Technological Innovations Designed to Save Time and Physical Labour in Masaga Indigenous Glass Bead Making

Emmanuel M. Alemaka

Abstract


The Masaga glass bead makers’ employ the furnace wound technique in the bead making process. This process has been found to be experiencing a furnace operational problem, that is, the air supply to the furnace which constitutes a critical aspect of the entire glass bead making operation has to be supplied by the instrumentality of manually operated cloth bellows often times by a supporting apprentice. The operating manpower for this craft, as has been observed to be the case with other similar local crafts, is depleting leading to the plodding extinction of this trade. Deriving from an appraisal of the work practice of glass bead making craft in foreign locations as in India, Ghana and Egypt that use local furnaces, the study developed an appropriate design and the fabrication of an electrically-operated centrifugal fan to replace the laborious hand-operated cloth bellows. The design and fabrication of a centrifugal fan to supply compressed air to aid combustion and the design modification of the Masaga glass bead making furnace worked successfully in operation resulting in an increased capacity and consistency of air supply leading to the speed-up of the bead making process. On operation, it was possible to achieve the working temperature of 1200oC within the space of twenty (20) minutes. The bead making process using the furnace-wound technique can now be carried on without depending on an assistant to supply compressed air needed for combustion. The results of the study show that furnace modification as well as the deployment of the centrifugal fan to glass bead making provide the much needed solution to arrest the decline in the trade as well as boost economic activities in the trade.

Full Text:

PDF

References


Affum M.A (2009): Beads in the Krobo Culture; (Unpublished Master’s Thesis) submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi pg. 10

Alemaka E.M. (2009): Report of Field trip to the Masaga Glass Bead works in Bida, Niger State submitted to Department of Industrial Design, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

Alemaka E.M. (2014): Design Modification and Construction of a Glass bead making Furnace, Seminar presented at the Faculty of Environmental Design, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

Energy Efficiency Guide for Industry in Asia (2006): Thermal Energy Equipment: Furnaces and Refractories; (Chapter – Furnaces and Refractories.pdf) retrieved from www.energyefficiencyasia.org

Essien C.F (2011): Empowering Indigenous Industries for National Development: A Review; Journal of Research in National Development JORIND (Vol. 9 No. 1 pg 13) June 2011

Firozabad Glass City of India (n.d): An Introduction – The Glass City of India – Firozabad Retrieved November 11, 2014 from https://sites.google.com/cite/rajatresponsible/

Maggio M. (2011): Fire II Colour and Temperature retrieved September 13, 2014 from http://maggiemaggio.com/color/2011/08/fire-ii-color-and-temperature/

Mc-Graw-Hill (2002): Fans; McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology (9th Edition) Vol. 7 pg 12 published by McGraw-Hill Inc.

Osec (2012): New Markets, New Opportunities; The Brass and Bead Jewellery Industry in the Republic of Ghana; Swiss Import Promotion Programme Stampfenbachstrasse 85 CH-8006 Zurich.

Oyelami, A.T., Olaniyan, O.O., Iliya, D., and Idowu, A.S., (2008): The Design of a Closed-Type-Impeller Blower for a 500kg Capacity Rotary Furnace; Assumption University Journal of Technology, 12(1) pp50-56


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.