1and hold it, lest it should fall out of the beam;
that end is hardly a digit
thick, while the other round end is thicker than a digit. When the door is
to be shut, this pin lies under the timber and holds the door so that it cannot
fall; the pin likewise prevents the rectangular iron band which encircles the
end of the beam, and into which is inserted the ring of a long hook, from
falling from the end. The lowest link of an iron chain, which is six feet long,
is inserted in the ring of a staple driven into the right wall of the furnace,
and fixed firmly by filling in with molten lead. The hook suspended at the
top from the ring should be inserted in one of these lower links, when the
door is to be raised; when the door is to be let down, the hook is taken out
of that link and put into one of the upper links.
thick, while the other round end is thicker than a digit. When the door is
to be shut, this pin lies under the timber and holds the door so that it cannot
fall; the pin likewise prevents the rectangular iron band which encircles the
end of the beam, and into which is inserted the ring of a long hook, from
falling from the end. The lowest link of an iron chain, which is six feet long,
is inserted in the ring of a staple driven into the right wall of the furnace,
and fixed firmly by filling in with molten lead. The hook suspended at the
top from the ring should be inserted in one of these lower links, when the
door is to be raised; when the door is to be let down, the hook is taken out
of that link and put into one of the upper links.
On the third day the master sets about the principal operation.
First
he throws a basketful of charcoals on to the ground in front of the hearth,
and kindles them by adding live coals, and having thrown live coals on to the
cakes placed within, he spreads them equally all over with an iron shovel.
The blade of the shovel is three palms and a digit long, and three palms wide;
its iron handle is two palms long, and the wooden one ten feet long, so that
it can reach to the rear wall of the furnace. The exhausted liquation cakes
become incandescent in an hour and a half, if the copper was good and hard,
he throws a basketful of charcoals on to the ground in front of the hearth,
and kindles them by adding live coals, and having thrown live coals on to the
cakes placed within, he spreads them equally all over with an iron shovel.
The blade of the shovel is three palms and a digit long, and three palms wide;
its iron handle is two palms long, and the wooden one ten feet long, so that
it can reach to the rear wall of the furnace. The exhausted liquation cakes
become incandescent in an hour and a half, if the copper was good and hard,