Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 October 1874 — Gold Leaf Manufacture. [ARTICLE]

Gold Leaf Manufacture.

The process of gold-beating is exceedingly interesting in its various details, and is one which requires the exercise of judgment, physical force and mechanical skill. The coin is first reduced in thickness by being rolled through what is known as a “ mill,” a machine consisting of iron rollers operated by steam power. It is then annealed by being subjected to intense heat, which softens the metal, and next cut up and placed in jars containing nitro-muriatic acid, which dissolves the gold and reduce"! if to a mass resembling Indian pudding, both in color and in form. This solution is then placed in a jar with copperas, which separates the gold from the other components of the mass. The next process is to properly alloy the now pure gold, after which it is placed in crucibles and melted, from which it is poured into iron molds called" ingots, which measure ten inches in length and one inch in breadth and thickness. When cooled it is taken out in the shape of bars and then rolled into what are called “ ribbons,” usually measuring about eight yards in length, of the thickness of ordinary paper, and retaining their original width. These “ ribbons” are then ctit in pieces one and a quarter inches square, and placed in what is called a “ cutcli,” which consists of a pack of French paper leaves resembling parchment, each three inches square, and the pack measuring from threequarters of an inch to one inch in thickness. They are then beaten for half an hour upon a granite block, with hammers weighing from twelve to fifteen pounds, after which they are taken out and placed in another pack of leaves called a “slioder.” These leaves are four ancka half inches square, and the gold in the “slioder” is beaten for four hours with hammers weighing about nine pounds; after which the gold leaves are taken out of the "shoders” and placed'in what are.called “molds.” These “ molds” consist of packs of leaves similar to theDtlier packs and made of the stomach of an ox. After being made ready in the “ molds” the gold is beaten for four hours more with hammers weighing six or seven pounds each. The thinner the leaf becomes the lighter are the hammers used, and it is also necessary in beating the gold, especially in striking the ” mold,” that the blow should be given with the full flat of the hammer and directly in the center of the " mold.” The leaf after being taken out of the “ mold” is cut into squares of three and three-eighths inches, and placed in “ books” of common paper. Each “book” consists of twenty-five leaves, twenty “books” constituting what is known as a “ pack.”— lron Age. To Do Red Cabbage. —Slice right across perfect ones, .and put into a tray or jar, first a layer of cabbage well salted, then salt, then cabbage salted, layer upon layer. Then, after draining off Hie brine, , beat vinegar enough to cover, adding an ounce of mace to each quart of vinegar and a handful of whole peppier. Just let it beat well —not bpil. Then pour it over the cabbage. When it is cold, tie it up. Use white wine vinegar; about Six quarts of vinegar will be sufficient for eight good-sized cabbages.— Cor. Western Rural. The jiawer of cash in hand was never so near omnipotent in Europe as in the current Season. Tons of silks, laces, shawls and everythifig have thus come into American purchasers’ hands at prices which will prove a great temptation even to those who have not a fortune to spen4 in dress. * - _ <9 Forestville, Cliuatauqua County, N. Y.v- has a sensation in the shape of a child three weeks old, whose heart is located in the middle of its breast and covered only by a thin membrane, so that it is plainly Visible, and eapable of .being lifted by'tlie hand-outside.