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COGGIN BROWN : MINES & MINERAL RESOURCES OF YUNNAN. 



shape of the bowl required. The bottom part is hemispherical 

 and fits exactly into the top part, just leaving sufficient space for 

 the metal to flow around and form a casting of slight thickness. 

 Both pieces are pierced with numerous holes. which do not 

 go right through, but are quite sufficient to allow of the escape 

 of the hot air from the mould through the remaining layer of porous 

 clay, during the filling operation. The upper part has four projec- 

 tions which serve as handles. The metal is poured in at the top 

 through the hollow conical portion. After being allowed to set 

 for a moment or two, the whole mould is inverted by two men 

 grasping the bamboo framework. By this means the surplus metal 

 in the filling-hole is got rid of. After being placed in its former 

 position, the ropes are untied, the framework and the upper portion 

 of the mould removed together, and the bowl (inverted now on the 

 solid hemispherical part), is lifted off with a pair of tongs. Should 

 any quantity of surplus metal be left sticking on the surface it is 

 smoothed off while the metal is still hot. The mould is repaired 

 if necessary, and before being put in the framework for another 

 filling, it ,is smoked by burning a quantity of dried grass under- 

 neath it, a special hearth being used to support the two pieces 

 during the operation. The soot so deposited serves to prevent 

 any sticking of the molten metal and to give a bright smooth surface 

 to the finished casting. The personnel of a foundry of this kind 

 consists of six men, two of whom attend to the blower, regulate 

 its speed and charge the furnace, two others perform the tilting 

 and tapping processes and the remaining two attend to the moulds 

 and castings. In another shed two moulders are employed, repair- 

 ing damaged moulds and making new ones. These workmen with 

 the aid of one furnace can turn out from 30 to 40 bowls per day. 

 They are made in seven sizes, the diameter and equivalent price of 

 each in Teng-yiieh is given in the table below : — 



Size. 



Diameter 

 (inches). 



Price, 

 (approximate). 



2 



o •••••••• 



ft 



29 

 26 

 22 

 17 

 14 

 11 

 10 



Rs. A. 

 1 10 

 1 

 13 

 10 



o e* 



5 

 4 



