CHAPTER XIII.

DESCRIPTION OF MODERN MANUFACTURE-TINNED PLATE OR WHITE IRON-SIZES AND SUBSTANCES-THE FORGE-FORGEMEN-PIG IRON -THE DANDY FIRE-THE REFINERY-THE HOLLOW FIRE-CHARCOAL AND COKE-THE HELVE-THE MILLS-OPENING-PICKLING~ ANNEALING-TIN-PALM OIL-VITRIOL-COATING-ADVANTAGES OF TINPLATE OVER COPPER UTENSILS.

TIN-PLATE, or in other words, tinned plate, or, as the French people call it," white iron," is a material which, in a converted shape, is familiar to everybody under the name of tin; but outside of those who are unfortunate enough to be engaged in the manufacture, or are fortunate enough to deal in or convert this useful metal, few, indeed, of the world are aware that their so-called "block tin tea-pot, kettle, or dish-cover, is made of nine-parts iron, and one-part tin.

Tin-plates vary in size, in substance, in toughness, and in the nature of their coating: in sizes they vary from a sheet of 10 x 14 inches, suitable for a one-pound tin of provisions, to a sheet of 40 × 28, adapted for roofing purposes in the western states of America; in substance they differ from a sheet of taggers, as thin as paper itself, to a plate of ten times that thickness, adopted for the dish-covers of ordinary use; in toughness from a sheet which won't bend at all, to a sheet of charcoal-iron, which is equal in tenacity to leather itself. The coating varies with the purposes for which the tin-plates are required, the lightest coating is sufficient for mustard and biscuit purposes; the heaviest possible coating is desired. for dish-covers, which have to stand planishing in conversion, and will be subsequently subject to the inevitable ceaseless rubbing" in every careful household.

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The tin-plates of commerce are packed in boxes, and, as a

rule, are bought and sold under the general terms of coke or charcoal, this distinction relating of course to the nature of the iron from which the plates were made; and these qualities are again divided into best and second quality charcoal, and best and second coke,-and even these descriptions are subdivided by clever dealers into different grades of best or worst.

It is needless to say that the value of tin-plates varies with the quality: a box containing 112 sheets, 20 × 14 inches, 112 pounds, made out of the very best charcoal-iron, handsomely coated and well assorted, will fetch a price of 25s. per box, while poorly coated unassorted second coke plates will not sell for more than 20s., although the size, substance, and weight of the sheets, are identically the same.

In describing the manufacture, it should at first be understood that subsequently to the manufacture of bar-iron in the forge, the processes of rolling, shearing, pickling, annealing, coating, and sorting, are common alike and necessary for every class of plate, but are performed more or less carefully at different works, and more or less carefully according to the class of work which is in course of manufacture.

The Forge.

It is to the forge that we must look for the good or bad nature of the iron which is the foundation of the brand. Iron well made in the forge cannot be materially affected, either for better or worse, by any subsequent process of manufacture; and on the other hand, iron poorly made cannot, by all the care in the world, be improved upon, after it has taken the shape of bar-iron.

The nature and process of puddling is so well understood, that it will be sufficient, so far as the forge goes, to confine our description chiefly to the manufacture of charcoal bar iron, the variations in the quality of such iron being more in detail than in principle,-Variation may arise from the quality and quantity of the fuel and pig-iron employed and the presence or absence of judgment and care in the

regulations for use, and in the subsequent manipulation of such materials.

To commence with the manufacture of best charcoal-iron, it may be as well to describe the forge, which consists for the most part of a long, low, open shed, or building constructed of stone, roofed with pantiles, floored with iron, the roof supported upon iron pillars or arches, so arranged as to admit plenty of air; and in connection with the forge are the engine-house, boilers, and blast-house, or blowing cylinders (as the case may be). The blast or air is made to pass round the forge in cast-iron underground pipes, and is tapped off at each fire as required for use (just as water might be); the engines are so arranged as to drive the helve hammers, rolls, and shears, which, in addition to the blast, is all the machinery that is required for the manufacture of bar-iron.

Water-power was formerly employed, and is well adapted for the manufacture of iron, but the number of such sites being limited by nature, and the demand for iron being for ever on the increase, steam was first employed for the assistance of the water-wheels, and finally forges were constructed which went entirely by steam.

Economy is claimed by old-fashioned people as the great merit of water-power, and it may be so for grist and flannel mills, where time is no object, but it seems to be doubtful, where coals are cheap, whether the larger output of iron which can be produced by steam, is not sufficient to compensate for the fuel employed; to say nothing of breakage, or of the waste which results from irregular work.

The Forgemen.

The Forgemen for the most part are strong and active, able-bodied men, apprenticed to their trade at an early age, and working on till fifty or sixty in the best of health till failing strength or disposition for lighter work causes them to retire from before the Hammer.

They are dressed and work in flannel next the skin, covered with loose fitting jackets and trousers, made of white canvas