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Title: The Lead Pencil Manufactory of A. W. Faber at Stein near Nürnberg, Bavaria
Author: Faber, A. W.
Language: English
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THE
LEAD PENCIL MANUFACTORY
OF
_A. W. FABER_
AT
STEIN NEAR NÜRNBERG.
BAVARIA.
An historical sketch,
in commemoration of the Jubilee celebrated
in the year 1861 to mark the completion of
the first Century of the existence of the
Establishment, dedicated by the Proprietor
to his Patrons and Business friends.
MOSS & CO.
FABER’S AGENTS FOR SIBERIAN PENCILS,
No. 432 Chestnut Street,
PHILADELPHIA.
DESCRIPTIVE LIST
OF
FABER’S SIBERIAN LEAD PENCILS,
(See page 20 to 23 inclusive.)
_ESPECIALLY ADAPTED_
FOR ENGINEERS, ARCHITECTS, ARTISTS, WOOD ENGRAVERS, AND
OFFICE USE.
Extra Soft and Extra Black, marked B B B B B B
Very Soft and Very Black, “ B B B
Soft and Black, “ B “ No. 2.
Hard and Black, “ H B “ No. 3.
Middling, “ F “ No. 4.
Hard, “ H “ No. 5.
Harder, “ H H
Very Hard, “ H H H
Extra Hard, “ H H H H H H
On cards, 10 pencils, one of each above grades.
In boxes, 7 do. do. do. B B B, B B, B, H B, F, H, H H.
Do. 5 do. do. do. B B, B, H B, F, H.
Do. 5 (WITH KNIFE AND RUBBER.) do. do. do. do. do.
Artists’ Patent Pencils with moveable leads of all the grades.
Moveable leads, same quality, in boxes, containing six leads of any
grade.
MOSS & CO.
Dealers in Drawing Instruments, Papers, Tracing Cloth,
Tracing Paper, &c.
No. 432 CHESTNUT STREET,
PHILADELPHIA.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration:
J. L. Faber
geb. 12 Juni 1817.]
THE
LEAD PENCIL MANUFACTORY
OF
_A. W. FABER_
AT
STEIN NEAR NÜRNBERG.
BAVARIA.
An historical sketch,
in commemoration of the Jubilee celebrated
in the year 1861 to mark the completion of
the first Century of the existence of the
Establishment, dedicated by the Proprietor
to his Patrons and Business friends.
Nürnberg. Printed by U. E. Sebald.
The lead pencil, as everyone knows, is an invention of modern times, and
may unhesitatingly be placed side by side with the numerous improvements
and inventions, by means of which the last three centuries in particular
have so largely contributed towards the spread of Arts and Sciences and
the facilitation of Study and Communication. To the classic ages and
their art the pencil and in general every application of lead as a
writing material was entirely unknown and it was first in the middle
ages, as we hear, that lead was employed for this purpose. This metal
however was by no means the same sort of thing as the black lead of our
pencils, which are indeed only mentioned in conjunction of lead on
account of the writing produced by them bearing some resemblance to
lead. Besides which lead was then only used for ruling lines and in no
instance for writing or drawing purposes. This leadruler was in form a
sharpedged disc, such as is said to have been used for the same purpose
even in the later periods of the classic ages.
With the developement and growth of modern painting the traces of
pencil-like drawings first begin to manifest themselves. The masters of
the fourteenth century, especially _van Eyck_, and of the fifteenth,
such as _Memlink_ and others, appear to be the first who mention works
of art executed with a pencil-like instrument upon chalked paper. They
are generally designated as drawings in silver-style, this specification
however not being capable of any closer confirmation, though this much
is certain that the use of pure silver is not intended to be implied. In
like manner it is reported of the Italian artists of the latter part of
the middle ages, that they drew with a silver-style upon smooth deal
covered with the dust of calcined bones, which process appears however
only to have met with very partial success.
On the other hand in Italy in the fourteenth century much drawing was
done with styles composed of a mixture of lead and tin; drawings that
could be effaced with bread crumb.
_Petrarch’s_ Laura was delineated by a contemporary in this manner and
in the time of _Michael Angelo_ the process was still in use. These
styles were then introduced into Germany from Italy, under what
particular name, we know not. In Italy they are called “_Stile_”, but
even they never seem at any time to have been the universally
acknowledged drawing material.
About the same period the pen came into use as a drawing- as well as
writing-material, to which were added, in the most flourishing days of
painting, black chalk and red chalk which enjoyed extensive use. The
Italians obtained the best red chalk from Germany and the best black
chalk from Spain. _Vasari_, speaking of an artist of the sixteenth
century, especially remarks that he understood how to use style, pen,
black chalk and red chalk with equal dexterity.
To this period belongs also the discovery of black lead and with it the
production of an entirely new writing- and drawing-material—_The Lead
Pencil_.
This invention, which conferred so many benefits not only upon practical
life but also upon art, was made in England in the reign of Queen
Elisabeth, for in the year 1564 the celebrated blacklead mines of
Borrowdale in Cumberland were discovered. With the opening of this mine
every element was present to render the developement of an extensive
pencil trade upon English soil possible.
In the year 1565 the _first_ lead pencils were manufactured in England.
The mines of Borrowdale, at one time on account of the valuable nature
of their produce exposed even to the predatory attacks of the
inhabitants of the neighbouring mountains, supply the English down to
the present day with the material for the best English leadpencils. The
manufacturing of the lead obtained was simple, the material, as soon as
it came out of the mine, being cut to the proper size with a saw and
then without any further manipulation fastened into the wood and it is
remarkable, that the first pencils made in this manner are acknowledged
to be decidedly the best and down to the present day unsurpassed by any
other manufacture in the softness and delicacy of the lead. Although the
Cumberland pencils were soon in great request as being the first to
really meet an exigency long felt, it is their excellent quality that
has given them their lasting and universal reputation especially in the
World of Art.
The Cumberland mine only remained open for six weeks in the year and yet
the blacklead obtained in this short time is stated to have been of the
value of £ 40,000 or One Million Francs each time.
The raw material was sent up to London just as it came from the mine and
there sold by auction in the _black lead market_, these sales taking
place on the first Monday in every month. The price averaged 36-40
shillings per English pound and the value of the good Cumberland black
lead according to Dufrénoy was 400 Francs per Kilogramme.
The fact of the English Government having considered it expedient
rigorously to prohibit the export of black lead in any other form than
that of leadpencils goes to prove of what importance these mines and the
manufacture of leadpencils in connexion with them was to England. In
spite of the fact however that the mines only remained open for six
weeks in the year and that no blacklead might be exported from them, the
working of the mines, continued as it was for upwards of a century, at
last began to have the effect of diminishing the yield, until at last
nothing was to be obtained from them but an inferior and impure material
no longer adapted as before for the manufacture of pencils.
In order to protect themselves from the consequences of a failure of the
Cumberland blacklead mines, the English strenuously sought in every
direction for new blacklead deposits, but down to the present day
without the desired success. There remained therefore nothing but to
look about for some means whereby the impure refuse still obtainable
could be purified.
The process invented for this purpose consisted of first grinding the
blacklead to powder as soon as it came out of the mine, then purifying
it as much as possible from foreign substances by chemical means and
finally compressing it by means of a press in such a manner that the
mass could be just as easily cut as the pure Cumberland blacklead used
to be. However notwithstanding all the appliances of art and science
were brought to bear upon the subject and spite of every exertion to
render this composition perfect, the English have not hitherto succeeded
in producing any material capable of replacing the natural blacklead as
obtained from the Cumberland mines.
These circumstances operated as an inducement to search for a
substitute, which would admit of a greater economy in the use of
blacklead. Experiments were made in England with this view and various
substances such as glue, isinglass, tragacanth, gum &c. were tried for
the purpose of cementing and consolidating the earthy blacklead into a
firm mass. But none of these means succeeded. Subsequently it was
attempted to improve the blacklead by melting it with minerals,
compounding it with 30 or 40 per cent of sulphur. But this made the
blacklead too brittle and the pencils made by this process would hardly
mark at all. At last mixing with antimony was tried, which certainly
yielded a composition in outward appearance very similar to the pure
blacklead, but which proved to be but an unsatisfactory writingmaterial.
Towards the end of last century the manufacture of leadpencils was
introduced into _France_ and soon attained to an extensive developement.
Hardly were the last restrictions upon industrial freedom removed in
that country, when in the year 1795 the idea was started of making use
of clay for the purpose of binding the blacklead together. This process
soon found favor on account of its many advantages for by this
commixture a great portion of the costly blacklead was saved and at the
same time the manufacture rendered materially easier, so that the
leadpencils could be supplied at a very much cheaper rate.
By these novel improvements a fresh era in the manufacture of
leadpencils was commenced in France. Notwithstanding this however, there
was yet very much to be done in the department of blackleadpencil
manufacture in order to keep pace with the increased requirements of
advancing art and more civilised life.
True, various degrees of hardness and different sorts of pencils were
thus obtained but these were by no means proportional to the various
modes of use. The manipulation of the brittle material demanded deep
study, and conscientious laborers in order to give the pencil the
requisite perfection.
If we now turn to _Germany_, it will in the first place be necessary to
cast a glance at the developement of German industry and German
leadpencil manufacture, it being then shown under what circumstances it
had to develope itself and with what rivals it had to enter into
competition.
It is not to be denied that from the very first German industry found
itself in a more disadvantageous position. France and England had
already become intrinsically industrious countries. They possessed
immense facilities for foreign trade, the greatest internal freedom of
motion for the industrial element, a legislature which took cognizance
of all the requirements of industry, in short both countries were, in
comparison with Germany, favored by certain circumstances which are
indispensably necessary to render industry flourishing and which were
then already fulfilled, whereas in Germany political division and
animosity and the pressure of the guilds operated most perniciously upon
industrial enterprise.
For these reasons industry could only develope itself in Germany later
and then but slowly. The transition from the old to the new state of
things appeared much more difficult, as many long since antiquated
forms, which had become endeared to us by use, had first to be
abolished.
The Saxon spirit, which, on the other side of the Channel had attained
to such glorious results, had to sustain many a conflict in its native
land, and many a praiseworthy attempt suffered shipwreck on the many
obstacles, which the splitting up of the nation and the retention of
unfeasable arrangements opposed to every great idea.
German science flourished at the same time to a very great extent, but
in its exaltation it stood too high above ordinary life, not perceiving
how to associate itself with it, so as to penetrate it with its
enlightening and warmthgiving rays. Thus German industry remained far
behind foreign enterprise and Germany beheld herself inundated with
quantities of foreign manufactures, which she herself could have
produced just as well, indeed it came to such a pass that foreigners
relying upon their well organised commerce and the celebrity of their
products even ventured to send German manufactures into the German
market, stamped with a foreign trademark.
German industry being at this low ebb, the manufacture of leadpencils
occupied but a very modest place. The first traces are to be found in
the village of _Stein_ not far from _Nürnberg_. As far back as the year
1726 the churchbooks mention marriages of “_Pencilmakers_”, subsequently
also “_Blacklead cutters_” male and female.
Leadpencil making however was then in its very lowest state, as in no
case is a large establishment mentioned, and it may be assumed that this
branch of trade was only just able to maintain a precarious position in
comparison with the English manufacture.
The Bavarian government however soon devoted their attention to this
branch of industry and sought to advance it. In the year 1766 a Count
von Kronsfeld received a concession for the erection of a leadpencil
manufactory at Jettenbach.
But the manufacture, wanting as it was in material, experience and
custom, still remained so insignificant, that in “Beckmanns
Technologie”, which appeared in the year 1777 “Pencilmaking” merely
received a quite superficial and incidental notice.
In the year 1816 the Bavarian government erected a Royal Leadpencil
manufactory at Obernzell (Hafnerzell) and introduced into this
establishment the French process already mentioned of using clay to
consolidate the blacklead.
When the new manufacture was in full play, the government transferred
the whole establishment into private hands as was intended from the
commencement, though the credit of having given the impetus to renewed
activity on a large scale certainly belongs to it.
The establishment is now in the possession of the renowned Regensburg
manufacturer. In addition to this the leadpencil manufacture had taken
root in Vienna and an establishment was formed there, in which likewise
the French process of mixing the blacklead with clay was adopted.
* * * * *
The now so extensive _leadpencil manufactory at Stein_ sprung from very
modest beginnings. In the year 1760 namely its founder, =Kaspar Faber=,
settled in this village of _Stein_ three miles from Nürnberg, and in the
year 1761 commenced the manufacture of leadpencils.
At that time adverse external circumstances pressed heavily upon the
young manufactory, the whole possessions of its founder consisting only
of a small house situated on the Rednitz and surrounded by a small
garden. A judicial inventory dated 1786 still preserved in the family
specifies faithfully the insignificant property possessed by them,
showing a nett result of “Fifty nine florins”.
The finest and dearest qualities mentioned therein are spoken of as
“several gross of _English_ pencils”, for thus the better German
manufactures had to disguise themselves under a foreign title. The
demand for these manufactures was trifling and purely local, as the
spirit of commerce and enterprise did but little to assist their
introduction.
Nürnberg and Fürth appear to have been the first to patronise the
products of the manufactory. To these places, as we know, the pencils
finished in the course of the week were carried on Saturdays in a
basket; but the fact of their having been well paid for goes to prove
that even then their excellence was acknowledged. The relations at that
time existing between the producer and the consuming public were however
but little regulated. The producer stood by himself alone, cut off from
the world, which seemed to him too immensely large for him to dare to
step out into it. The farsighted vision, searching in every direction to
discover new wants and invent new improvements, were wanting to him, as
was also the beneficial influence of external relations, with which he
was never brought in contact.
Nor was the consumer any more favorably situated.
The article became the object of extensive commercial speculation and
had often to travel a very long way before it reached the hands of the
consuming public, nor was the repute of a good name any guarantee to the
consumer of the excellence of the article, for in order to keep the
manufacturers in complete dependance, the merchants would not allow them
to mark their better products with their names, but prescribed them
foreign names and unmeaning signs, such as: Harps, Stars etc.
It was but slowly that the French process of mixing the lead with clay
gained ground and many years after the adoption of this process the
workmen, even in _Faber’s_ manufactory, were still employed in working
the Spanish lead in the old fashioned way by melting it and cutting it
with a saw.
The progress of the French however soon forced the merchants to press
the Nürnberg manufacturers to advance, so as not to be left behind by
competition. After the introduction of the new composition the Nürnberg
manufactories soon found themselves favorably circumstanced and yielded
satisfactory profits both to the merchants and the manufacturers.
But this was not to last. In the first ten years of this century
competition increased steadily and enormously so that demand by no means
kept pace with supply, and the vital question forced itself upon the
manufacturers, whether they were in a position to produce the article
either better or cheaper?
This difficult problem was however solved in a manner unfavorable to the
manufacture, and with that revolution commences the decay of the same
which now began to make itself felt.
The manufacture had, as before observed, become dependant upon the trade
of Nürnberg, which however no longer occupied its former high position,
for, although a considerable trade with foreign lands still existed, it
was to a great extent nominal. The enlargement and correction of ideas
by foreign travel and personal acquaintance with the grand advancement
in foreign industry, were wanting and thus no beneficial adjustment of
the Nürnberg manufacture could be brought about. Manufacture became the
shuttlecock of commercial speculation, which could not even so much as
claim the credit of having successfully met the increased requirements
of the age or put a stop to powerful competition or an overworked system
of trade more calculated for the future.
The trade of Nürnberg at that time lay in the fetters of the guild
system, the relic of an earlier golden time, which, aiming at the
isolation of industry, which was thereby given into its hands, was the
ban that opposed its progress for a length of time, alluring it to act
contrary to the interests of native industry and therefore contrary to
its own interests.
How much did this system leave of the ancient splendor and well earnt
renown of the City of Nürnberg?—A minimum kept and retained solely and
alone by the self denial, frugality and industry of the inhabitants. The
ingenious, serviceable articles had disappeared, giving place to goods,
whose only recommendation consisted in their being unprecedentedly
cheap. The endeavour to manufacture without the least regard to quality
or serviceability as long as cheapness was attained had become a rooted
evil increasing as it descended in all its fulness from father to son.
The honorable distinction of the title “Nuernberg, good” soon became
changed into the lasting and contemptuous one of “Nürnberg goods” and in
the business world people even went so far as to say that nothing good
could possibly be produced at Nürnberg.
These circumstances, which are to be laid to the account not only of
individuals but likewise of a domineering system and the spirit of a
time not so very far distant even now, attest that real industrial
activity must go hand in hand with mercantile spirit in order to
maintain itself in the world free from the influences above pointed out
and enter the lists with competition. It is only emancipated industry
that can congratulate itself on real progress and improve the article
only by having an eye to the requirements of the consumer.
It was under these circumstances that =Anton Wilhelm Faber=, the son of
the founder, whose name the firm still bears, and since 1810 =Georg
Leonhard Faber=, the father of the present proprietor, stood at the head
of the establishment.
Many improvements had been attempted and several adopted; much valuable
experience had been gained, many processes in the manufacture had been
perfected and a number of intelligent workmen drawn together; spite of
all this however the mercantile relations above described operated most
perniciously upon the manufactory.
The mode of manufacture induced by the enslavement of industry on the
part of trade more especially destroyed that conscientious strictness,
which must form the foundation of a solid industry. Things went so far
that articles were sent forth into the world, possessing the outward
appearance of pencils, the wood being just tipped with lead at each end
as though it was properly filled, whereas in fact you only had a useless
stick of wood before you.
Such swindling impositions, sent forth by the Nürnberg manufactories
into foreign countries, were well calculated to bring about a complete
collapse and it is difficult to regain confidence once deceived or
esteem once forfeited. But it must not be supposed that the interests of
the Nürnberg pencil manufacture were not solid. The unscrupulous
transactions on part of some establishments as a matter of course
damaged the reputation of those which carried on their business in an
industrious and conscientious manner and the renown of the whole trade
was thus placed in jeopardy.
In the year 1839 the present proprietor =Johann Lothar Faber= undertook
the management of the manufactory upon the death of his father _Georg
Leonhard Faber_ abovenamed.
This gentleman had, down to his nineteenth year, endeavoured as far as
possible to perfect his commercial education in Nuernberg in the most
fundamental and general manner and, from his earliest youth, especially
devoted himself to the study of everything at all bearing upon his
father’s manufactory. Even at that time he directed his attention not
merely to his father’s affairs, but also to the developement of a
business so sadly crippled and underwent many privations in order as
much is possible to satisfy the manifold claims laid upon him by the aim
which was always present to his imagination.
When nineteen years of age he went to Paris in order to increase his
stock of knowledge. There, in that capital of the World a greater range
of vision was opened to him and he beheld the operation of that restless
spirit of enterprise, which so mightily stirs the heart of the country.
For the first time the youth was brought face to face with the enormous
business carried on both with France and foreign lands and of which
Paris is the centre. He surveyed the fruits of a free, active industry,
the great highroads, upon which commerce flows from the mother country
to distant lands, the realisation of a colossal traffic, which allows no
article to escape its observation and flows in an ever moving wave
between purchasers and consumers. Then his thoughts were carried back to
his distant native land with its industry so cramped and fettered as to
be altogether estranged from the great markets of the world and the
possibility flashed across his mind, that matters might be rendered very
different at home and native industry not only reconquer its honour and
the renown of its pristine good name, but that it might also be led
forth from its narrow prison and enabled to compete with the vigour and
intelligence of the markets of the world and that it would thus ensure
obtaining an honourable position.
At that time industrial life was in full activity at Paris, scarcely six
years having elapsed since the revolution of July and Louis Philippe
being firmly established on the constitutional citizen-throne.
Thus great hopes filled the breast of the young man and impelled him to
follow up the ideas and plans of life he had adopted with all his
energy.
After a sojourn of three years in Paris there fell upon him suddenly and
unexpectedly, on the midst of his labours, the news of the death of his
father and after first performing a previously contemplated journey to
London, in order to enrich his store of knowledge and experience, he
returned to his native land in August 1839.
Now was the time to carry out and realise all the ideas he had imbibed.
The condition of his father’s manufactory was, as before stated,
extremely unsatisfactory. Scarcely twenty workmen were employed and the
annual business done amounted only to about 12000 florins. If that
glorious future, which the young man had assigned to the manufactory in
his imagination at Paris was to become a fact, it would involve carrying
on a conflict with all the old perverted notions, to break with the
cumbersome progress of former times and upon the ruins of the Nürnberg
trade, which beheld itself excluded from the world’s market, to lay the
foundations of a new commerce, which alone would be able to reconquer
for the venerable commercial city of Nürnberg her ancient renown.
He was the man, who brought, in the first place certainly only the
pencil manufacture, but therewith also native industry in general, into
direct contact with the ideas of foreign countries.
Sure and gradual progress was however indispensable. The new proprietor
adopted the device of:
“Truth, Respectability, Industry”
as the fundamental principle of his dealings, being firmly convinced,
that no human undertaking, which aspires to a future and lasting
success, can possibly exist, if it in any respect be based upon untruth,
or at variance with that, which passes for right and respectable among
men in general or, which ignores the duty of unwearying activity and
energetic industry. These principles seemed to him all the more
indispensable for his manufactory as he, by his position, rendered
himself to a certain extent responsible for the weal and woe of so many
souls.
The two brothers of the new proprietor had been destined by their father
for other modes of occupation, there being at that time no prospect of
the pencil manufacture maintaining them.
The present proprietor of the manufactory however, feeling confident of
the success of his comprehensive schemes, took to himself in the year
1840 his second youngest brother =Johann Faber=, who at that time
carried on an Hotel at Prague, in order to unite his activity with his
own.
The pencils were then only manufactured in proportionally few and cheap
sorts, but the new proprietor of the manufactory was soon induced to
introduce finer sorts at proportionate prices.
While still at Paris he had endeavoured in every way by letters to his
father to conduce towards the elevation of the manufactory and the
improvement of the quality of the articles manufactured, but it was when
he began to put his hands to the work himself that he first aimed at any
material success.
These improved manufactures and especially his new so called Polygrade
Pencils, which have met with the greatest renown especially among
artists, were all marked with the name of the firm and, as they by
reason of their increased price, the unavoidable consequence of improved
quality, met with but little countenance among the Nürnberg merchants,
the manufacturer travelled with them himself through Germany, Russia,
Austria, Belgium, Holland, France, England, Italy and Switzerland and
opened up business connexions with all the chief cities of Europe,
which, with the continued improvements in his manufactures, soon found
him a satisfactory custom and an ever increasing demand, important
enough to raise itself above the narrow sphere of local interests.
In the interior of the manufactory two great improvements were
undertaken, as nearly every year called for some new addition. In these
new erections care was taken to construct them as roomy and light as
possible, thus taking into consideration the health of the workmen and
the fact that work is much better performed in sunny spacious rooms,
than in gloomy dark vaults in which the air cannot be renewed, and that
the pleasure and zest with which it is performed redounds to the benefit
of the manufactory itself.
The countless departments of business, in which pencils are used, by
degrees rendered an extensive and systematic classification necessary
from the long easel-pencil to the smallest pocketbook-pencil.
The manufacture had, in consequence of its extensive foreign connexions,
already become considerably improved and extended and the varying
tastes, even the varying customs of the nations which used them, had to
be taken into consideration. The manufacturer never ceased to study all
wants, to subject his manufactures constantly to new trials, to avail
himself of fresh experiences in order to surpass with his products all
similar articles if possible.
The renown of his manufactures has penetrated to all parts of the world
and it is not merely their widely extended use, that attests their
excellence, but more especially the voice of those men, who make the
greatest demands upon the manufactory. There are few Architects and
Engineers who use any other article but _Faber’s pencils_, and the whole
profession of artists has long since proclaimed A. W. _Faber’s_ pencil
to be the very best for drawing purposes. Such men as _Cornelius_,
_Kaulbach_, _Bendemann_, _Lessing_, _Horace Vernet_ have expressed
themselves to this effect.
In accordance with this verdict is the result of the competition in the
several industrial Exhibitions, both at home and abroad, in which
_Faber’s_ pencils gained the victory all over all other manufactures of
the same nature.
With the year 1849 a new era in the activity of the manufactory
commenced. Ever since that year the products of the manufactory had met
with recognition and custom in America and with the continued increase
of the population it was to be assumed that the sale of the same would
also constantly increase in importance, especially as the manufacture of
leadpencils had not as yet taken firm root there and it therefore became
a question of obtaining a generally acknowledged product of European
manufacture, the excellence of which had been proved by the experience
of years and its honest manufacture.
This induced the proprietor of the manufactory to establish a house at
_New-York_ and entrust the management of the same to his youngest
brother =Eberhard Faber=, who had just completed his study for the law
at the universities of Berlin and Erlangen and was at that time engaged
in acquiring the necessary mercantile knowledge in the establishment at
Stein.
The trade with America thereby acquired a firm footing, the
communication spite of the great distance became more regular and the
connexion of the manufactory with the new world more close. As
_England_, _France_, _Russia_, _Italy_ and the East had long since been
open to _Faber’s_ manufactures, the idea of creating an universal trade
appeared to be realised.
As in the American commercial metropolis, so also in Paris a house was
founded, not merely to manage the important trade with France and the
neighbouring countries, but also to minister to the fine tastes and
elegant requirements of the French, which are of so much advantage to
any product intrinsically excellent.
In like manner, in order to supply the requirements of _England_,
_India_ and _Australia_, an agency was established in London in the year
1851 with M^{r.} _A. Heintzmann_, now _Heintzmann & Rochussen_, of N^o 9
Friday Street, City, E. C.
While thus the external relations of the manufactory continued steadily
to extend themselves, its internal developement likewise advanced step
by step.
On the very spot, where once the little house stood, the extensive
factory premises are now erected on either side of the Rednitz, the
water power of which river proving too insufficient and fluctuating,
steam had to be called into requisition and a large engine erected.
As already stated, almost each year demanded an addition to the premises
and considerable enlargements and alterations rendered necessary partly
by the constantly increasing business and partly by sanatory or
ornamental considerations, so that the very character of the locality
underwent considerable change.
Gardens now enclose the whole establishment on three of its sides. In
one of them stands the residence of the proprietor of the manufactory,
_Lothar_, visible from afar by reason of the height of its situation and
remarkable on account of the peculiarity of the style of its
architecture; in the other the house of his younger brother, _Johann_,
so that everything stands together in the closest connexion like the
life of a large family.
The proprietor, while endeavouring in every way to advance all the ends
of the manufactory in the most perfect manner, has not omitted to bear
in mind at the same time the moral and material welfare of his workmen,
whom he has accustomed himself to recognise as men and his fellow
creatures.
In their interest there were in the first place factory rules drawn up,
which regulated the duties and rights of the individual in the most
precise manner and especially took cognisance of the moral conduct of
the workman. They also gave the most diligent workmen and such as were
more advanced in years, opportunities of increasing their income by
ensuring them an increase of pay under certain conditions.
In order to awaken and encourage a spirit of frugality in the men and to
render their future more comfortable and independant, a Workman’s
Savings _Bank_ was instituted, with the following fundamental
principles: Acceptance of the smallest deposit at any time; interest at
four per cent to commence as soon as the deposit reaches the amount of
five florins; deposits to be withdrawn only on account of some
notoriously pressing necessity. This institution found immediate
recognition and by degrees came into almost general favor, so that now
many an individual, who formerly had to battle with economical cares,
finds himself in the possession of a little property and rejoices in his
wellregulated family affairs.
There is likewise a special fund for sickness.
A library has also been founded by the master of the manufactory,
accessible both to the workman and his family and well used by them, at
the same time too an infant school was started for the children of the
work people. He likewise originated and supported with his own means the
erection of a new schoolhouse, and embraced every opportunity of
advancing the education therein.
The social life of the workmen was also taken into consideration and the
taste for more elevating amusements, invigorating alike to soul and
body, encouraged. Of an evening they would meet in two singing societies
to indulge in the good German song, or on Sundays they would amuse
themselves with the crossbow in the free, fresh air of God’s Nature in
the neighbouring forest, or again on festive occasions they would all
meet together like one large united family for a sociable convivial
repast.
Finally, care was also taken that the workman should mix with the world
outside the factory, for which purpose a number of them were sent by the
master of the factory to the Industrial Exhibition at Munich in order
that they might themselves see the fruit of their labour publicly
exposed to view and honorably mentioned, and at the same time obtain a
glimpse of other branches of industry.
Further, in order to provide new dwellings for the workmen a large
building was erected, of pleasing external proportions, and other
buildings were converted into workmen’s dwellings. The houses themselves
contain separate apartments, which afford the families at a low rent a
much pleasanter abode than could be obtained in most of the houses in
the towns. Nor is there any constraint; the houses are open to any body
and the domestic regulations introduced in the interests of the
community are of that nature, that they are cheerfully complied with by
everyone. Thus there reigns in these premises a spirit of order and
contentment, which alone can make life agreeable.
The village of _Stein_ did not formerly possess any church. For years
all exertions to found a separate parish there remained fruitless, until
at last the year 1861 brought their reward and in that year, in which
the manufactory celebrated its hundredth anniversary, the peaceful clang
of the bells for the first time invited the faithful to divine service
in the newly erected church, the cost of which had been defrayed by the
master of the factory entirely from his own means, out of concern for
the spiritual welfare of his workpeople and attachment to his own native
place.
The formerly neglected little village has assumed quite a different
appearance since then. From afar the slender gothic steeple of the
church may be seen rearing its pinnacle proudly aloft, while the smoke
of the surrounding shafts tell of busy industry and labour. The former
picture of want has given place to a certain degree of wealth and the
little garden of the humble house been converted into two large parks.
Simultaneously however with this prosperity in general the manufactory
had of course to experience some unpleasant incidents and obstinate
struggles. The universal demand for _Faber’s_ manufactures was not slow
in inducing other manufacturers to imitate and pirate the trademark of
the manufactory, which is to be found on all articles manufactured
there, and thus to pass off upon the public spurious goods possessing
nothing more than the external similarity to the genuine articles, and
which could scarcely aspire to mediocrity, which frauds were often
repeated, coming to light in various countries.
The manufacturing firm of Rubenstein at Moscow adopted the plan of
making use of _Faber’s_ trademark and wrappers for their own
manufactures and then to circulate them in the Russian market. These
malpractises were carried on for a length of time in spite of every
exertion to put a stop to them and the prohibition which the Russian
Governement issued against the firm in question. Manufactures with
spurious trademarks were constantly turning up in Russia until King
_Maximilian_ of Bavaria during his protracted stay at Nürnberg in the
year 1855 suppressed the evil. His lively interest for reviving industry
had already induced him to decorate the proprietor of the manufactory
with the order of merit of St. Michael, firstclass, in the year 1854, on
which occasion he likewise honoured the factory at _Stein_ with a visit
and made himself acquainted with all the details of its operations from
the mouth of the manager of the factory, and as at that time these
malpractises were brought before his notice he gave the matter all his
attention and promised some assistance.
Nor had we to wait long for this, for shortly afterwards _Lothar Faber_
received a communication from the State ministry of the Royal House and
Foreign affairs, stating, that, by the intervention of the Royal
Bavarian Embassy at St. Petersburg, the evil had been put a stop to by
the Russian Government; all the articles marked with _Faber’s_ trademark
together with the stamp destroyed, and the manager of the Russian
manufactory compelled to give assurance in writing that he would no
longer pirate _Faber’s_ trademark, in default rendering himself liable
to legal penalties.
In New-York similar frauds were also carried on. Pencils manufactured in
Nürnberg with _Faber’s_ trademark and in precise imitations of his
wrappers were imported and sold by the firm of Winterhoff, Piper &
C^{o.}. Complaint having been made, the Customhouse at New-York, at the
instance of the examiner appointed for the department of “Literature,
Writingmaterials and fine Arts”, detained one case of these spurious
articles, whereupon the courts of law prohibited all further sale in the
town and county of New-York.
A still more cunning fraud was perpetrated at Nürnberg. A deaf and dumb
lithographer by name Georg Wolfgang Faber was put forward, whose name
was to be made use of. The similarity of the surname and wrapper exactly
copied from those of _Faber’s_ manufactory were sufficient to make the
public believe that they really had the genuine article from _Faber’s_
manufactory before them. On the intervention of the authorities, whom
_Lothar Faber_ put in motion, the reputed manufacturer was subjected to
an examination, which proved him to be altogether incapable of producing
such a thing as a serviceable article and shewed that he had only lent
his name to other speculators, whereupon the Royal Government of middle
Franconia withdrew the licence for pencil making from the said G. W.
Faber.
Proceedings were likewise taken against a Pencilmanufacturer at Fulda,
who had manufactured and circulated upwards of seven thousand dozen
leadpencils with the false stamp “A. W. Faber”. The Criminal Court of
the Electorate of Hesse in a decision dated 2^{nd} September 1856,
condemned the defendant, on account of fraud, to a pecuniary fine of 50
Thalers and further to four weeks imprisonment, a decision, which the
supreme Court of Appeal at Cassel absolutely confirmed. Similar events
took place in other countries with like results.
As the proprietor of the factory has hitherto proceeded against many
persons at home and abroad who had attempted to manufacture and sell
pencils in imitation of those of his firm he will further use all his
efforts to suppress every deception foisted upon the public.
In the meanwhile the manufactory assiduously endeavoured to attain to
perfection in its products. As the stock of blacklead began to disappear
in the mines of Cumberland, it succeeded, by its perfected manipulation
of the material, in producing so many grades of hardness and supplying
such an extensive variety of pencil, that no demand could present itself
without meeting with satisfaction among the great choice of
manufactures.
In the opinion of connoisseurs the finest sorts even surpass the best
Cumberland leadpencils in their lasting and uniform degrees of hardness,
their greater firmness and durability as also in the increased purity of
the lead. In addition to this they possess such an amount of softness
and delicacy, as to be able to stand comparison in this and every
particular with the Cumberland pencils. Besides this, and in addition to
several other improvements relating to their external appearance, the
most useful and ornamental shapes for pencils of the finer descriptions
were devised and introduced, and still more recently the socalled
“_Artist’s pencils_” were added to the list of novelties and immediately
met with the most universal recognition, which soon stimulated other
manufacturers to attempt imitations.
In the midst of these exertions the news was suddenly received, that
that, which the English had so long sought for and which the perfected
system of manufacture still stood much in need of in order to yield more
than was previously possible, had been found. A new blacklead mine had
been discovered. _Johann Peter Alibert_, merchant of the first class at
Tabasthus in Siberia, had undertaken an exploring expedition in the
mountainous eastern portion of Siberia, partly to search for gold. He
examined the sand of the rivers Oka, Belloi, Kitoi and Irkutsk, and in
one of the mountain ravines in the vicinity of Irkutsk lighted
accidentally upon specimens of pure blacklead. _Alibert_ immediately
recognised the value and importance of the material and instituted
strict investigations until in the year 1847 after much labor and
exertion he arrived at the conviction that, in a branch of the mountain
range of Saian among the heights of the Batougol mountains four hundred
versts westward of the town of Irkutsk, close to the frontier of China,
a primitive deposit of blacklead must exist. He addressed himself at
once to the task of opening a mine in order to bring the costly material
to the surface.
At first the blacklead met with proved to be no better than the refuse
Cumberland blacklead, and upwards of three hundred tons of this quality
had to be removed before a deposit of the best and purest blacklead was
finally opened up. Pieces were soon obtained weighing as much as eighty
pounds. The Academy of Sciences at St. Petersburg, before which body
_Alibert_ laid his samples of blacklead for analysis, declared the same
to consist of the same elements and possess the same properties and
consequently to be of precisely the same nature as the Cumberland
blacklead. _Alibert_ now proceeded to England where he visited the
declining blacklead mines of Cumberland and convinced himself by
personal observation of the exhaustion and decay of the same. He
thereupon submitted his samples of blacklead to some of the most
extensive English leadpencil manufactories for examination, who
unanimously confirmed the verdict of the Academy at St. Petersburg,
pronouncing the quality of the Siberian blacklead to be excellent and in
no way inferior to the Cumberland lead.
It had cost _Alibert_ eight years of unremitting labour and a capital of
one million Francs when he beheld his enterprise crowned with this
certainly unexpected success.
He now turned his attention to rendering the newly discovered material
available for the manufacture of pencils. Having convinced himself that
_Faber’s_ manufactory was the most extensive in existence and that it
circulated the largest amount of fine goods in the world, he applied to
the same with a proposition for an agreement, by virtue of which his
blacklead was to be taken solely and exclusively by that establishment
for the manufacture of pencils.
The firm on the other hand, having thoroughly convinced themselves that
the newly discovered blacklead was quite equal to the genuine and best
Cumberland blacklead in quality, willingly entertained this proposition
of _Alibert’s_, so that in the year 1856 a contract was entered into
between the manufactory and _Alibert_ and sanctioned by the Russian
Government, according to which all the blacklead, which comes from the
Siberian mines is to be delivered to _A. W. Faber’s_ manufactory, and to
no other establishment for the purposes of pencil manufacture, now and
for all time.
It was a mighty work which the restless energy of _Alibert_ had brought
into execution in a land so difficult of access. On the summit of the
mountain of Batougol, which now in the Russian maps of the country is
designated by the name of “_Alibertsberg_” in honorable remembrance of
the discoverer of the blacklead mine, _Alibert_ assembled all his
working force and a little colony soon sprung up, which addressed itself
zealously to the new mining operations.
The miners brought the blacklead to the surface in large blocks and the
material thus obtained proclaimed at once, by its external purity and a
beautiful silvery lustre, its excellent value and composition. The
transport was attended with immense difficulties. The blocks of
blacklead, carefully packed in wooden cases, had to traverse enormous
tracts of country, across which not the least vestige of a road is to be
found, upon the backs of reindeer to reach the nearest seaport, whence
they were shipped to Europe, while other consignments of the blacklead
were forwarded to the manufactory exclusively by land.
It may be conceived that _Alibert_ by this discovery drew even the
attention of the Russian Government upon himself and was gratified by
the kindest encouragement both on part of the Czar and the Governor of
the province of Irkutsk, Count _Murawiew Amursky_. In the report
concerning explorations in Siberia issued by the imperial Academy of
Sciences the discoverer is mentioned particularly (page 33) and at the
same time _Faber’s_ manufactory, the capital of which has facilitated
and advanced this enterprise, is honorably spoken of.
The manufactory, thus in possession of so extensive a store of
blacklead, the excellence of which both theory and practice place on a
level with the Borrowdale lead, has produced pencils made with the
Siberian lead ever since the year 1856. It was now no longer a question
of attaining to the standard of the Cumberland pencils but rather of
surpassing it.
The new material was worked partly in a natural state so as to enable
connoisseurs to convince themselves of its excellent quality and partly
artificially manufactured, which yielded as a result such a degree of
evenness, purity and unchanging hardness as had never before been
obtained, not even in the best Cumberland pencils. After the exertions
of six years the manufactory is just now intending to enter the World’s
market with its new productions.
* * * * *
Before we conclude our sketch we must stop to contemplate a bright spot
in the internal history of the factory and remember the day on which it
celebrated the completion of the hundredth year of its existence with a
festival, to which the joyful feelings of a happy and contented
population and the not less hearty than general participation therein
from far and near, lent a peculiar solemnity.
The festival was celebrated by the proprietor of the manufactory =Johann
Lothar Faber= and his brother =Johann Faber= together with their
families and in the midst of the assembled factory hands male and
female, as also of all masterworkmen employed for the manufactory and a
large number of invited guests.
The 16^{th} September 1861 was the day fixed for the occasion, chiefly
with the view of rendering the festival all the more impressive by a
special celebration of divine service in the new church of the village,
which had only been consecrated a fortnight before. Preparations of the
most varied character occupied both the masters of the factory and their
families for some time previously, in order to render this auspicious
and happy event a thoroughly joyous festival for their workpeople and
all that participated therein, and the remembrance of it no less
pleasing than indelible.
Similar feelings however also actuated the workpeople, who exerted
themselves with all their power to add to the splendor of the festival,
and manifest their good feelings and gratitude in a touching and
unexpected manner.
On the eve of the festive day the workmen in a body brought their master
a torchlight procession, which, after passing through the whole of the
gaily decorated premises, came to halt in the courtyard of Mr. _Faber’s_
house, whereupon the workmen’s singing club performed three partsongs
composed expressly for the occasion.
A deputation of workmen consisting of men who had been longest in the
factory then handed the master, together with an appropriate address
made by their senior member, a handsome and tasteful album as a festive
present from them, and a parchment roll on which were printed a
dedication composed in verse, then the speech which a workman made in
the most spirited manner previous to the presentation of the album,
further the songs performed and a list of the names of all the workmen
and women. This was certainly one of the most affecting moments and even
those men, who had become grey in the service of the factory were unable
to restrain their tears of emotion and gratitude.
_Lothar Faber_ in his reply dwelt particularly upon how he valued the
proofs of love, attachment, gratitude and faithfulness shown to him as
being not merely intended for himself alone but likewise for his whole
house and more especially for his two brothers standing so faithfully by
his side, and how he wished that these sentiments of the workpeople
might ever spread among them and be manifested to him and his family for
all time.
On the morning of the sixteenth of September all the workmen and women
assembled at the house of _L. Faber_ in order to receive the festive
present appointed for each person as also a commemoration medal coined
expressly for this festival, having on the one side the arms of the
family with the legend: “Founder: _Kaspar Faber_ † 1784; Successors: _A.
W. Faber_ † 1819; _G. L. Faber_ † 1839; _J. L. Faber_”; and upon the
Obverse the legend: “In remembrance of the Century Jubilee of the
Leadpencil Manufactory of _A. W. Faber_ at Stein near Nürnberg.”
* * * * *
The festive clang of bells now summoned all present to the special
divine service, which was destined to form a worthy commencement to the
festival and all the factory hands arranged themselves in a stately
procession, which, headed by the members of the _Faber_ family, moved
towards the church in order there to give vent to the feelings of
gratitude in a pious and christian manner. A sermon was preached, the
text being taken from the 90^{th} Psalm, verses 16. 17 and at the
conclusion of the service all the workpeople male and female assembled
at eleven o’clock at the workmen’s dwellinghouses in the village of
Stein built by _L. Faber_, from whence they started in a procession,
headed by the band of the fourteenth regiment of infantry stationed at
Nürnberg, for the park of _L. Faber_, one portion of which nearest the
dwellinghouse had been specially arranged for the festival partly for
the entertainment of the numerous guests and partly for various
amusements of play and dance, and which, by its elegant decorations and
appropriate mottoes, bearing upon the past and present of the Factory,
made the most agreeable impression upon every one. Arrived upon the
festive grounds the entire body of workpeople about four hundred in
number partook of the dinner provided for them, the regimental band
performing agreeable music the while. The repast concluded, _L. Faber_
mounted a tribune especially erected for this occasion and ornamented
with lifesize busts of the departed ancestors, and in a short speech set
before them the chief features of the history of the manufactory,
impressing upon them, on the commencement of the second century of its
existence, the value of that order and carefulness which are so
indispensably necessary for the prosperous career of a large
establishment in the requirements of our age, and concluding with a
cheer for the existence and welfare of the Factory in which all joined
vociferously.
* * * * *
The two youngest boys of the family, _Wilhelm_ the son of _L. Faber_ ten
years and _Ernst_ the son of his brother _Johann_, seven years of age
hereupon ascended the steps and while the former greeted his father with
a poem in the name of the four surviving brothers and sisters of _L.
Faber_, the latter presented him with a silver goblet also in their name
as a souvenir of the festival.
* * * * *
By three o’clock the number of the guests had increased to nearly six
hundred. They amused themselves with all sorts of games, to which the
drawing of prizes lent an especial charm, and with dancing round the
lofty maypole erected on the grass plot, or with wandering through the
park, which was entirely thrown open, while the band charmed the ear
with its performances. In the midst of this lively scene of rejoicing,
which partook of the appearance of a national gathering, the Master of
the Factory _L. Faber_, together with all others present were surprised
in the most agreeable manner by the arrival of a gracious autographic
missive from _His Majesty_ the King, which read as follows:
“On the 16^{th} inst. you celebrate, as I am given to understand the
completion of the first Century of the existence of the manufactory
founded by your ancestors and whose well earnt fame both at home and
abroad redounds to the honor of Bavarian industry. It has likewise
given me special pleasure to observe the care, with which you watch
over the moral and temporal affairs of your workpeople. The festival
which you are about to keep, affords me an opportunity of offering
my best congratulations to you and the establishment conducted by
you with so much success and at the same time of expressing the hope
that the manufactory will be blest with continued prosperity.
With the sincerest good wishes
Hohenschwangau 14. September 1861.
Your affectionate King
=Max.=
To
Mr. _Johann Lothar Faber_ Manufacturer.”
With joyous emotion _L. Faber_ communicated this gracious mark of honour
to all assembled, by reading it aloud from the tribune, concluding with
a triple cheer for His Majesty King _Max_ in which every one joined with
the greatest spirit.
He then gave the health of his two brothers, who so faithfully and
energetically seconded his exertions, which was received with joyous
acclamations echoing again and again from the vast assembly; then his
fellowworkers for the manufactory outside its pale, as also all his
business friends and especially the artists, who, by patronising his
manufactures and appreciating their value for art had so materially
contributed to the extension of his fame. _L. Faber_ thereupon recited a
poem the fundamental idea of which was the motto of the manufactory:
“Truth, Respectability, Industry.”
This recital served as an introduction to the unveiling of an
allegorical tableau executed by _Maar_ of Nürnberg representing partly
the activity of the Factory, and mercantile enterprise, and partly an
appropriate allusion to the Jubilee festival. Then a short address
followed by the presentation of a congratulatory testimonial to _L.
Faber_ on part of the authorities of the council of trade of Nürnberg
was made, which elicited a cheer for the same. Then _Maar_ the artist
made a speech upon the history of the lead pencil and its application to
Art, thanking _L. Faber_ in the name of his colleagues for the cheer
given them and concluding with a toast for the establishment.
A small brochure setting forth the contents of the Festival Album before
mentioned and containing a capital piece of poetry composed by a
relation of the _Faber_ family was then distributed among the guests.
A number of speeches and toasts were now made and given by the workmen
themselves, who were fairly carried away by excitement, which one and
all breathed a spirit of attachment and gratitude, and of which not a
few, spite of their simple character, caused feelings of emotion.
Performances of their singing clubs alternated with those of the band
until as darkness drew near the illumination of the festive grounds and
an extensive portion of the park presented a fresh tableau. Bengal
lights illumined several of the more lovely points and a pyrotechnic
display brought the festival to a conclusion at nine o’clock, when all
the participators departed in the gayest spirits and with hearty wishes
for the continued prosperity of the Manufactory.
The foregoing description of the Jubilee festival of _A. W. Faber’s_
Pencil manufactory may be appropriately closed with the mention off a
transaction which was no less a gratification than an honor to the
proprietor of the same:
On the morning of the eighth of October a deputation of the magistracy
and representatives of the Commune of Nürnberg, consisting of the two
Burgomasters, _von Wächter_ and _Seiler_ and the President of the
College of the Commune, Dr. _Lindner_, proceeded to Stein in order to
present _Johann Lothar Faber_ with the diploma of honorary citizenship
of the City of Nürnberg, which reads as follows:
“The Magistrate and representatives of the Commune of the Royal
Bavarian city of Nürnberg have conferred upon Mr. _Johann Lothar
Faber_, proprietor of the Pencil manufactory at Stein in the Royal
Jurisdiction of Nürnberg, in appreciation of the many and important
services, which he has rendered to industry in general and the trade
of Nürnberg in particular, by an unanimous resolution the honorary
citizenship of the city of Nürnberg, and, after obtaining the most
gracious consent of His Majesty the King, caused this deed to be
drawn up for him. Given under the great seal of the city and the
signatures of the two Burgomasters as also that of the President of
the College of the Commune.
Nürnberg the 16^{th} September 1861.
_von Wächter_, I. Burgomaster.
_Seiler_, II. Burgomaster.
_Lindner_, President of the Presentatives of the Commune.”
------------------
The celebration of the hundreth anniversary of the existence of the
Factory afforded the proprietor of the same a welcome opportunity of
dedicating this memoir to all his honoured business friends and patrons
as a token of his gratitude and esteem and at the same time of giving
them a pretty perfect sketch of his Factory and a view of its internal
arrangement. With this latter object he had the nine views, attached to
the end hereof, taken, which represent a faithful sketch of the chief
points of the establishment and by means of which it is possible to form
a tolerably accurate idea of the Lead pencil Manufacture.
The _first plate_ represents the sluicing process. On the left hand side
of the picture the blacklead is seen in its original casks, on the right
hand side the clay. These two raw materials are here washed and then
passed on in pans to be dried.
The _second plate_ shows the grinding which goes on day and night, the
composition of blacklead, clay &c. being ground fine while in a wet
state, and then dried in ovens especially adapted for that purpose.
The _third plate_ depicts the preparation of the lead. The workmen to
the left in the background are forming a plastic mass of the composition
by wetting it with water, which while still wet is passed into the
cylinder of the press where it is forced through a copper plate, at the
bottom of the cylinder, in the centre of which there is an opening of a
peculiar shape. As is seen in the representation the lead thus pressed
through the cylinder assumes the shape of a ring and is then carried by
the workmen on the right upon boards and lying in a straight position,
to a moderately warm place to dry. Before however the lead is completely
dry, it is cut into sticks of the proper length for filling the pencils.
After the drying comes the annealing in peculiarly constructed ovens.
This process takes place in hermetically closed vessels of clay or iron
in which the sticks of lead are placed in a horizontal position.
In the _fourth plate_ the method of cutting, sawing and planing the wood
is seen. In the foreground to the right lies a balk of Florida Cedar
wood. These balks are from 10 to 15 feet in length and 8 to 24 inches in
thickness. They are first cut across with an upright saw in pieces of
the length of a pencil, which pieces are then cut into sticks by small
circular saws as shown on the right hand side of the view, the sticks
being thereupon planed smooth by the machine in front. Behind the
planing machine the grooving machines are situated by means of which the
smoothly planed sticks are cut with fine circular saws into top and
bottom pieces, the latter of which are furnished with grooves.
The _fifth plate_ represents the process of glueing the sticks of lead
into the wood. At each glueing table there are three workmen, one of
whom smears the two pieces of wood with glue, while the second places
the lead in the groove and the third, after the two pieces are fixed
together, trims the pencils, which are then placed in a press and firmly
pressed together by means of screws. The round bundles seen in this view
are partly finished pencils and partly tops and bottoms.
At this stage of the manufacture the pencils are all square and are now
passed on to the planing shop represented in the _sixth plate_. There
they are cut to the exact length by means of fine circular saws and then
planed round or square, oval or even hexagonal or trigonal by the
planing machines, which they reach in a square form.
The seventh and eighth plates show those operations which are carried on
by females.
In the _seventh plate_ to the right the workwomen are seen engaged in
polishing the pencils with colours, and to the left those who by means
of a lever press stamp the name of the firm upon them.
At last the polished and stamped pencils arrive at the room, where they
are made up into packets as represented in the _eighth_ plate. Here they
are fastened up in dozens, covered with tickets and packed either by the
dozen or the gross.
The _ninth plate_ represents the dwelling houses and manufacturing
Premises. The residence on an elevation to the left is that of the
proprietor of the Manufactory, below which is seen that of his brother.
The two houses in the middle were dwellinghouses in former times and
have been used for years as Countinghouse, Warehouse and
Sample-show-room. The workshops lower down on the right stand close to
the river Rednitz and the machinery therein is set in motion by
waterpower, whereas in the other premises higher up steam is the agent
employed.
[Illustration:
Schlemmen.
Atelier de la purification du graphite.
Sluicing the lead.]
[Illustration:
Mahlen.
Moulins à moudre le graphite.
Grinding the lead.]
[Illustration:
Bearbeitung des Bleies.
Atelier de la manipulation de la mine.
Grinding the lead.]
[Illustration:
Sägen und Hobeln des Holzes.
Atelier du sciage et rabotage du bois.
Sawing and planing process.]
[Illustration:
Einleimen des Bleies.
Atelier du collage de la mine dans le bois.
Gluing room.]
[Illustration:
Hobeln der Bleistifte.
Atelier du rabotage des crayons.
Planing room.]
[Illustration:
Poliren und Zeichnen.
Atelier de vernisage et numérotage.
Polishing and stamping process.]
[Illustration:
Binden und Verpacken.
Atelier de l’empaquetage des crayons.
Tying and packing room.]
[Illustration:
Fabrik in Stein bei Nürnberg.
Fabrique de Crayons.
Pencil-Manufactory.]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE
Punctuation has been normalized. Variations in hyphenation have been
retained as they were in the original publication. The author’s original
choice of spelling and variations therein have been maintained with the
exception of the following:
too —> two great improvements {page 13}
loftly —> dancing round the lofty maypole {page 26}
second —> seconded his exertions {page 27}
The following attribution line, which appeared in the illustration
captions in the original publication, has not been included in the
captions in this ebook:
Lor. Ritter del. Druckerei von C. Kruthoffer, Frankfurt a. M.
The original version of this book used spaced text, most frequently for
proper and place names. The spaced text has been represented using
_underscores_ in the plain text version of the book.
Bolded phrases are presented by surrounding the text with =equal signs=
herein.
The caret symbol ^ precedes characters that were raised as a
superscript in the original book. In the case where more than one
character was raised, those characters were encased in brackets, as in
this example: 2^{nd}
*** End of this LibraryBlog Digital Book "The Lead Pencil Manufactory of A. W. Faber at Stein near Nürnberg, Bavaria" ***
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