February 23, 1922 



The Florists^ Review 



133 



How Ionia Pots Are Made 



May we tell you in this way why IONIA POTS are so generally used 

 everywhere? 



Go with us through our plant. We will first show you how we wash our 

 clay ; taking it from the pit, throwing it into large blunger mills, mixing it with 

 water and steam, churning the mass into thin mud about the consistency of 

 good soup; thence passing it through a fine wire screen (256 meshes to the 

 inch) into a reservoir ; thus all pebbles, lime stones and foreign substances are 

 removed. It is then pumped into a filter press at a pressure of 100 lbs. By 

 this operation all the water is squeezed out of the clay through strong canvas 

 cloths, leaving it in solid blocks free from every impurity. 



It is now ready to be pugged or mixed in a mixing mill, tempered to the 

 proper moisture to make it plastic by mixing knives that push it through a die 

 with a square opening. It is then ready for the next process. 



You may ask why we use this elaborate method of preparing the clay, and 

 the answer is because we can give you a smoother, stronger and better clay 

 pot. IONIA POTS are always uniform because the clay is thoroughly mixed, 

 and there is less danger of breakage from lime and pebbles. 



It is next run through a machine to mould it into small balls, varying in 

 size for the several sizes of pots made. These balls are then dipped in oil and 

 formed into pots on the pot machines. All standard pots, bulb pans and azalea 

 pots up to 12-inch are made on these machines. From the machines, they are 

 transferred on trucks to the dryer, where, in a warm temperature in circulating 

 air, they are thoroughly dried. The pots are then carefully gone over to re- 

 move any rough edges and made perfectly smooth. Then, they are ready for 

 the kilns. 



Pyrometers are used for the burning, and high temperatures are required. 

 The heat of all our kilns is thus measured accurately, and the burning seldom 

 varies a degree. It requires about 80 hours of continuous firing to bake the 

 clay into pots. The kiln is then emptied, and the storage required for the im- 

 mense stocks we carry covers 24,000 square feet. 



Adjoining our shipping department, we make our own crates from spe- 

 cially prepared material. Our packers have had long experience, take pride in 

 their work, place their own card with their name thereon in every crate. Every 

 pot is inspected twice before shipment, once on leaving the kiln and again 

 when packed. Only perfect pots are shipped. 



Our product is used in nearly every State of the Union and in Canada. 

 Freight rates are more than offset by the extraordinary value of the pots. To 

 you who do not realize the tremendous force of MERIT as built into a lowly 

 flower pot, this article is most respectfully addressed. And, too, we have es- 

 tablished our price upon its quality, the same to everyone. The GOLDEN 

 RULE has been the precept guiding us throughout many years of service. It 

 will ever continue to be the IDEAL of our business conduct. 



Sincerely and respectfully, 



IONIA POTTERY COMPANY, 



IONIA, MICHIGAN. 



