8 Introduction. 



The list of blow-pipe goods comprises: 



1) Fine Glass Instruments, which are chiefly made in Ilmenau, Mane- 

 bach, Roda, Elgersburg, Arlesberg and Schmiedefeld ; 



2) Glass Instruments for domestic use; chiefly house, window and 

 bath thermometers. Manufacturing centers: Oberweissbach. Neu- 

 haus, Mellenbach and Langewiesen; 



3) Fruits, flowers, pearls, Christmas tree ornaments, toys and puzzles, 

 marbles etc. Manufacturing centers: Lauscha, Igelshieb, Neuhaus 

 and Ernstthal. 



The social importance of the Thuringian glass-trade is mainly due to the 

 fact that in some places (Stuetzerbach, Gehlberg, Schmiedefeld, Lauscha, Neu- 

 haus) nearly the whole population takes part in the manufacture, while in other 

 localities, such as Ilmenau, Manebach, Elgersburg, Oberweissbach etc., a very 

 large part of the population derives its subsistence from this industry. With 

 the glass-industry is also intimately associated the manufacture of the frame- 

 work for glass-instruments. Thuringia supplies nearly the whole globe with its 

 glass-ware, whilst the philosophical glass -instruments are chiefly made in the 

 larger towns, e. g. Berlin, Bonn, Munic, Cologne etc. The extent and com- 

 mercial value of the Thuringian glass-trade may be gathered from the fact that 

 Thuringia produces annually about 1 million glass -instruments and at least 

 3 millions of glass -appliances. One single firm of glass -instrument makers, - 

 one of the largest concerns, however, it should be added, has an annual turn- 

 over of nearly 1 / 4 million Marks. 



The manufacture of electrical measuring instruments is proportional to 

 the enormous development of electric engineering. Partly owing to the direct 

 participation of scientists in practical work, the manufacture of galvanometers 

 of all kinds, electrodynamometers , ammeters, voltmeters, electricity -counters, 

 resistance-coils and electrical apparatus of all kinds has made great strides. 

 A great number of notable firms devote themselves to this branch of industry 

 and export considerable quantities to foreign countries. 



A large number of the hands employed in electrical engineering pursuits are 

 composed of skilled mechanicians, although owing to the whole sale system of 

 manufacture chiefly unskilled labour finds employment. An idea of the extent 

 of the German trade in electrical measuring instruments may be formed from 

 the following data: About 13000 amperemeters and voltmeters are made annually. 

 Most of these are sent abroad. Scientific instruments for electrical engineering 

 are made by 5 principal firms, which are distributed in Berlin, Munic and 

 Francfort o/M. There is, besides, a large number of smaller firms who, together 

 with instruments belonging to other departments of physical science, make 

 electrical measuring instruments. 



No less importance must be claimed for the German manufacture of 

 electro -therapeutical apparatus. The growth of the manufacture of these 

 appliances during the last 5 or 10 years results probably from the continuously 

 increasing application of electricity : 1) as a curative agent for clinical purposes ; 

 2) as the best illuminant for local examination, in particular of bodily cavities, 

 by the employment of small incandescent lamps, and 3) in operative surgery for 



