The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1892-03-12
WEATHER GAUGERS.
Thermometers ARE MANUFAC-
TUREO WITH GREAT CARE.

teen Pairs of Hands-The Diff 1rent
Processes of tho Instruments.
The making Of a thermometer may be
either delicate scientific operation, or
one OF the simplest tasks of the skilled
mechanic, according to the sort of Their
mometer made. With the extremely
sensitive and infinitely accurate instru-
ments designed for scientific uses great
care is taken. and they are kept in stock
for months. sometimes for years, to be
compared and recOmparcd with instru-
ments that are known to be trustworthy.
But go much time cannot be spent over
the comparatively cheap thermometers
IN common use. and these are made rap
Idly, though always carefully The
method of manufacture has been so sys-
tematized within few years that the
very cheapest Thermometer should not
vary more than a fraction Of degree
from the correct point.
Whether the thermometer is to be
charged with mercury or alcohol; wheth-
er it is to be mounted in a frame of
wood, pressed tin or brass the process
is substantially the same. Mercury is
generally used for scientific instruments,
but most makers prefer alcohol, because
it is cheaper. The alcohol is colored
red with an aniline dye which does not
fade.
The thermometer maker buys his glass
tubes in long strips from the glass fac
tories. The glassblower on the premises
cuts these tubes to the proper lengths,
and with his gas jet and blowpipe makes
the bulb on the lower end The bulbs
arg then filled with colored alcohol, and
the tubes stand for twenty-four hours.
On the following day another work
man holds each bulb in turn over gas
Jet until the colored fluid, by its expan-
SION, entirely fills the tube. 1t then
goes back into the hands of the glass
blower He closes the upper end and
turns the tip backward to make the lit
tie glass hook which will help keep the
tube in place in the frame
MARKING THE TUBES.
The tubes now rest until some hun
dreds of them, perhaps thousands, are
ready. Then the process of gauging be-
gins. There are no marks whatever on
the tube. and the first guide mark to be
made Is the freezing point 80 degs
Fahrenheit. This is found by plunging
the bulbs into melting snow. No other
thermometer is needed for guide. for
melting snow gives Invariably the exact
freezing point, This is an unfailing test
for any Thermometer whose accuracy
may be suspected. But melting snow is
not always to be had. and little ma
chine resembling a sausage grinder is
brought into use. This machine shaxes
q block of ice into>particles. which an
swer the purpose as we'll as snow,
When the bulbs have been long enough
IN the melting snow a workman takes
them one b. one from their icy bath.
Selling each so that his thumb nail
marks the exact spot to which the fluid
has fallen. Here he makes IL scarcely
perceptible mark upon the glass with
line file, and goes on to the next.
The tubes. with the freezing point
marked on each. now 90 into the hands
Of another workman. who plunges them,
bulb down, into vessel filled with
water kept constantly at "a dogs.
A standard thermometer attached to
the inside of this vessel shows that the
temperature of the water is correct.
Another tiny file scratch is put at g.
Then a third workman plunges the
bulbs into another vessel Of water kept
constantly at 0G This is marked
like the others. and the tube Is now sup
piled with these guide marks. each
S2 dogs from the next. A small tab
Is then attached to each tube. on which
Its number is written-for. owing to un-
avoidable variations III the bore of the
tube. each one varies slightly from the
others
MARKING THE CASES.
With its individuality thus established
the tube goes into the hands Of mark
er. who fits its bulb and hook into the
frame it is to occupy. and makes slight
scratches on the frame corresponding to
the 30. GA and IS degree marks on the
tube. The frame has a number CORE
spending with the number of the tube,
and the tube is laid away III a rack amid
thousands.
The frame. whether it be wood. tin
or brass. goes to the gauging room.
where ii is laid upon steeply sloping
table. exactly in the position marked for
o thermometer of that size. The 81, "a
and SO degree marks must correspond
with the marks upon the table. If they
do not, the error in marking is detected
and the fr.me is sent back for correc-
Hon.
A long, straight bar of wood or metal
extends diagonally across the table from
the lower right hand corner to the upper
LETT hand corner. On the right this
works upon pivot and on the left it
rests In ratchet. which lets it ascend
Or descend only one notch at time.
That notch marks the exact distance Of
1degs. With the three scratches already
made for basis the marker could hardly
make mistake in the degrees if he tried.
The marks made upon the frame or
$500 AFRO all moda hv hand with n O0O-