Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 May 1874 — Fish, Scale Ornaments. [ARTICLE]

Fish, Scale Ornaments.

Among recent patents is that of preparing fish scales for use in the | arts, of vylnch the following is a ' specificatiofr: 1 The object of the invention is :to utilize the scales of several varieties of fish, hitherto thrown away as useless, and prepare them i for application in the hrts, by pro- ' ducing articles of jewelry, artificial ‘ flowers, and similar objects. This i invention consists in the process of 1 cleansing and purifying the scales , till the clear, horny substance or core of the same is obtained, which produces a new article of manufac- . time, which may be stamped into various ornamental shapes and dyed in all colors, for use in the arts. ! . Large scales are the most advan- ! tageous, taken from fresh fish. — ' Old scales cannot be used, as they i lack elasticity and clearness. The ' fresh scales are exposed for twentyI four hours to the action of pure fl and par--1 tially separating the outer layer of I organic matter. They are then I transfered to distilled water, being ! placed every two or three hours in clean water and washed therein I five or six times, which renders tli’escales soft and clear. Each scale is then riiobed with clean linen rags, then passed through a press having a linen lining so as to remove the moisture m the scales. The scales are placed for one hour in alcohol, and again rubbed and pressed, "when they..arc_<lry_an.d have a perfect clear appearance, a mother-of-pearl-like hue, and great elasticity and durability. The scales are used in this state, or they may be dyed with aniline_ and other colors, in the usual man-_ner,-to be stamped into . various kind of ornamentaLsliapes, leaves, and flowers, ami applied to the manufacture of jewelry and artificial flowers, for embroidering and inlaying wood, and other uses in the arts.