Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-01-03
CARVING AND TURNING.
Trades That Make Pretty Things Out Of
Wood and Ivory.

There are few trades requiring more
skill than those of carving and turn
ing in wood and ivory, says the New
York Mail and Express. The kit OF
these mechanics comprises chisels and
gouges of various sizes and what is
called ~" tool. In carving heads,
images. or designs of different kinds
of wood the block is first brought into
rough shape with the gouges, and
when this is done the other tools are
used alternately down to the finish
ing, which is done with the finer chisels.
The carving of woodwork of this de-
scription. which does not apply to
furniture, is done out and out by the
workmen, and for a day of ten hours
they receive 81. so to s.. The work is
fairly steady the year round, and
child labor. or convict labor have no
terror for wood-caryers.
As rule the business of ivory cary
ing is combined with that of wood
carving, the same work being done in
most of the places, and at the same
time few of them do what they call
tortoise-shell work. There are three
kinds of ivory used in the manufacture
of various articles made from this ma
terial. The best is imported from
Africa, and at times tusks are had as
much as six feet in length and weigh
ing nearly one hundred pounds. The
price of these tusks ranges from $3.50
to s. pound, according to quality.
There is smaller tusk from the same
place, which in most cases will meas
ure from eighteen inches to three feet
in length, and the price of these ranges
from 81 to 81 pound. These tusks
are known by the name of "scrivel-
loes." This trade is controlled entirely
by an importing firm whose head
quarters are in Hamburg. Another
species of ivory used in the trade is
.'walrus." 1t is much cheaper than
the above, but the one vital objection
to it is because of the 'pith' running
through the center of it. which ma
terially interferes with its usefulness.
The remaining species, but one that is
little used, is that of the hippOpota-
mus. Although occasionally utilized
it is of little value, the objection to ID
being because of its crookedness,
which prevents its use for any but
small articles. The articles made
from these materials consist principal
ly of keys for musical instruments,
handles for parasols, and breastpins.
The tortoise-shell business comprises
the carving and ornamentation of
ladies combs. In doing this work the
teeth are first made, and then four or
five of the shells are riveted together,
the desired pattern is pasted on the
top shell, and with a highly tempered
and fine jig-saw the design is cut out.
The combs are then given to the cary
ers who finish the work.
In the ivory branch the work is
divided into two branches, turner's and
carvers. The wages of the former
range from $40 to $14 week, and of
the latter from $12 to $18 for the same
period. Like the wood carvers, their
hours are ten day. For some years
there has been no material change in
the wages of either branch, each man
being paid in accordance with the
ability he possesses. The machinery
used in the places where this work is
done are circular and jig saws of the
finest texture. lathes for turning, and
nresses for drilling holes.