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The book of trades; or, Familiar descriptions of the most useful trades, manufactures, and arts practised in England : and the manner in which the workmen perform their various employments.
(undated, inscribed 1829)
The glass-blower., pp. 52-53
Page 53
:iJ
GLASS BLOWER.
GLASS is a very ancient invention; the
furnace in which it is melted is round,
and has several apertures, in one of which
the fuel is introduced; the others serve to
lade out the melted matter. When the
ingredients are perfectly fused, and have
acquired the necessary degree of heat,
part of the melted matter is taken out
at the end of a hollow tube, about two
feet and a half long, which is dipped
into it and turned about till a sufficient
quantity is taken up; the workman then
rolls it gently upon a piece of iron to
unite it more intimately. He then blows
through the tube till the melted mass at
the extremity swells into a bubble; af.
ter which he again rolls it on a smooth
surface to polish it, and repeats the blow-
ing till the glass is brought as near the
size and form of the vessel required, as
he deems expedient.
There are three principal kinds of
glasses, distinguished by the manner
and form of working them; viz. round
glass, (as bottles, drinking glasses,) ta-
ble or window glass, and plate glass.
There are also several kinds of table
glass.
F 3
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