The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-03-03
The Various Processes Through
Which Fine Ware Passes.
LIKE SORCERY OR ALCHEMY.
The Touches of Magic by Which Dull
sand and Lead are Changed to Spark
ling Crystals - The Part That Heat
Plays in the Manufacture OF Glass.

stance the very first step in the process OF
making glass and we have something sug
gestive, even TO the unimaginative, OF nee
romancy of alchemy-something akin TO
the tabled evolution of the philosophers
stone In what is known as the mixing
room" we have huge pile of sand, an
other of oxide Of lead and third of pearl
ash-all dull, sodden, coarse materials con-
tanning not the slightest promise Of the
cleaning, glittering, crystal pure glass
which will presently fash in show win
dows, in sumptuous boydoirs and parlors
and on banquet boards.
The amount of glass manufactured va
ries Mt different times but the proportion
of the ingredients is never changed. A
trusted and careful workman weighs out,
for example, coo pounds of Berkshire sand
and thoroughly mixes with it 400 pounds
of oxide of lead and half as much pearl
ash. To this compound he adds very small
proportions of saltpeter, arsenic and man
ganese and the whole well stirred to-
gether goes into one of the great crucibles
or pots" as they are technically called,
which hold from 800 TO 1900 pounds.
In the furnace which contains eight of
these pots the mass is subjected to the
terrific heat of roaring fire for forty
uONAIN, anu lntll Nnt lltNdis az ~ - tillNN
is ready for the deft manipulations of the
skilled glassblowers, who hover about the
furnace and at intervals remove small
portions of the white, hot semiliquid sub
stance upon the ends of their long tubes or
blowers pipes" manipulating it in way
familiar to every Pittsburger The grace
full sweeps and agile twirlings of the rod
are not made for the sake OF appearance.
but for practical effect in giving the glow
ing bit of molten glass the peculiar shape
which may be desired, dependent upon
whether it is TO be bottle, IA pitcher a
punch bowl, "A wineglass, or any one of a
hundred other things.
BLOWING INTO SHAPE.
He swings the tube with varying force
blows through it carefully, expanding the
red hot bubble at its tip TO the proper size
rolls it upon polished iron plate, revolves
the rod while he holds tool against the
plant mass to give it form, heats it again
and repeats the process, or delicately and
rapidly touches it with two or three other
tools, perhaps being assisted by a helper
in some of these maneuvers, and lol the
shapeless mass has become a wine decan
ter or salad dish or something else of
most graceful form, and is almost ready
for the cutting room, whence il will emerge
with hundreds of companion pieces OF
flashing, chased and beautiful ware.
But first it must pass through the an
healing furnace, where with the other ar
ticles of the days output, it is very gradu
ally cooled by being slowly drawn away
from the fire through brick arched tun
mel about sixty feet long.
However picturesque and fascinating the
scene around the furnace, with its strong
lights and heavy shadows, the circles OF
light carved in the darkness by the sweep
of the cleaning, ruddy tipped wands may
be to the onlooker. it is stern, stiff labor
for the operatives. Their tools are fewer
and more primitive than those Of any other
class of skilled artisans. They use few
rude iron implements, a stick, much like a
narrow roofing shingle, IA heavy, uncouth
pair of iron shears and the all important
blowpipe, and with these they perform
wonders. The work must be done while
the glass is hot, and SO there is intense
activity, only relieved by the occasional
waiting for the reheating of a partly formed
object.
HOW THE GLASS Is CUT.
The final step in the process is the grind
ing and polishing. The various objects
formed by the glassblowers, as decanters
bottles, vases, bowls, wineglasses, goblets
and scores of other articles of ornamental
or table ware-after undergoing the grad
ual cooling process in the glass house-are
taken to the cutting department. They
have form, but not the finish, grace of
shape nor brilliancy, and are technically
known as BLANKS"
A hundred workmen are ready at their
wheels TO put them through the process
which will develop luster and mako them
fash and CLEAN with prismatic light like
titanic diamonds, "A hundred wheels
ranged in two rows down long room,
each belted 20 great central shaft, are
swiftly whirled- by u great engine in the
basement below. In this department, as
I'm the one already described, the tools are
of the simplest order, and indeed there ap-
pears TO be no line of manufacture involv
ing so much skill and productive Of so rich
and artistic effects which employs such
primitive implements as does this. The
skillfulness OF the workman is almost
everything
CARVING THE HARD GLASS.
The glass cutters work in three divisions
and the various articles pass through three
distinct grades of treatment. First comes
the "roughing," that is the deep cutting
or grinding of the pattern, Of which the
principal points and lines have been first
marked upon the glass with red paint. For
this work a thin iron wheel is employed,
upon which. rs it revolves with the rapid
ity of buzz saw, the operator from time
TO time places n little sand from the tank
In front of him, while water drips con.
stantly from an overhanging reservoir.
And now the ware is passed from the
"smoothers" to the "polishers." The men
In this division accomplish their work ~
gentler means, and their touch is soft and
almost carcssing compared with the preyi-
rus manipulations which the object has
undergone Tho polishcrs use wheel
brushes and wooden wheclso varying edge
formation To lit the different depressions,
md these are kept constantly smeared with
what looks like common yellow mud but
Is i'm reality n compound Of finely ground
oxide Of zinc and lead. called i'm the trade
putty" These wheels, with their thin
coating Of peculiar polishing material,
after innumerable lightninglike revo.
buttons, have the deep geometric lines and
the corresponding facets Of the glass as