skill
fully holds in such manner that n
mold made in two sections, like
an iron wise, shuts, catches the
drop in its mouth, so to speak, presses
it into the shape of the dies and
then swallowsit. Upon being swallowed
the button falls through a pipe couple
of feet long and drops into pail be-
meath.
A feature of the pressing of the but
ton is that the eyelet is pressed into the
button at the same time. it having
previously been placed in the die. The
buttons are next washed in cold water,
and then the rough edges left from the
molds are cut off by boys with scissors
made for the purpose. From here they
are carried to the elgers. The edgers
are girls, and their work consists in Civ
ing the buttons finish with emery
wheels.
The cutting and edging would be
done away with, the manufacturer said,
10 al
paratus which he had devised himself.
the buttons at this stage have the
appearance of an ordinary black jet
Luton. Polishing them on q weel Of
some peculiar foreign wood, on the sur
face of which a preparation is put, gives
them glossy appearance. The mourn
ing or Grape effect is attained by the
pattern of the die, and then by soaking
the buttons in certain chemicals
Other effects and colors are made by
the use also of chemicals in conjunction
with heat.
With the new and approved appli-
ances fifty gross of buttons can be made
on one press in day. The eyelets used
are made of brass wire, which is run
from q spool on to a small revolving
rod. When taken off this it has the
appearance of long coil spring. This
is placed in an inclosed arrangement,
and circular saw of very hard steel
cuts it into as many little rings as there
are turns in the wire.
From the manufacturing department
the buttons are taken to the carders,
generally girls, who in another room
place them on cards and fasten them
with needle and thread. The cards arc
placed in boxes and the buttons are
ready for market. On sample card
shown the reporter there we're glass or
Jet buttons of nearly every imaginable
shape, color and effect, from the SOM
Der Grape to one sparkling with silver
and gold and countless other colors.
NclU York World.