Laboratory Manual of Glass-Blowing

Laboratory Manual of Glass-Blowing is by Francis C. Frary, and the preface says the purpose of this little book is to provide a clear and detailed discussion of the elements of glass-blowing. The preface notes that many laboratories in this country, especially in the west, are located a long way from any professional glass-blower. The text lists qualities wanted in a glass for ordinary working, among them moderately low working temperature and freedom from air bubbles, striations and irregularities.

The text says almost all the soft glass on the market is a soda glass, although sometimes part of the soda is replaced by potash. The text describes blowing a bulb on the end of a tube: when the operation of blowing and pushing together is repeated, the result will be to lengthen the bulb into a uniform cylinder. For one tube, the tubing used must have thick walls, and especial care must be taken in heating and cooling it on account of the thick walls.