Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-10-10
ORNAMENTS OF COAL.
JAPANESE TURN THEM OUT
WITH CRUDE MACHINERY.
Many Inexpensive Pieces Of Jewelry
Made from the "Black Dia-
monds" by Industrious
Workers.

The Queerest jewelry ever saw is in
Japan, which country had occasion to
visit last year, writes a correspondent
in the jewelers. Circular Weekly. One
day | was offered chance to purchase
cane of hard wood, neatly polished
and finished, with the top portion set
off with some black glistening gems. l
examined the glossy black specimens
and discovered them to be coal. But
the finishing effect and the general de-
sign presented beautiful appearance,
and 1 bought the cane
After that 1 looked about for some of
the shops in Nagasaki where the thrift
ty japanese jewelers. produce orna-
ments from the coal heaps of the
wharves 1t appears that it is a prac-
tice Of the japanese coal workers to
save out certain samples of the coal
which are suitable to dispose of to the
metal workers. In the course of the
day two or three pieces of hard, brittle,
glossy black coal are selected.
The agent of the jeweler appears on
the scene on his regular trip, and for
a few pennies buys up the chosen pOr-
tons. These pieces of coal are bundled
together in sack and taken to the
shops of the ''black diamond" workers,
so-called. This is the term applied by
the American tourist to the busy little
Japanese workers in metals and Goals.
OF course the jewelry thus made is ex-
ceedingly inexpensive.
The Japanese metal worker does not
expect to make more than half dollar
a day. He usually makes cane heads,
neck gems, rings, chains and trinkets
in general for the public. Often these
are made at his home in his little shop.
Chen, again, found several of these
workmen engaged together, with boss
to direct them. 1t is customary for one
or more members of the working party
to solicit custom frequently. In fact,
some one is out all the time with sam
PIES
The process of attaching the coal bits
to the article is not difficult as prac-
ticed by the japanese. There is base
made by grinding and gouging, and
this base is furnished with a surfacing
of cement stuff bearing the properties
of the elasticity of rubber. Into this
enforcement composition the parti-
cles of coal are pressed and the COM
position is allowed to harden. When
hard, perfect grip is obtained on the
coal, and the pieces will not work
loose.
One workman devoted his spare time
for weeks in modelling about ten inches
of links. A tourist purchased it for
two dollars. The links were made on
the plan that the ingenious boy makes
the links of chain from a solid stick
of wood. These black links were given
a good polish by being dipped in some
native polishing solution for coating,
causing the chain to shine brilliantly
The natives do a great deal of grind
ing and rubbing when finishing the coal
jewels. The more friction applied, the
richer is the gloss. One may find sew
eral patterns of emery wheels, buff1ng
use. The workmen of this country are
not nearly as up-to-date with their me-
chanical devices as are the soldiers at
the front with their modern equip.
ments of war E9
found many jewelers. and other ar
tisans employed with. the crude appar
atus used generations ago. The arti-
san calculates to have a boy or two
about the place to turn the cranks for.
grinding and polishing wheels. Now
and then l saw foot power used. o.
casionally I discovered that an engine
or electric motor had been installed
and power secured from these sources,
but the great bulk of this kind of work
is done by manual exertion.
No doubt after the war there will be
innovations in the mechanical work in
the shops of the artisans, and those
of the coal workers.; will be supplied
with up-to-date contrivances, but at
present they are very crude.
In speaking with oneof the proprietors
of black diamond shop 1 was told that
the very hardest of high grade Goals
should be selected for this ornamental
work The pieces should be ground
down to the proper form and should be
literally polished Then comes the set
ting of the Goals or piece of coal in
position on the article, followed by a
final CLOSING by the use of oils and a
soft cloth. This final polish is usually
done by hand. Then, the jewels are
ready for the market.