CLAY MANUFACTURES. 707 
circumference at a stroke, boring in succession each plate of clay, 
spread out on its table, under a compound piston. ‘This piston is 
arranged to cut off the edge of the plate in a symmetrical shape, 
and then to press it into the required shape. The pressed tiles are 
removed and set in piles to dry. Drying takes about two weeks, in 
a steam-heated chamber, as the oil used in the pressing of the clay hinders 
the escape of the water. They are finally piled in loose order in a kiln to 
a depth of about 6 feet, and subjected to a light burn. The kilns 
employed are circular down-drafts. The ware is of several classes—Ist, 
shingle-tile, which are more like shingles than anything else, being 
slabs of burnt clay 12/’x6’’x3”’ with holes in proper places for nailing 
them to the roof; their uses are as nearly like those of a real shingle as 
well can be; about 5 inches of each tile are exposed to the weather. The 
so-called diamond-tile are made to hook into each other, so that on roofs 
of not too great slant they all support each other, but are also supple- 
mented by nails. They are more ornamental than the shingle-tiles, but 
as they are more dependent on each other for support, they are not so 
durable or strong. One of the chief objections to a tile roof is its 
weight ; a ten-foot square of plain shingle tile weighs about 1,100 pounds, 
and the same area of diamond-tile weighs from 650 pounds to 850 pounds. 
The advantages claimed are durability, beauty, and immunity from 
_ danger by fire or lightning. The factory has a capacity of about 9,000 
tile daily, and employs 20 men. There is little competition in the 
line. Cincinnati has also an establishment for this manufacture. 
The use of flooring-tile, other than encaustic, is very limited; the 
production of a square or hexagonal tile for pavements and cellars is 
carried on in a few places, but the widest use of such tiles is in making 
the floors of the fire-brick works. 
The manufacture of various hollow-tiles is in a much more vigorous 
state than that of the flat varieties. Building-tile or hollow-tile, 
actually laid ina wall with mortar just like stone-blocks, is made in one 
establishment in Summit county, but nowhere else. The use of this 
article is so limited that the manufacture scarcely deserves description, 
but the disposition of the plant for handling the ware is uncommon and 
ingenious and is likely to be of value elsewhere. The clay is ground and 
tempered in tracing mills and put through an ordinary ‘‘auger” machine 
which is provided with adjustable dies. The commonest shape is a 
square tile about 6 inches on a side, 12 inches long, and # inches thick. 
