Year: 1860

lrlom tue fhlladelphla Ledger, March


very interesting branch of PHILADELPHIA
manufactures is the making Of incorruptible
teeth Originally, natural or human teeth, as
well as sheep teeth, and these cut from ivory or
from tho teeth of the hippopotamus, were used


fIty years ago there was not porcelain tooth
made In this country; twenty years ago not
more than 25O, 900 were manufactured annually
In the United States, and but a trif1ing number
in Europe. Since this the demand has been
steadily increasing, owing chiefly to the great
improvements made in their manufacture and
their more perfect applicability to the pur-
poses designed, combining beauty and utility
to such degree as to leave almost nothing
more to be wished for. Now at least 3 900. .OO6
OF teeth are annually made in this country
alone.
ma,hs,,6 Ihe first operation is the choosing of the
clay, all of which are found in great abundance
In various parts of the United States. To these
are adde very metallic oxides to produce any
shade OF color desired. The feldspar clay. &C..
are ground to an impalpable powder under
water, dried, and made into paste That
composing the body of the tooth is of different
materials to that composing the base or enamel.
The teeth are made in brass moulds and this
Is quite a delicate process. The enam ell is first
put IN place with a small steel spatula; the
platinum rivets, by which the teeth are fas-
tened to the plate, are placed in position, and
then the body is pressed into the mould They
are then submitted to powerful pressure and
dried. After being dried they are submitted
to process called biscuiting, in which state
they can be cut like chalk. They are then
sent to the trimmers, who scrape off all pro-
lectlons, and fill up all depressions which may
have been left in the operation of moulding,
and then wash them with what is technically
termed enamel. This is composed of various
substances, more fusible than the tooth itself.
and answers the glaze in common porcelain
making. 1t is ground to fine powder and
suspended in water, and it is laid on with
camels hair brush. They are now sent to the
gummers, who apply the gum This is chiefly
composed of oxide of gold, and is applied in
the same manner as the enamel. After being
dried they are burned. This operation is car.
ried on in muffle. The teeth are placed on
bed of crushed quartz, which is placed on
slab OF refractory clay. After being exposed
to an intense heat for some hours, they are
taken out, cooled, and assorted for sale. Each
tooth is subjected to ten different process


A large amount Of capital is invested in this
business. The brass mOulds alone are heavy
expense. These 700 in number in one establish
ment, and producing nearly 5000 different
shapes and styles, cost not less that SIS. 900.
The platinum is the heaviest item of expendi-
ture. Of this, no less than 300 ounces were used
In one house alone, and costing at the common
price 50 per ounce-S2, 400 in one month for the
single item of platinum. The platinum rivets
are cut from the wire by machine especially
adapted for the purpose. Another heavy item
is that of wages. Employing about 100 opera.
tives, its expenses in this department average
$500 per week. A large proportion of the work
Is done by females. The same house can turn
out 1900 finished teeth per month, or about
1,ooo per day, and the value of it's yearly pro-
auction does not fall far short of $3.50, 900.