Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1890-11-07
HOW POTTERY IS MADE.
Methods q workmen in New Jsr.

lnt 1dsiifoiHiiS vi pOttSit rum cidy
may, at Brst glance, seem simple pro
cess. We have all, as children, made
mud pies. The mud pie urchin is the
potter in embryo. But when you know
that the clay passes through thirty odd
processes or landings before the finished
dish is produced, and that it may have
received thirty of these landings only to
be utterly ruined at the thirty first, and
the proposition looks somehow different.
The story of how saucer is made is in
teresting. Imagine, in the first place,
three heaps OF stuff that looks like ground
chalk. These are china clay, flint and
feldspar. They have already gone
through certain processes of calcining,
grinding, etc, before they reach the pot
terry, to fit them TO the use for which
they are intended. They are the potter's
raw material.
These three materials are mixed In GER
tain proportions, the formula for which
is said TO be a secret known only to the
potters. When was told this remem-
Der marveling how it could have re-
manned a secret SO long when it was
known TO 30 many. Still feel bound to
believe it is secret. Water Is now
added until the mixture is like thin
cream. The cream or 'sslip" is then
r,assed through a screening process by
running ii over .Iawns', or fine cloths.
The impurities are TINS removed and the
cream--now containing pure potter's
CLAW only--flows into vat. from which
IL il pumped into the presses. These are
canvas bags inclosed In shallow trays Of
wood. The water by pressure is forced
through the mesbes Of the canvas. leay-
ing the clay behind. When the water IL
ali drained OF the travs are opened. the
canvas coverings thrown back. and the
clay in ..leaves'' or Cakes of the consist
ency and color OF putty. are disclosed.
These are rolled up and deposited in the
clay vault until the s1perfuous moisture
has evaporated. II is then submitted TO
the process of "wedgings or beating to
expel the air. which IL left IN would
cause the goods to blister during the fir
ing process. 1t is then ready for the
.spressern 4. g.. the man who shapes the
dishes out OF the CLAY.
The presser does this with the aid of n
mold Of plaster prepared by the mold
maker. the most important and highest
paid of all the pottery employees. These
molds are Of every size and shape. ac-
cording to the goods to be- produced.
The most elaborate Arc those for sanitary
use, called plumbers goods. The hoi-
low ware moLis are made in three pieces
the two sides and the bottom Hol-
low ware comprises ewers. teapots. sugar
bowls. etc. as DISTINGUISHED from Ant
ware. or saucers. plates. pIatters etc
The saucer mold looks something like a
small apple pie, the upper surface Of
which is modelled with the reverse form
of the inside of the saucer. This mold IL
placed on rapidly revolving iron cup
called a s.jigrer. /" the presser takes n hmm
of soft CLAW. Hattens It ont with n blow
or two Of a plaster STAMP until IL looks
like rie crust. picks II IN and fiops Il
over the revolving mold. where. with the
aid of a curiously shaped profile instru-
ment or tool. he instantly fashions the
clay into the form Of n saucer upside
down.
A good workman with bow or two To
help him with the moIds win fashion
many hundreds OF saucers daily in this
manner. The mold with the SANGER ON
TOP is then placed on n rack where. hy
means OF steam pipes it il dried. The
saucer Is then taken from the mold the
edges trimmed off and the surface
snencad sn,ooth II u than ,,laood i, ~
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