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MAKING PEARL BUTTONS AT MUSCATINE, IOWA 



1 The shells of the river mussels arc soaked a few days to 3 In automatic machines the tops are cut and the holes 



toughen them. arc made. 



2 Disks called "blanks" are cut by holding the shell in 4 The sorting of the polished buttons precedes sewing 



tongs against a circular saw. them on cards 



