The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1890-12-13
VOL. XXVI.-NO. 6.

be cut out The edges are then squared
by cutters and the plates go to the grinding
room. The Dalisn grinding tables are
used, of an improved pattern, consisting in
each instance of an octagonal revolving fiat
table of wrought iron, % feet in diameter,
pierced by holes for pegging the plates to
their place, across which extends fixed
bar carrying pair of revolving runners
Cor ssh0es'' }, that get their motion from
friction with the edges of the more rapidly
whirling table. These compound revolu-
tions have the effect of grinding uniformly
all the surfaces of the plates exposed to
their action. This is done, first, by sharp
sand, and then by carefully prepared
emery, the table being constantly We. by a
stream of water.
The process of ftSiag the plates for
grinding is interesting. Twelve men carry
the great plate by straps edgewise while a
thirteenth guides them along, taking notice
that the plate dccs not tip too far one way
or the other, and that its top does not
strike anything. The largest plate yet
made was in the works at the time of my
visit, and measured 2O4 inches by IA
inches, weighing 1000 pounds. Such a
plate is valued at $500, and must be
handled with great care. When all was
ready the grinding table was flooded with
10 gallons of plaster of Paris, which was
distributed by mops. Then the glass was
slowly and very carefully lowered on to the
table. What followed was unique and
A lo,n,, Fo.l,,
PROSTATE plate and executed very odd and
grotesque dances in order TO set the glass
properly in the plaster. This is called
''the plate glass jig" When the plate, or
plates, that have to be ground are set, they
are pegged securely by wooden pins; and
then the rotary motion begins, slowly at
first, but increasing to 60 revolutions a
minute Once in a while, but not very
often, a plate that has been insecurely
fixed flies from the wheel, to the damage
of itself and whatever it may strike There
are 16 grinding tables in all, and each
runs by an independent 60 horse power
engine.
Although the sand and emery are
selected and prepared with the greatest
care, it is out of the question to prevent
occasional scratches by coarse particles that
creep in. Therefore all plates on emerg
ing from the grinding room are inspected,
and every blur or scratch is marked, to be
rubbed down by hand in the rubbing
ROOM The edges are also inspected for
nicks and fractures and properly squared.
The plates then go to the polishing room.
The polishing material is rouge (peroxide
of from, applied in liquid state by
weighted blocks of felt. There are %
polishing tables, so arranged with recipro-
eating motions that all parts of each plate
are brought evenly under control of the
rubbers. During these grinding and
polishing operations the plate parts with
about 40 per cent of its thickness as seen
in the rough. After final inspection the
plates are cut to the required size, packed
and shipped on cars that are run by side
track directly into the factory. Oddly
enough, some of the most serious accidents
have occurred during this final inspection.
The plate stands on edge, with man at
each end to hold it steady, while third
does the inspecting. The men stand so
Tar apart, on ACCOUNT vi Ghe Srea1 SIZE Vi
the plates, and the material itself is so
beautifully clear that an incautious work
man or unlucky visitor imagines that
nothing stands in his way, and accordingly
he walks right into the glass. The result
may be merely d great surprise, or it may
be fractured plate and a broken arm or
abraded nose, or some other injury. In
conclusion, it should be added thai for
clearncss, freedom from every kind of
flaw, homogeneousness of material, and
lustrc of finish, the Kokomo plate glass
equals any other American product of the
sort, and compares favorably with the best
results obtained by European manufacture.