PENS, STEEL

The best metal, made from Dannemora or hoop ( L ) iron, is selected, and laminated into slips about 3 feet long, and 4 inches broad, of a thickne corresponding to the desired stiffne and flexibility of the pens. These slips are subjected to the action of a stamping-pre , somewhat similar to that for making buttons. (See Button , and Plated Ware .) The point destined for the nib is next introduced into an appropriate gauged hole of a little machine, and pre ed into the semi-cylindrical shape; where it is also pierced with the middle slit, and the lateral ones, provided the latter are to be given. The pens are now cleaned, by being to ed about among each other, in a tin cylinder, about 3 feet long, and 9 inches in diameter; which is suspended at each end upon joints, to two cranks, formed one on each of two shafts. The cylinder, by the rotation of a flywheel, acting upon the crank-shafts, is made to describe such revolutions as agitate the pens in all directions, and polish them by mutual attrition. In the course of 4 hours several you sand pens may be finished upon this machine.