The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1884-05-17

Springfield (Mass.) Republican.

Springfield (Mass.) Republican.
The process of manufacturing envel-
opes is apparently simple, although in
reality complicated. True there are
only three distinct operations to be
gone through with-the cutting, gum
ming and folding, but the blending of
the last two operations into one makes
necessary the use of complex machine.
There is nothing remarkable in the first
part of the operation. The paper as it
comes from the factories is cut in squares
of diagonals measuring thirty by forty
inches, special diagonal shapes being
chosen for particular cutting-dies, in
order to save waste which would follow
from the sheet not being especially
adapted to the die. Each sheet will
average thirteen envelopes, which are
cut out by dies of unnumerable sizes
and shapes but all verging on the dia-
mond, 500 sheets being placed on the
press at time. In spite of all precau-
tions there is waste of two pounds in
every forty, and some idea of the extent
of business may be gained from the
fact that out of this waste fifty tons are
sent away every year. The folding and
cumming machines are now brought
into use, and no more facinating occu-
patton can be found for while than to
watch their lightning like motion as
they turn out finished envelopes at the
rate of seventy-fve a minute. There
are sixty-six of these machines in oper-
alton, each of which require no other
attendant than a girl who receives the
envelopes as they are forced out, bind
them, and pack them in boxes. Six of
the machines are used entirely for pape-
tersie, five for cumming, folding and
printing at the same time, and the rest
for plain commercial envelopes. The
process is an interesting one, the ma
chimes being self-feeding, taking the
paper direct from the cutters, and turn
ing the completed envelopes to the
packers in lots counted out to suit.
About gross are laid in receiving
box on top of the machine, and above
this hangs .picker," the edges of
which conform to the edges of the en-
velope. This works up and down like
flash, receiving mucilage on its edges
from little rollers that fly back and forth
between couple of reservoirs filled
with gum-arabic. Pouncing on the top
sheet the "picker" catching it up, gum
ming it with the same movement.
Long fingers dart in, seize the captive,
hurry it back a couple of feet to the
'tplungers," couple of "separators,"
having shot beneath the sheet to keep
therest in place ,all being done SO quickly
that top sheet of those remaining seem
to have been the one touched by the
"picker." The "plunger," an iron
cube, the lower surface of which is the
size and shape of the intended envelope,
works up and down like apiston, hunch-
ing the sheet down through square
orifce that gives the correct shape. An
instantaneous folding and pressing oper-
alton is performed by some unseen ap.
paratus, and, almost before one has
fairly realized that the sheet has been
snatched out by the "picker," it comes
out of the machines a complete envel-
ope, and, passing along chain with
hundreds of others in order to dry,
takes circuitous route back under the
machine where it drops into the hands
of the folder and packer, as mentioned
before The machine, with gum fold
and print. work off only 900 day,
or forty-one minute, the sheet hav-
ing to receive an impression from the
types just before it reaches the plunger.