The Encyclopedia of Founding

Twelve hundred entries from the golden age of cast metal — how bells are founded, why brass is not bronze, what a cupola melts and a core withstands — by Simpson Bolland, the trade's great teacher.

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Leaf Gold

See GOLD.

Level is an instrument used to discover a line parallel to the horizon, and to continue it at pleasure. Water-level shows this horizontal line by means of a surface of water or other fluid, found on the principle that water always places itself level or horizontally.

The common mason's level consists of a long parallel straight-edged ruler, in the middle of which is fitted, at right angles, another broader one, at the top of which is suspended a plummet, which, when it hangs over the middle line of the upright piece, shows that the base or horizontal ruler is level. The spirit-level in common use amongst moulders has brass side-views, brass top, and end-plates and corners, protected by 1/4-inch-square rods extending the entire length of the rosewood staff. The tube, which contains alcohol, is slightly curved, and the straight edge of the instrument is tangent to it. For instructions to level a bed on the foundry floor, see BED.

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