THE TECHNOLOGIST. [Ma* 1, 1865. 



476 THE COMB MANUFACTURE. 



is sent forth into polite society reduced to the most fairy-like proportions, 

 elegant in its surroundings; having a highly polished exterior, a "beautiful 

 set of teeth, a graceful bend, and an elastic spring, betokening youth 

 and spirit. 



It is the laminatory character of horn that prevents the economical 

 use of mechanical aid to any large extent. The difficulties hitherto in- 

 surmountable are an erratic and diversely running grain, the raising up 

 of the fibres after every use of the file, saw, plane, or other cutting 

 instrument, and therefore the necessity for constant removal of debris 

 and dust from the product-face, and of continual polishing and guaging. 

 This latter care is needed, because the original start has to be made with 

 a thickness of horn much stouter than is needed for the perfect comb, to 

 allow for the waste of manufacture. In addition, is the requirement of 

 heat in all the processes, and that continually. These and other diffi- 

 culties have ever prevented the use of what may be termed perfect 

 mechanical appliances in this trade industry, in order to elegant, complete, 

 and rapid production. 



Let us first enter the press house. All around on our right and our 

 left lie heaps of horns, with the tips cut off, or divided lengthwise ; 

 while the ammoniacal smell of burnt oil is touching up our eyes, palates, 

 and nostrils. On one side of this shed, or out-house, is an ordinary fur- 

 nace, a sort of Tubal-Cain improvisation ; and close by, in front, is a 

 huge hammer, or kind of movable anvil, working between upright 

 iron guides, the hammer or anvil raisable by a pulley. The process 

 thus goes on. The workman in front of the furnace takes one of the 

 tipless horns (after it has been rendered pliable by heat) and with a 

 common [strong ripping knife rips open the horn lengthwise in the 

 direction of the varying grain — in other words, he merely divides the 

 horn by the grain throughout. For to cut across the grain would be 

 objectionable. The split-up horns are then again warmed (in hot water 

 and by fire), are opened out pretty flat, laid between cold iron plates, 

 and pressed quite level by aid of the before-mentioned hammer, a few 

 iron wedges and an oblong iron-bound space sunk in the furnace-floor, 

 in which plates and horn are placed. The above plan is adopted in 

 the case of " non-stained" goods. "When the goods are to be stained 

 afterwards (in imitation of tortoiseshell it may be), the heated, ripped- 

 up, and opened out horn (and please to remember that reheating has to 

 be constantly gone through in every stage of the manufacture) is placed 

 between hot steel plates, and more highly pressed so as to reduce the horn- 

 plates in thickness, and to destroy the grain of the material. Then, by 

 the aid of other processes, the horn will take the staining requisite in 

 the subsequent operations. 



The machine-room may be called the laboratory of a comb works. 

 Blazing fires, revolving lathes, choking dust, and horny abominations 

 and smells of all kinds greet your entrance. Here the horn may be 

 seen in all shapes and progress of development — receiving its direction, 



