282 IVORY AND THE ELEPHANT 



this way range from J to Ij in. in diameter, or from 10 

 lines to 50 lines according to the unit of measurement em- 

 ployed in button manufacture. 



The separate pieces are sorted according to size by being 

 fed into a revolving cylinder with perforations of different 

 diameters, which deposits them automatically in separate 

 bags. The product is then rapidly sorted by hand, all de- 

 fective material being rejected. Those fitted for use are 

 now immersed in hot water so as to soften them, and set 

 vertically in a lathe, where two rapidly revolving tools, 

 cutting simultaneously on the right and left, give the piece 

 the proper shape; the ring is then cut off and the shaped piece 

 falls into a case or compartment. Dust and shavings have 

 a value for polishing purposes, the rings being sold as waste 

 or utilized for fuel. 



Drilling requires more complex machinery, the holes 

 being drilled and reamed out at the same time; some of 

 these machines are automatic, others are worked by hand. 

 Each button is turned by the machine to the proper angle 

 for the drilling and reaming of the two or four holes to 

 be made. The number of buttons turned out in a single 

 day by one of the automatic machines reaches 200 gross, 

 about half as many representing the daily product of a 

 hand machine. 



As to their colouring, buttons fall into two classes, those 

 having solid colours and those of mottled colour. Those 

 of the former class are simply dyed, but for mottling are 

 used sheets of metal incised with stencils of the requisite 

 design. A number of rows of buttons — usually ten — are 

 placed on boards measuring a foot in length and breadth, 

 and the stencilled sheet having been laid over them, accu- 

 rately covering each button, the dye is blown over the stencil 

 by a mechanical atomizer; only the exposed portion of the 

 button is touched by the dyeing material. As a variety, 



