, 1889-09-28
CRESTS AND %MON0GRAMS.
HOW ARmoRlAL BEARINGS ARE Sc
? LEcT=D BY AMBITIOUS PEOPLE.

A Trade of the French ousrter-Harness
tIonary of Coats of Arms-ornameniaI
Devices in Gold. Silver and Other Metals.
There are eight OF ten shops in New
York in which the trade of making me
tallic coats-of-arms, monograms, initial
letters and the like is carried on. At
least one of these Is in the French quar-
ter, n region hat teens with curious
trades and dainty artisans. When one
wishes some metallic device to ornament
his harness, for example, he goes to n
of these shops to give his order. Perhaps
he has, or thinks he has, n coat-of-arms
If he is not thus provided in reality or
imagination, he has but to turn to his
own name in a dictionary OF armorial
bearings kept at the shop. Here are set
down the names of all who have coats
of-arms in the British isles.
FOUND IN THE BOOKS.
Another book Of plates shows just
what each coat of arms looks like. and
you can easily make choice. If your
own name doesn't appear in the diction-
airy you can choose the arms set down
opposite some other name. Some per-
sons improve upon the designs given in
the book. II you have a difidence about
assuming arms that perhaps do not be-
long to you, there is a book full of orna-
mental monograms in various texts, and
you may choose n OF those.
w. X. Vanderbilt uses a simple mono
gram on his harness, and the die is kept
at the shop in the French quarter. His
relative, DIR. Webb. uses an eagle with
spread wings, and beneath it n crown.
The late President Arthur's device was
n flying dove. Gen. Grants simple ~.
s. G." is still on hand at the shop.
Some one else may ask for a similar
monogram some day. Winfield Scott,
grandson of the famous general of that
name, has for his device a stag's head.
The making OF these ornaments is n
very pretty trade. They are fashioned
of gold, silver. brass and nickel. Gold
ornaments for harness are rare, but the
precious metal is sometimes cut into
initiated breastpins and the like. First n
die is made with brass face and solder
back. This accomplished, the work of
turning out the device in any metal is
not difficult. An iron pot, six or seven
inches In diameter, is filed with a dark
cement, compounded of beeswax, candle
grease, pitch and plaster of Paris. 1t
melts easily and hardens quickly. The
flame of a gas blowpipe applied for an
instant to the surface of the cement
softens it so that the die readily makes
an impression. The die is removed after
an instant and its reverse image is left
in the cement. The material soon hard
ems, and then n thin sheet of gold, silver
or brass is pressed and hammered down
into all the sinuosities of the impression.
When the sheet is taken out n perfect
copy of the device appears on the metal.
Into the hollow back of this device solder
is slowly melted by the aid of n hot iron.
You hen have n gold, silver or brass
faced device on a back of solder. Shears,
Jaws and file trim face and back to the
proper lines.
A DIFFICULT TRADE
If the device presents a solid face, the
work of trimming is quickly done, but
if it is an intricate monogram there is no
end of saving and filing. After the
trimming has been completed the device,
if of n base metal, receives a bath of
aqua FORTS. Then the face is polished
on n '%buhing" wheel, which runs by n
treadle. As the wheel revolves its cir
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time to time with a stick of red polishing
material. Five minutes of bufing leaves
the metal beautifully bright, but soiled
here and there with the red polishing
material. A short bath in a]mmoniated
water o this, and then another
light buffing leaves the surface smooth
and brilliant. If the ornament is for
harness, little metallic pins have been let
into the solder back. so that it may be
fastened to the leather.
The cutting out of initials from solid
metal is n different branch of the bust
ness. This involves engraving to give
the surface an ornamental appearance,
and ~electroplating with gold, silver or
nickel, when it is not desired to make
an expensive pin entirely out of costly
metal. Those odd ~openwork pins with
mamie" Gertrude" Fanny" and
other feminine names in ornamental let
tiers are made thus.
The trade is not easily learned. If a
man would master it well he must first
learn to draw cleverly, so as to make
designs. 1t usually requires several
years to master this branch of the bust
ness. Then the workman must learn to
make his own tools. In addition to this,
he must become a fairly skilled engraver
or chaser. Then he must acquire the
knack of doing all the other parts of the
work with rapidity and precision. After
n lifetime in the business the Journey
man finds that there are things yet TO be
learned. 1t is becoming the fashion
now for the work to be split up among
three or four men, so that no ono of
them learns the whole trade. Two fairly
skilled workmen can make an intricate
device in six or eight hours. Saddlers
order them by the gross, advertisers use
them in various ways, and private indi-
viduals with a taste for heraldry or some
pride of ancestry keep their dies at some
shop ready for emergency New York
Star.
A Joke from Chicago.
Sounds of a dire conflict came from
the barn, and Mr.. Kajones went hastily
out to see what was the matter.
4INTl A. NNTsII..gsf l.