Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/555

This page needs to be proofread.

1869.] The Gazette. 445 as A C or C B is divided into Continue A C to I, so that A I be equal to E /, and continue D B to K, so that K B be likewise equal to E /, or A I, and draw the line I K. At the points C and B raise the perpendiculars C N and B O to C B, each of the same length as E /, or A I, or B K, and draw the line N 0. Lastly, from the divisions of A B, draw parallels to A I ; and from the divisions of C B parallels to C N. Then set off the heights or lengths of each of the parallels in the semi-circle A E C, upon the correspondent parallels to A I and C N, and stick in nails. Then bend a lath round the edge. THE GAZETTE. HOT-CAST PORCELAIN. HOT-CAST Porcelain is so new an article comparatively, that, doubt- less, our readers will be pleaded with a short description of it and its uses. In chemical composition and general nature it is nearly midway between china, or porcelain proper, and glass ; and its uses are very diversified, includ- ing artistic figures, vases, brackets, bell- shades, conical lamp-shades, stamped artistic shades, cups, tumblers, goblets, beakers, egg-cups, with eggs (for prac- tical jokes) 'to match, napkin rings, match-boxes, perfume-bottles, very large evaporating-dishes for photographers, paint-cups and tiles for water-colors, flooring tiles, ashlar for bases, instead of brown-stone or marble, paper- weights, lamp-stands, door-knobs and escutcheons, plates for photographic pictures, table-tops and mantel-pieces, columns, cornices, wash-stands, door and window-frames, slabs and grave- stones, monuments, obscuring win- dow panes (instead of ground glass) — which have the merit of being smooth on both sides, and therefore of not har- boring the dust — balustrades and hand- railings, lintels, window-sills, and, in fact, things innumerable. Hot-Cast Porcelain cools with a hand- some semi-vitreous surface lustre ; but when the natural surface is ground off, the body of the material takes a fine polish and its lustre is even improved. The inner surface of the material, as well as the outer glaze of* cooling, is im- pervious to acids, thus specially adapt ing it for the many utensils required in chemical laboratories. Most of the demand on the company is for perfectly white ware, but the sub- stance is capable of receiving the most varied colors without material alteration of its varied good qualities. A beauti- ful opalescent iridescence is sometimes observed on it, from the commingling of fancy colors. In plain tints, tones and hues, we noticed cream, siskin, drab, olive, blue, purple, brown, gray, green ; and in fancy markings, striped, variegated, mottled and marbled. We were informed by the attentive assist- ant, that, the "pot-bottoms," or glass remaining — after being nearly drained in the course of manufacturing, and allowed to cool — often exhibits mag- nificent color effects, in changeable flushes, waves, &c, which he could onl} r liken to the aurora borealis, as nothing else in nature seemed to vie with this sedimentary glass. It is claimed that "this new and re- "markable ware combines the beauty " of French china with the strength of " the strongest marble. It is capable of " being formed into any shape into which " glass can be blown, pressed, moulded