998 



TIN 



through three iron moulds of a horse-shoo form, as shown in the centre of the cut, 

 while they are at the same time moistened from a water cylinder placed above them. 



1977 



The tiles are next cut off to such lengths as are wanted, and carried away by an end- 

 less web, whence they are transferred by boys to the drying shelves. 



Flat tiles, for sole pieces to draining tiles, are formed in nearly the same manner, 

 being divided into two portions while passing through the moulds ; the quantity of 

 clay used for one draining tile being as much as for two soles. 



By hand, the work is divided between a moulder and a rough moulder. The latter, 

 a boy, takes a piece of clay and squares it up, that is, beats it up into a slab nearly 

 the shape of the mould, and about 4 inches thick, from which he cuts off a thin slice 

 the size of a tile, and passes it to the moulder. The moulder sands his stock-board, 

 and, regulating the thickness of the tile by four pegs, on which the mould is placed, 

 he puts the piece of clay with which he is supplied into the mould ; he then smooths 



1978 



the surface with his very wet hands, removes the superfluous clay, and moulds 

 it into a curved shape. They are then placed to dry, with the convex side upper- 

 most ; when half-dry the tiles are taken out one by one, placed on the thwacking 

 frame, and beaten with the thwacker to produce the required shape ; when dry they 

 are kilned. 



The following plan of a furnace, or kiln, for burning tiles has been found very 

 convenient : 



Fig. 1978, front view, A A, B B, the solid walls of the furnace ; a a a, openings to the 

 ash-pit, and the draught-hole ; b b b, openings for the supply of fuel, furnished with 

 a sheet-iron door. Fig. 1079, plan of the ash-pits and air-channels c c c. The prin- 

 cipal branch of the ash-pit ~o D D, is also the opening for taking out the tiles, after 

 removing the grate ; K, the smoke-flue. Fig. 1980, plan of the kiln seen from above. 

 The grates, H H H. The tiles to be fired are arranged upon the spaces //// 



Of late years the manufacture of encaustic tiles and tesserae for tesselated pavements 

 has been greatly improved by Messrs. Minton of Stoke-upon-Trent, and Messrs. Maw 

 and Co. of Broseley in Shropshire. The production of such tiles by Prosser's patent is 

 fully described under ENCAUSTIC TILES. 



TILTING OF STEEL. See STEEL. 



TUT. (fitain, Fr. ; Zinn, Ger.) Symb. So. ; At. tut. 118. This metal, in its pure 

 state, has nearly the colour and lustre of silver. In hardness it is intermediate 

 between gold and lead ; it is very malleable, and may be laminated into foil less than 

 the thousandth of an inch in thickness ; it has an unpleasant taste, and exhales on 

 friction a peculiar odour; it is flexible in rods or straps of considerable strength, 



