The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-05-20
OLD JEWELRY.
When UncaiIed For the Pawnbrokers
Melt Ii Down.
Chicago Tribune,

Chicago Tribune,
Looks funny, doesn't it? All the same
there are. dozen of those machines going
at least once a week in this city that the
public never heard of before. When you
understand it you will be able to tell your
friends what becomes Of the gold and
silver they leave with their uncle and
never redeem. On the dead now; don't
give me away. and l will tell you some of
the secrets of the pawnbrokers' trade"
Inc remark was made in a little dark
room in the rear of one Of the big loan
offices not far from Madison and Dearborn
streets. The proprietor went on to say the
reports show that 10 to 10 per cent of all
articles placed In ''hock" is never called
Tor. Then often gold and silver is pur-
chased outright by the pennyweight or
ounce, and In one way or another large
amount OF the precious metals is accumu-
lated. 10 turn Old-style goods into ready
casn is the problem that cOnfronts the loan
broker. Bankrupt stocks of new design
and fresh goods fill the cases in the cOun-
tiers ana show windows, and the old ma
ierlal goes into new golden eagles with
Uncle Sans stamp upon them.
On the floor of the back room, reached
after settin half dozen electric alarms
going and the pressing of numerous but
tons, was peculiar continuance looking
like 6-lnch tile stood on end with a brass
barrel covered with pipes by its side. A
copper pan, some iron tools and some thing 5
that looked like common hOwerpots lay on
the floor.
This copper barrel" said the propri-
etor, us filed with naphtha; these pipes
LEAD TO this tile or furnace this handle
here is for the forcing of air behind the
naphtha so 1t will make strong blast !;
these pots are erucibles. Into the furnace
we place the crucible, into he crucble goes
the gold. Hot. isn't it? So hot that we
are compelled to wear cOlOred glasses to
see what's going on. But that's nothing to
tue way the thing is done in Uncle Sans
furnaces. Now here goes to fill the cru
chile"
Into the stone' jar went gold Warehouses
and chains with family histories, crests
aud initials, souvenir spoons and breast
pins of forgotten dates, rings that could
have spoken of wedding bells and BIRTH
days in the long ago, golden charms, scarf
pins with the jewels removed, and odds
and ends collected in a weeks trade. The
estimated value of the hatful of stock was
$1,000 in pure gold. Into the melting COL
lection went lot of boTaX. This was TO
make the gold flow when sufficiently melt
ed. There was no smoke, nothing but a
sickly smell of naphtha, the noise Of the
blast. and the glittering witness of the
crueible.
To get closer look at the melting gold
pair of green eyeglasses was furnished.
AS the broker stirred the contents of the
crucible with an iron poker, BLACK bubbles
would come TO the top, pieces of cOarser
metal would be seen struggling to the sur
face only 10 sink back into the yellow gold
now turned to fluid. The broker lifted
the crucible out OF the furnace and poured
its white hot cohtents into an iron mold.
The mold rested in a pan of water. All
the gold settled into the mold, aud the
borax, turning black as it hit the water,
staid on top In a few moments the borax
was knocked off and out fell bar of gold
weighing several pounds. eight inches long,
and probably three-fourths Of an inch
square. After cleaning the bar it was laid
aside for shipment to the treasury.
I'VE do this once week." said the pro-
prietor as he shut eff the valve TO the naph-
tina barrel. From here the bars 60 to