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How Lamp Chimneys Are Made

How Lamp Chimneys Are Made image
Parent Issue
Day
3
Month
February
Year
1886
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

No kind of nianufacturing Is so interestiriji to nmny peoplc as glass uiaking, :ni(i U really desorves attention for the use of glasa a universal, being execcded Uy no other artlcle uiiless it be Iron. Tliere are quite a rariety of kinda of Slasn, and the coraposition lias been very niuch cliauged duriug the past fewyears. For nstance, we eldom get the good Hint glasswure formerly made. We may visit the stores ia vain to flnd a dozen flint gobtets. Henee the frequent and easv breakage, at wbich so niany liave woadered. This difference is explained by Ifce use of what raanufacturers cali limeglass (made of lime, soda-ash and sand) wliicli makes cheap and nice looklnyglass, but it is the "easy break" kind While real flint (or lead) glags, made froni potaab, lead and sand, is'mucli more durable, beiup a better conductor of heat and a very much tougher ware. It is sourewhut more expensive but cheaper m the end to the consumer. Mauy people tliink "glass is glass, ' and do Hot kuow what to buy or what kind of clilmneys to cali for. One thing can be depended upon, viz.: that if no mentlon is made, and even theu sometimes, the commonest kind of breakable Lime Glass chimney will bc handed over the counter, and ten to one, by the time ou gets com lortably scatcd to rcad away goes the chimuey. On a visit to the manufactory of Geo. A. Macbcth & Co. of Pitttburgh, Pa., who employ in their'works about 800 men lio are found as busy as bees, uinking lamp chimneys at the rate of from 125,000 to 150,000 per week. Their procees of manufacturinji, and materials used, are both curious and interestlng. Kirst. tlifv fínd tlu nnr u i,;t.. ......i found in but few localities, which when thoroughly waalled and dried, is almost white as snow. Thert the potash (purltied) and the lead, n the form of oxide, perfect ly pure are added to the sind and thoroüjiliiy mixed uötil the hatoh resembles orclinury sugar in frrain, but is quite red in color, lt is now rendy to go into the pot- twenty-four In nuniber, made of ti peculiar kind of clay, being from 42 to48 inches in heighth and about the Bame in width. The pots are elosed at the top9, to preventie fire from Injuring the melted glass, with the mouth on the side near the top. The furnace belng circular, the pots when placed in position, and covered with flre brick, present their open mouths only, and when looked at resembles a hot sutnmer's sun. When in this condition the pot s fllled with the mixture above nienüoued, elosed tight, and in about 24 hours it is ready to wolk. A worknuin called a gatherer, dips his pipe into the melted mass and gathers enough on to end to muke a chimney. This he rolls on a smooth iron plate to get eveuly on end of pipe, when he blows it up, and proceedg to f rm the lower part of chimney, which fits the burner, whicli ho does by forming a small knob on the end of the now pear-shaped buil), giving a sharp stroke with his shears breaks the ktiob off leaving a small hole in the bottom of the buil). lt is now heated red hot again, and the lower end off the chimney fornied by the blower whirling and spreading the glass tli a tooi resembling sheep shears, but larger and narrower blades. The chiranqy is aow broken off the 'nlple and put into a "snap'1 an instrument which holds t as one would clutch au apple in tlie hand, and heated red hot again. The top is flnished by mactiinery invented and ownyd by the tinn, making it bell-shaped, and beaded on the top, from which the ouiuiney. gets thti mime "Pearl Top,"distinsuishing them frora the orilinary snmped or scalloped tops made of poor giaes.

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Subjects
Ann Arbor Courier
Old News