Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-03-03

Plays in the Manufacture of Glass.
The glassmlkcr's trade, practical. even
prosaic and stolidly scientific as it is in
reality, seems, however, to the average OBJ
server to be an exquisite art assisted by
something very like sorcery. Take for in
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-somethiug akin to
the tabled evolution of the philosophers
stone In what is known as the mixing
room we have a 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 flash in show win
dows, in sumptuous boudoirs and parlors
and on banquet boards
The amount Of glass manufactured va
ries at 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 il 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 500 to 1900 pounds
In the furnace which contains eight of
these pots the mass is subjected to the
terrific heat Of a roaring fire for forty
hours and then the metal. ~ as 1t Is called,
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
o a IA. If hai in N pas pr
blowers pipes, " manipulating it in a 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 a bottle, a pitcher,
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 a polished iron plate, revolves
the rod while he holds a tool against the
plant mass 10 give il form, heats it again
and repeats the process, or delicately and
rapidly touches it with two or three other
tools, perhaps being assisted 10y a helper"
shapeless mass has become a wine ocean
ter or a 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 il must pass through the an
healing furnace, where, with the other ar
ticles of the day 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 ana heavy shadows, the circles OF
light carved in the darkness by the SWEEP
of the cleaning, ruddy tipped wands may
be to the onlooker, il 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 a few
rude iron implements a stick, much like a
narrow roofing single, a heavy, uncoutl
pair Of iron shears and the all important
blowpipe, and with these they perform
wonders The work must be done Will,
the glass is hot and so there is intens'
activity, only relieved by the occasiona
waiting for the relocating of partly formeC
object.
HOW THE GLASS Is CUT
The final step in the process is the grind
ing aud polishing. The various objecti
formed by the glassblowers, as decanters
bottles, vases, bowls, wineglasses, goblet
and scores of other articles Of Ornamental
or table ware-after undergoing the grad
ual cooling process in the glass house-ar
taken to the cutting department. The
have form, but not the finish, grace o
shape nor brilliancy, and are technical
known as blanks"
A hundred workmen are ready at thei
wheels to put them through the process
which will develop luster and make then
fash and CLEAN with prismatic light lik
titanic diamonds A hundred wheel
ranged in two rows down a long room
each belted to great central shaft, ar
swiftly whirled by great engine in th
basement below. In this department, a
in the one already described, the tools an
of the simplest order, and indeed there al
pears to be no line Of manufacture invol'
ing so much skill and productive Of so rio
and artistic effects which employs sue
primitive implements as does this. tt
skillfulness Of the workman is almo'
everything.
CARVING THE HARD GLASS.
The glass cutters work in three division
and the various articles pass through thrt
distinct grades of treatment First come
the "roughing," that IS the deep cuttin
or grinding of the pattern, of which IL
principal points and lines have been fir
marked upon the glass with red paint. Fl
this work thin iron wheel is employs
upon which. it revolves with the rapi
ity Of a buzz saw, the operator from tin
TO time places little sand from the tan
in front Of him, while water drips co
stantly from an overhanging reservoir.
And now the ware is passed from q
"smoothers" to the 'polishers The m,
in this division accomplish their work
gentler means and their touch is soft al
almost caressing compared with the pre-
ous manipulations which the object h
undergone The polishers use whs
brushes and wooden wheels Of varying ed