THE PRODUCTS OF CLAY AND FIRE 



the case of an ordinary plate or saucer this mold 

 would represent the face, or upper surface, of the dish, 

 and when the bat is pressed upon it the upper surface 

 of the dish is formed. This is then placed upon the 

 revolving spindle, above which is the arm holding the 

 tool for cutting the under surface. This tool is a metal 

 blade, the edge of which represents the outline of one 

 half the bottom surface of the plate. This blade is 

 depressed by means of a handle, and as it descends 

 it cuts off the clay, making a perfect surface and being 

 set so that the lowest point to which it descends repre- 

 sents the desired thickness of the dish. 



To run such a machine to its full capacity, the 

 "jiggerer," as the machine workman is called, must 

 have two or three boys as assistants. One of these, 

 who runs the batting-machine, takes a lump of clay, 

 throws it on the plaster head of the batting machine, 

 depresses the lever, and makes a bat of the required 

 thickness. This he throws upon the surface of the 

 mold with sufficient force to expel all air bubbles, and 

 hands the mold with the clay attached to the jiggerer, 

 who fastens it on the head of his machine and sets it 

 revolving by pressing a lever. Moistening the palm of 

 his hand, the jiggerer presses it firmly upon the whirl- 

 ing clay, using sufficient force to cause it to fill the mold 

 completely. If the piece is of somewhat large size he 

 must use considerable force, to do which he presses 

 one hand upon the other. He then cuts off the super- 

 fluous clay on the edges, pulls down the cutting tool, 

 and forms the bottom of the piece by steady pressure 

 until the tool will descend no further. Then with 

 VOL. ix. i; [257] 



