ENCAUSTIC TILES 



279 



The lumps of dried clay are then broken into pieces, small enough to bo ground by 

 a suitable mill into a 8tato of powder, which is afterwards sifted, in order to separate 

 all coarse grains and obtain a fine powder, which it is desirable should consist of par- 

 ticles of uniform size as nearly as can be obtained. The powder, so prepared, is the 

 state in which the clay is ready for being moulded into the form of the intended 

 article by the new process. 



The machine and mould used for moulding articles of a small size, in powdered 

 clay, are represented in the annexed drawings, wherein fig. 835 is a lateral elevation 

 of the whole machine. 



A A is the wooden bench or table whereon the whole is fixed, that bench being sus- 

 tained on legs standing on the floor. B D B is the frame, formed in one piece of cast 



iron ; the base, B, standing on the bench, and being fixed thereto by screw bolts ; the 

 upright standard, D, rising from the base, and sustaining at its upper end the boss, E, 

 wherein the nut or box, a, is fixed for the reception of the vertical screw, F. The 

 screw, F, works through the box, a, and has a handle, G, g, h, applied on the upper 

 end of the screw ; the handle is bended downwards at g, to bring the actual handle, k, 

 to a suitable height for the person who works that machine to grasp the handle, h, in 

 his right ^ hand, and, by pulling the handle, h, towards him, the screw, F, is turned 

 round in its box, a, and descends. The lower end of the screw, F, is connected with a 

 square vertical slider, H, which is fitted into a socket, i, fixed to the upright part, D, 



