Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 January 1911 — About Diamond Cutting. [ARTICLE]

About Diamond Cutting.

In the diamond cutting industry the sawing-machine has superseded the cleaver's hammer and splitter to a large extent during the last few years. To divide diamonds by sawing, a thin disc of steel or phosphor-copper, revolving some 3,000 times * minute, slowly cuts through the diamond in any desired direction. In Amsterdam, as elsewhere, the diamond Industry Is for the greater

part in the hands of members of the Jewish community. . It was originally a home industry, and was eonductedln attics, of which there are many in the old tumbledown houses of Amsterdam. Gradually better workshops were seen to be essential, and the first factory to use steam power was erected in London In 1824, and the first in Amsterdam in JB4O. Electricity is now largely used. The largest diamond polishing factory in the world is that of Messrs. Asscher of Paris, and Amsterdaip. The total value of diamonds handled In Amsterdam per annum exceeds $21,250,000. of which the United States, the most important buyer, purchases about $lO.000,000 polished, and $500,000 rough.