The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1901-07-13
AN EYEGLASS FACTORY.
GOLD SPECTAcLeS PASS THROUGH
iO4 OPERATIONS.

|
Material L. Imported from Germany.
In making gold spectacles there are
1O4 operations. and they pass through
81 hands. In gold eyeglasses there
are los operations, and they pass
through "a hands. In steel spectacles
there are 81 operations and 67 different
persons handle them. Steel eyeglasses
pass through SO different hands and
there are 122 operations in them.
| In the lens department at Lensdale
all styles of spectacle and eyeglass
| lenses, spherical, cylindrical, prisms.
pebbles. colored lenses, &c, are made.
The lens stock is not made in this
country, but is imported in the rough
from Germany, England and France.
1t comes in oblong plates, squares,
| rounds or ovals. 1t is gauged as to
thickness by running through a gaug-
ing machine, which separates the sizes
to within variation of one-fifth of a
millimeter. The stock is deposited in
large bins and then goes to the block
ers. These blocks are cast iron, vary
ing in diameter from three to % inch
es. The company makes its own laps.
and 2500 different kinds are required.
The blocks are heated in an oven, then
passed to a cement kettle to receive
a covering of cement, which soon cools,
when the block is taken out with the
cement sticking to 1t in the desired
curve. 1t then passes to the blocking
bench. which has steam plate cover
ed with the desired thickness of glass.
The glass Is taken from the steam
plate and attached to the block.
The future value of the lens is de-
termined by the skill with which these
operations are done. After the cement
Is cooled 1t is ready for the grinding
machines. These machines were con-
structed by this company from models
designed especially for the purpose.
and are the largest for this work ever
built. The laps are In upright condi-
ton and revolve in conjunction with
the block with peculiar compound
motion. whereby the desired service
on the lens is obtained. The lens Is
thus roughed out, after which it Is
washed, then returned to the machine
to be ground with a finer grade Of
emery. This process Is repeated sever
al times before it receives ite final
polish.
A thick coat Of felt covers the polish
ing lap, which is constantly fed with
rough and water.
Much care is required in this pro-
cess, as the lens at this point receives
its finishing touch, and II proper care
is not taken it will lose its spherical
alteration. The block is then inspec-
ted, and if found correct the glass is
picked of with sharp instrument,
cleaned of cement and then ground
and polished on the reverse side.
When completed the lenses are placed
in separate receptacles, washed thor
oughly and go to another department
for final inspection. This is performed
by girls, who examine them as to
quality, dividing them into two grades.
The lens is then placed in focusing
machine to determine the focal power.
They are then wrapped in papers, each
paper containing six pairs. and arc
ready for the market.
In the gold spectacle and eyeglass
the first process through
which the gold goes is alloyins. for the
purpose Of reducing the gold to the de-
sired karat. This is done in the GUS
tomary way after melting the gold AMI
pouring it into bars or different sizes,
and is passed through tollers, ham,
mers and drawplates until it comes
either in sheets or wire. The fiat
stock is used for the bows and end
pieces Of spectacles, and handles. ears
and catches for eyeglasses, which are
formed by punching dies. The wire
is made for nose pieces and springs
and also grooved for eyestock.
A separate room for this gold ma
terial is guarded by a wire grating.
and contains massive burglar-proot
vaults. This stock Is distributed to
the workmen and accounted for by a
system Of checks. After having passed
through the various stages Of nose
piece forming, gold soldering. fling.
polishing. engraving, assembling and
lens fitting it arrives at the inspection
department completed. In this de-
oartment the silver spectacles and eye
glasses are also made.
In the steel department are manu-
ractured all the steel. German silver.
alumnico and Roman alloy spectacles
and eyeglasses. The steel used Is OF
American make, and Is received in
sheets, strips and wire. After manip- |
llation in each department, rigid ex-
animation is made.
In this department are also included
rial frames, test rings, etc, for trial
Eases. The products Of this depart
nent embrace riding and single temple
;pectacles, from the finest to me-
lium grade, and eyeglasses from the
ightest to an ordinary article, in every
and style. Many Of the
tyles recognized as standard were in
reduced by this company. The finest
ools and dies are constructed by Its
vorkmen who have Produced many !
wonderful devices.
In the new Mechanic street factory
he company produces ! superior line
4 eyeglasses and spectacle cases,