1891 



GLEANINGW IN JJEE CULTURE. 



t)(ii 



istied witli quality and color, and ininiodlatcly 

 jump to the conclusion that it is adalteratMi. 

 The name of the firm has certainly been long 

 enough l)efor(i the public to give assurance 

 that the wax. or whatever else that may be or- 

 dered from them, is true to name and descrip- 

 tion: and if the firm had conducted its business 

 on the plan of deception tiiey never would have 

 grown up to tlieir prestjnt prosperous proi)or- 

 tions. 



The wax is melted by steam in large wood- 

 en tanks, with a capacity of 1000 lbs. It is re- 

 duced to thin sheets in another long tank, in 

 the end of which is a i-evolving cylinder about 

 2 feet in diameter. After sheeting, it is spread 

 out upon canvas trays for bleaching. The 

 yard in the rear of the factory will contain 

 10,000 lbs. of wax, and that amount was going 

 through the interesting, course of bleaching at 

 the moment of our view, which is hei-e rejjro- 

 duced. 



When the wax is tirst put out it compacts 

 more or less; and dui'ing the first processes it 

 has to be frecjuently showei'ed with water, and 



process, but the gn^ater portion of them are 

 made in molds, in which hundreds can be made 

 in a short time, and which have a very ingen- 

 ious self-vvicking attachment. 



At present the firm are making large candles. 

 A 1.5-lb. candle was too much of a temptation 

 for our Hawkeye to pass by, and we here give 

 the appearance of it by the side of a workman. . 

 The largest candle made by them weighed 75 

 lbs. These large candles are made for mer- 

 chants. The latest popular advertising fad is 

 to set up one of these mammoth candles in a 

 store, touch a match to the wick, and let peo- 

 ple guess how long it will bui'u. Of course, th(^ 

 one guessing nearest will get a suit of clothes, 

 a piano, or a building lot, and the merchant get 

 a power of advertising. Another important 

 branch of manufacture is a relined article for 

 the drug trade. This is put up in small fancy 

 cakes, and sent to all parts of the countiy. 



A majority of the workmen are Germans. 

 The leading industry of Bavaria has foi- years 

 been the making of cliurch candles, and their 

 product is the best in thewoi-ld; but from the 



ANOTHEK VIEW OF THE BLEACHING-yAHP. 



worked over by hand to keep it in a loose and 

 arable condition. As tlie process draws toward 

 completion it is then shielded from wet or rain 

 by being placed under protecting sheds if a 

 shower should rise. The bleaching process 

 also develops other features in foreign wax. 

 Some will not bleach at all. When the bleach- 

 ing process is finished on good wax it has a 

 pearly whiteness good to look upon. After 

 bleaching, colors ai-e incorporated in the wax, 

 and the artist in wax has a wide Held to exer- 

 cise his artistic taste. Church, fancy, and toy 

 candles are made in large numbers in all shades 

 and colors, and in all stages of decoration. 

 .Some candles are made aftei' the old dipping 



number and variety in tliis manufactory we 

 think Bavaria has a worthy I'epresentative in 

 Syracuse. A cheapei' grade of candles is also 

 made of paraffine and stearine. Ceresin is also 

 used. This latter product comes from Silesia, 

 Austria, and is almost like wax, but it eventu- 

 ally hardens and becomes tough like rubber. 



The firm have never manufactured founda- 

 tion, except in an experimental way. The ex- 

 periment was not a success: and from points 

 we have learned since visiting the factoi-y, we 

 think the result of further dealings in the 

 aforesaid line will lesult only in money out of 

 their own pockets. 



The founders of this establishment have gone 



