Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1890-05-10

XJAlRIXAo tralia and South Ameri-
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q ISSI%nsTZca, and from buffalo
r|S/ERd:N n ] horn brought from vari-
J1JH:N9I:lL oous quarters. L ac h
lS4aNq:lllllo market supplies a horn
= TSt.&SN . of a distinct character,
NV$a and the characteristic
~ n lC2 is closely maintained in
VToI SgSX the production of the
tShOcA combs. The processes
A9 u y adopted in manipulate
GI ing the horn are. how
ever, one and the same for all kinds.
The first operation is to cut the horn in
several different ways, so that when it
is opened it shall be of rectangular
shape.
This cutting involves the loss of
several large pieces, and also of the
tips so far as comb-making Is concern
ed; but the pieces are sold to manu-
facturers of other commodities, so thai
he total loss is comparatively slight
TO assist the action of the knife, the
horn is heated to a certain degree over
the fire, by the side of which tho
operator sits. When cut, the horn il
often softened and opened by tongs
and placed between screw plates
wherein, under the influence of n
strong pressure, the pieces are fatteE'
ed out.
1t is a characteristic of the horn to
remain when cold Just as it is shapes
when warm; so that, when the piece
are removed from the screw plate,
they do not warp or curl up again.
Such pieces as are intended to be used
for imitation tortoise shell are SUI
ected to an enormous pressure between
heated and oiled iron plates. This
heavy pressure, however, weakens the
horn and renders it liable to split.
Omitting the drying stage, the next
process is to cut the pieces into suitn.
BILE sizes and shapes for combs, and
after that the teeth are cut Original
" this was done by hand.
Now it is done by circular saws, some
of which are 50 fine and thin rs to cut
from seventy to eighty teeth per lineal
inch. They reyolye at very rapid
rate; but, instead of travelling up tC
the horn, the horn travels up to the
saw After each cut the horn is auto
matically moved forward the exact
breadth of tooth and it is possible
to arrange that fine or a coarse tootl
shall be cut at pleasure. This in itseH
is sufficient to stamp the machine as &
most ingenious piece Of work.
After the tooth cutting, the combs
are next thinned or tapered down tt
their outer edges. This is done or
grindstones, aud in due succession the
teeth are rounded, pointed, or beveled
as the case may require, by a specia
kind of file, or rasp.
If from this stage it is necessary t
treat the horn. to make it an imitation
of tortoise shell the object is effected
by first applying a dilute nitric acid
which imparts light-yellowish tinge
and afterward by dropping over Ger
tain spots a composition containing
caustic soda, litharge, and dragon
blood
After some time the blood is washed
off. but the spots beneath it are fount
to be slightly swollen up, and stainec
to 4 deep orange tinge. 1t then onl
remains to polish the combs, whetho
they are in plain horn or in limitation
Of tortoise she'll This is done by frs
sandpapering, to get a smooth surface
then bufing on leather wheels, an
finally polishing on wheels made up 6
circular pieces Of calico, with frayo
edges, which, though SO soft in them
selves, present hard face when beini
rapidly revolved