How Glass is Cut.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 184, 25 December 1886, Page 7

How Glass is Cut.

<l There are six proce«P6rf for cutting glass,'' "aid the manager of a glassware manufactory to a reporter of tlio New Yoik ••Mail." "The first ia temod roughing An iioti wheel, on which «md mixed with watordiipscontinually, digs out the pfittoi n As there aro only a fow linos traced on rhe ( gl&^s whereby to go, thus i=s a very dii'icult t,a?lc. All glass cutting i-i dotio b>- cro&faing coit.iin straight lines at certain points il, in jj;lu«3 cutting, tho wheel moves slightly fiom tho line, tho whole piece of glass is ruined. The workmen are, therefore, compelled to keep their eyes on Their woik all the time. The glass itself is made in Baccarat, Germany. It is tho finest glans made. It is termed metallic because a largo part of ib h silver. It is bought by the pound and is very expen^ivo m the bulk. '" The second process is cillecl suiootliinrr. The u heel used for this is made of Scotch Craigelii stone Water runs freely on it as ifc revolves. It smooths out all the romjrh edges on the lines which have boen dug out in tho first process. "After this come tho ditferent modes of polishing. A wooden wheel and powdered pumice stone are first used These fake out tho wrinkles on the surface of the glass Then folloNya a brush >\ith which pumice stone is uaed Then a brush and putty powder. Lastly, a buff wheel, mado o neaily fifty pieces of Canton flannel and rouge. The pieces of flannel are 100-<e, but the machinery causes them to rovolvo so rapidly, about 3,000 revolutions to the minute, that the wheel seems as hard aa a board. The last process not only polishes, bin imparts a beautiful gloss to tho surface of the glass. Then it i& finished. " There have been very few changes in the art of glass-cutting for centuries. Except that we now use steam instead of foot-power, we havo no advantage over the cutters of 200 years ago. There are only two manufacturers <f"tho rough metal in this country, and their glass is of inferior quality. Workmen have to serve a long apprenticeship before they master the trade. An expert workman receives high pay. It, is very close, confining work, and makes them all look pale. A great many Swiss and Bohemians are employed. Tho cutting of lapidary stoppers is tho most diflicnlfi work. It requires the greatest exactness, because thure are so man)' diamond-shaped figures in a small space. Very fow can do this work well. There is one old man in this country who is looked up to by all the other workmen. They say ho carries a charm. Ho ia the most expert cutter of lapidary stoppers in the country. 'Not only does he cut thovn all perfectly, but ho gives them a finer polish than anybody el?o can. lie is closely watched by his fellow-workmen, who say they have obsoived him tako something from his pocket and rub the stopper with it. He hurt been offered large eums for his secret, but has always refused to sell it. "There is of course some smashing. I think it is safe to cay that out of every five pieca*, costing 7501015. each, one ia broken. Sometimes the broken piece can bo cut to advantage, but more frequently it is valueless The broken glass is often returned to the manufacturer, because the breakage was <?ue to a flaw in the glase. This sort of glass goes through an annealing process. That is, in manufacturing it ia put in the oven a number of times at graded degrees of temperature. This hardens the glass. Ut-ually a flaw can be discovered before cntting. Much more smashing ia dono carelessly by customers downstairs than by our workmen. Clerks do their share, too. Of course the firm has to bear the expensos. " Coloured cut glass ia very expensive. The colour is put in the same way as silver plate, and then part; of it is cut away. It leaves the blended effect of colour and no colour. The polar star is one of the prettiest designs. Many customers bring us original designs which they wish made. Many of them are are very odd, and some are impossible to maka."

To Clean Bed room Water Bottles.— Those are frequently left looking anything bub bright, because apparently there is nothing handy to clean them with. French chambermaids generally ii'-e paper for the purpose. Before they empty the bottles they put in some little pieces of soft paper ; these they shake well in the bottles, empty them, and rinse with iresh water, and the bottles keep as bright, .'c: possible. In some localities, the tops ot Mater- bottles get a sorb ot fronted look from the lime in she water; wafer Avill not lemove thh : but a little common suit rubbed Avhei'over the white marks are will remove them insianUv,