Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1901-06-19
AN EYEGLAsS FACTORY.
GOLD sPEcTAcLEs PASS THROUGH
lo4 OPERATIONS.

Determining the Focal Power 10 n Del
icate Detail of Manufacturing - Leno
Material Is Imported from Germany.
In making. gold spectacles there are
104 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 81 different
persons handle them. Steel eyeglasses
pass through SO different hands and
there are 122 operations in them.
In the lens. department at Lensdals
all styles of spectacle and eyeglass
lenses, spherical, cylindrical, prisms,
5 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-6fth 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 it in the desired
curve It then passes to the blocking
bench, which has a 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 it 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. finer grade Of
emery. This process is repeated sever
ZAP times before it receives lite 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
5 its finishing touch, and if proper care
is not taken it will lose it's spherical
alteration. The block is then inspec-
ted, apd if found correct the glass is
picked off 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 are
ready for the market.
In, the gold spectacle and eyeglass
department the first process through
which the gold goes. is alloying, for the
purpose of reducing the gold to the de-
sired karat Tnis h, ta-e-e.ae-
tomary way after melting the gold and
pouring it into bars or different sizes,
and is passed through tollers. ham
mers and drawplates until 1t, comes
out in the desired size and shape,
either in sheets or wire. The fat
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 wire grating,
and contains massive burglar-proof
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, filing,
polishing, engraving, assembling and
lens fitting it arrives at the inspection
department completed. In this de-
partment the silver spectacles and eye
glasses are also made.
In the steel department are manu-
factured 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-
ulation in each department. a rigid ex-
animation is made. -
In this department are also included
trial frames, test rings, etc, for trial
cases. The products Of this depart
ment embrace riding and single temple
spec :acles, from the finest to me-
dunn grade, and eyeglasses from the
lightest to an ordinary article, in every
combination and style. Many of the
styles recognized as standard were In
troduced by this company. The finest
tools and dies are constructed by its
workmen who have produced many
wonderful devices.
In the new Mechanic street factory
the company proc uces superior line
of eyeglasses and spectacle cases.
These are made in all grades Of leath-
er, alligator and snake skin and paper.
In this factory the company employs
$50. hands. The company buys its
leather stock at wholesale, and has
many tons Of it on hand at all times.
In this factory is also the paper box
manufacturing department. which
turns out all the boyr5 used in the COM
pany's business,
A, model carpenter shop, employing
six hands, occupies section of this
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