i66 



THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



The revolving plate at which the potter sat was often ten or more 

 feet from the crank-wheel, and the apparatus was therefore 

 cumbersome, besides requiring the services of an extra hand. 

 This contrivance was a great improvement over the old method of 

 turning, as it secured uniformity of motion and enabled the 

 operator to devote his entire attention to his work. This style of 

 wheel, in time, was superseded by the more simple form which is 

 worked by a treadle with the left foot of the operator, and is still 

 used in many of the smaller potteries. The subjoined engraving 



Fig. 14.—" Kick Wheel (now used). 



represents one of these "kick" wheels, as made at the present 

 time by Messrs. Taplin, Rice & Co., of Akron, Ohio. This firm 

 also manufactures a power- wheel such as is now operated in the 

 larger factories, which is so constructed that the velocity can be 

 regulated by a foot-lever. 



The old methods of grinding and mixing clays by hand have 

 given place to improved mechanical processes. In olden times it 

 was customary for one or two men to manipulate the clay, which 

 was placed in a square tank sunk in the floor, with a wooden 

 shovel or paddle. Now this work is performed much more effect- 

 ively and rapidly by special machinery known as "blungers," 

 "pug" and "grog" mills, etc. Some of the improved grinding 

 mills have a capacity of twenty-five tons or more per day, and the 

 agitating and mixing machines perform the work of many men. 



I have in my possession a drawing of the old-fashioned slip 

 kiln used by Messrs. Tucker & Hemphill in 1832. This con- 

 sisted of a long horizontal brick fire-box, at one end of which 

 were built three partitions or pans, one after the other. In these 

 the slip was poured, and flues passing around the sides furnished 

 the heat necessary to dry the clay to the proper consistency. 

 This drying process was necessarily a slow one. The contents of 

 the pan nearest the fire-box would be ready for removal first, and 



