Manufacture of Tin-Plate. 149 



ion weight of metal. That which is taken out of the wash-pot 

 when it is replenished with pure metal, is given to the tin-man 

 to put into his pot. 



When the plates are taken out of the wash-pot, they are care- 

 fully brushed on each side with a brush of hemp of a peculiar 

 kind, and made expressly for the purpose. As this part of the 

 business requires considerable adroitness and expedition, it may 

 be worth while to explain it a little more in detaiL 



The wash-man first takes a few plates out of the wash-pot, 

 and lays them together before him on the stow, — he then takes 

 one plate up with a pair of tongs, which he holds in his left 

 band, and with a brush held in his right hand brushes one side 

 of the plate, — he then turns it, and brushes the other side, and 

 immediately dips it once more into the hot fluid metal in the 

 wash-pot, and without letting it out of the tongs, instantly with- 

 draws it again, and plunges it into the grease-pot (marked No. 

 3.) adjoining to the wash-pot from whence he had just taken it. 



A person who has not seen the operation, can form but a very 

 inadequate idea of the adroitness with which this is performed 

 — practice, however, gives the workman so much expedition, 

 that he is enabled to make good wages, although he obtains only 

 three-pence for the brushing and metallic-washing of 225 plates. 

 I am informed that an expert wash-man, if he makes the best of 

 his time, will wash 25 boxes, consisting of 5,625 plates in twelve 

 hours ; notwithstanding every plate must be brushed on both 

 sides, and dipped twice into the pot of melted tin. 



Why the plates should be dipped twice during this part of 

 their manufacture, may perhaps require some explanation. It 

 must be recollected that they are brushed quite hot, and before 

 the tin is set, therefore, if they had not the last dip, the marks 

 of the brush would be visible. Moreover, the brush takes the 

 greatest part of the tin off them, so that if they were removed to 

 the grease-pot without being re-dipped, the hot grease would 

 take off what remained. 



The only use of the grease-pot is to take off any superfluous 

 metal that may be upon the plates — but this is an operation that 

 requires great attention, because, as the plate is immersed in the 



