A PECULIAR INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5209, 1 December 1877, Page 2 (Supplement)

A PECULIAR INDUSTRY.

(From the Biitlsh Trade Journal.) One specialty of the Birmingham glass trade, though of uo importance as a manufacture, deserves mention as a curiosity. This is the manufacture of glass eyes fur dolls, dummies, wax-work figures, stuffed birds and beasts, &c. This singular branch of commerce is of comparatively recent date in Birmingham. It was suggested to Mr. the principal manufacturer, by the sight of some 1' reach artificial eyes in the Hyde Bark Exhibition of 1851, and some years were spent in making experiments before he was able to imitate and surpass them. The ordinary glass eyes for stuffed animals have been made iu Birmingham for many years. The business was once of sufficient importance to induce the Messrs. Osier to attempt it, but it failed iu their hands, owing to their unacquaintance with the special secrets of the trade. The processes, however, are singularly simple, though in some instances requiring great manipulating skill. The workman is provided with a number of thin glass rods, of the color required. Heating the end of one of them by means of a blowpipe, he “gathers” from it sufficient for his purpose on the end of a wire. This first gathering is generally of white or colorless glass, to form the white of the eye. He then takes the red required to form the iris, and “ gathers” from it on to tho white ; and, lastly, a little spot from a black rod is added to form the pupil. During the process, the “ gathering” on the end of the wire is rotated in the flame of the blowpipe, and occasionally pressed against a smooth surface to obtain perfect eveuness of outline. In spite of the skill required in the manufacture, and a considerable demand for the article, glass eyes are now greatly reduced in price, and the rate of wages of a few workpeople is very low.