It is of the greatest consequence, both for the purposes of commerce, arid with a view to leN)ing the duty, that a certain number of candles should amount to a definite weight, and consequently that the operation of dipping cease at the precise time when the candles have attained this weight. In order to ascertain this impor tant point, the workman, when Ile thinks the candles have nearly acquired the proper size, lifts one of the broaches from the end of its lever, and hangs it upon the arm of a balance placed beside him, whose opposite scale has been previously loaded with the proper weights.
We shall next describe the process of moulding, which, if possible, is even less complicated in its details than that of dipping. The moulds are made of some metallic sub stance, usually pewter, and consist of two parts. The shaft, or great body of the moult!, is a hollow cylinder, finely polished in the inside, and open at both extremi ties. The top of the mould is a small metallic cup, hav ing a moulding within side, and a hole to admit the wick. The two parts arc soldered together ; and, when united, as will readily be imagined, have the shape of a moulded candle. A third piece, called the foot, is sometimes added: it is a kind of small funnel, through which the liquid tallow runs into the mould, and being screwed to the opposite extremity of the shaft, is removable at plea sure. This additional piece may certainly be useful in very mild weather; since, by removing it, the candles may be drawn more easily from the moulds ; but, in ge neral, it may be dispensed with. It is seldom used, and indeed is scarcely known in any of the large manufacto ries of Scotland.
Twelve or sixteen of these moulds, according to their size, arc fixed in a frame, which bears a great resem w blance to a wooden stool, the upper surface of which forms a kind of trough. The top of the moulds points downwards; and the other extremity, which is open, is inserted into the bottom of the trough or top of the stool, and made quite level with its upper surface. In order to introduce the wicks into the mould, the workman lays the frame upon its side on an adjoining table, and hold ing in his left hand a quantity of wicks, previously cut to the proper length, he introduces into the mould a long ;vire with a hooked point. As soon as the hook of the wire appears through the hole in the top of the mould, attaches to it the looped end of the wick, and imme diately drawing back the wire, carries the wick along with it. In this manner each mould in succession is fur
nished with a wick. Another workman now follows, and passes a small wire through the loop of each wick. This wire is obviously intended to keep the wick stretched, and to prevent it from falling back into the mould, upon the frame being placed in the proper position for filling. The frame is now handed to the person that fills the moulds, who previously arranges the small wires in such a manner that each wick may be exactly in the middle of the mould.
The moulds are filled by running tallow into the trough from a cistern furnished \yid] a cock, and which is regu larly supplied with tallow of the proper temperature from an adjoining boiler. When the workman observes that the moulds arc nearly half filled, he turns the cock, and laying hold of that portion of the wick which hangs out of the mould, pulls it tight, and thus prevents any curling of the wick, which might injure the candles. He then opens the cock, and completes the process of fill ing. The frame is now set aside to cool; and when the tallow has acquired a proper consistence, which the workman easily discovers by a snapping noise emitted by the candles upon pressing his thumb against the bot tom of the moulds, lie first w ithdray.s the small wire, which kept the wicks tense, and then scraping oil the loose tallow from the top of the frame with a small wooden spade, he introduces a bodkin into the loop of the wick, and thus draws each candle in succession front its mould. The candles arc now laid upon a table Cot the inspection of the exciseman, and afterwatds removed to the storehouse. Previous to storing them up, some candle•makers bleach their candles, by exposing them to the air and dews for several days. This additional labour can be necessary only when the dealer is obliged to have early sales ; for if the candles are kept for some months, as they ought to be, before they are brought to market, they become sufficiently whitened by age.
Besides the common dipped and moulded candles, I/ kind of candle intended to burn during the night without being snuffed, is also made of tallow. These candles are usually called rush-lights, from the wick being mad.; of split rushes.