The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1903-12-11

that one piece makes two combs, the
teeth Of one comb coming from be.
tween the teeth of the other. The
teeth are rounded and pointed, with
an instrument technically known as a
grail. 1t is made of a fiat piece Of
steel, about 10 inches long and two
wide, with short haddle on one end.
The under side of this piece of steel is
filed full of teeth hooking one way, so
that it resembles the bottom of a car
penter's plane; that is full of knives to
cut number of lshavings at once.
This instrument is generally applied
by hand, but frequently by steam or
water power. These worked by power
are like a buzz saw, with very thick
hooking teeth. Dies of various pat
terms are used to cut out portions Of
the backs, when it is desirable to have
open work, or different patterns are
sawed out in small mills, with fine
Saws. The backs are sometimes orna-
mented by carving. For this process
II
and then carved by hand. The combs
are then reddished. This is simply
taking off the rough edges, after which
they are ready for the finishing shop.
In this shop they are first rubbed on
rapidly revolving Bluffs, made of old
carpet or coarse cloth, manufactured
for the purpose, on which hard coal
ashes and cinders wet with water are
applied. These being harsh, grind
away the horn, and make the surface
smooth. The combs are next washed
and then colored in nitric acid, reduced
about one-half with water. This is
heated slightly and the combs remain
in it about 10 minutes. This gives
them a color somewhat resembling
the light spots in shell. After they are
colored a mixture of Stacked lime,
pearlash and red lead, which is called
stain, is applied. This gives the horn
a dark color. 1t is put on in spots
with sponge, so as to resemble shell
as nearly as possible. The stain is al
lowed to remain on from one to two
hours. The combs are then cleansed
and dried, after which they are ready
for polishing. The black combs are
made by first applying the stain all
over them, and afterwards coloring
them in dye made of logwood. The
polishing is done by holding the COMBS
on rapidly revolving buff made ofco
ton cloth, on which is rotten stone, ros-
in are app led. These cause the como
to stick to the buff, which together
with the velocity Of it, producing heat,
soon draws down the grain of the
comb and produces very fine polish.
The combs are now bent to the shape
of the head. This is done by heating
them over f1ue, which makes them
very soft and pliable, and bending
them on blocks with straps attached
to them, to hold the combs on until
they are cool, when they will remain
in any shape they were pent when hot.
If the combs have tops to be rolled or
twisted, it is done at this stage of the
business, by heating the parts in
steam and then twisting them in any
desired shape, and holding them until
cool. Lastly, the combs are wiped off
on a clean!cotton buff and then packed
in boxes for market. The styles of
combs that are made depends entirely
upon the fashion, and as the fashion
is continually changing, the styles
have to change to keep up with it.
The latest style is plain, low neck
comb, painted in lmita ton of papier
mache. This is done after the combs
are ready for market.