The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-03-22
THIRD PIECE OF
VULCAN is READY
Plaster Cast of the Head Has
Been Mended
WILL Be READY IN TIME
Iron Figure Must Be In st. Louis Be-
fore April 20, as Railroad Tracks
In Grounds Are Taken
Up That Day.
WILL Be READY IN TIME

The third piece OF Nulcdh 70 DC East
was yesterday taken from the moulds,
and found to be perfect. There was not
flaw in the casting, and 1t has been
taken out of the bed and moved outside
of the building where 1t will be cleaned
off and gotten in condition to be put
in place as soon as the remainder of the
figure Is ready.
The plaster cast of the head Is about
ready to turn over to the men in the
foundry. In moving the head from one
part of the foundry to another several
days ago 1t caved In, and fell, breaking
into about forty pieces Sculptor Moretti
and his assistants have taken these
pieces and patched them together until
it is impossible to tell that the head
was ever broken.
Many people seem not to understand the
present condition of the figure and how
it was made. The entire figure Is hollew,
and the plaster cast is merely a shell of
plaster about two to three inches in thick
ness It Is propped on the inside by
pieces of planking bracing from one side
to another, and held in place by the
plaster.
How Cast IL Made.
In making a casting these shells are
surrounded by a brick work which con-
forms exactly to the lines Of the figure,
and so built that they can be taken
apart In sections and the outlines of the
figure left intact on the masonry. A
thin coasting of loan, black sand pre-
paration which comes In sections about
six inches square and which adheres to
anything. is then laid inside of the brick
moulding. This is baked hard, and then
core of brickwork Is built up on the in
side of the other mound, and made to
conform to the inside lines of the loam
The outer mould is then removed again
and the loan is taken out The outside
mould Is replaced around the core, and
a hollow place the thickness of the
loan is removed. The entire mould and
core is then placed in a large pit, baked
and then rivited SO that IL cannot move
a fraction of an inch. The iron is then
poured into 1t and allowed to settle
when the core Is broken away and the
iron is removed the iron casting is an
exact reproduction of the plaster cast
the thickness of the shell being the same
VIII Be Ready In Time.
There has been some fear expressed
that the figure would not be completed
In time to be erected at st. Louis by
April 20, at which time the railroads
tracks into the fair grounds are to be
taken up, but at the foundry the opinion
is expressed that the work will be COM
pleted.
The castings have been so successful
that the people around the foundry think
they will be able to complete the figure
without trouble. They are ready now to
cast the legs from the knees downward
including the feet, and 1t Is expected that
by tomorrow night one Of them will be
cast. and the other will follow quickly.
Then every man In the foundry will be
put to work on the head and shoulders,
the only remaining parts to be cast.
1t has required about $4,000 pounds Of
metal to make the three castings, and the
remaining portions will require about TO-
900 pounds more. The force at the foun-
dry is being made larger so that the cast
ings may be completed as rapidly as pos
sible
Best Iron Worker In City.
Charlie Ledbetter, one of the best iron
men in the city, will take charge of the
work today. He has been employed in
several of the iron manufacturing places
in the city as foreman, and 1t is expected
that his constant attendance at the foun-
dry and his suggestions will materially
push the work.
The head which was broken several
days ago is completely mended except
small portions on top of the forehead
where an extra piece several inches long
and as many wide will have to be sub
stituted for the part broken. Mr.. Morett
is making this piece, and will finish
It this morning The she'll of the head
is slightly thicker than 1t was formerly
and will be better able to Withstand any
pressure which might be made on it in
making the moulds