Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1886-11-25
HOW TO MAKE GLOVES.
Their Manufacture in Specimen
American Factory.
The Steel Hands Used for Cutting-A
Dainty Process for Fine Gloves
No "Back-aches" in this
business.

In the work-room of glove factory,
which we lately entered, we found
some of the operators cutting
prepared skins into blocks or square
pieces, the exact length and width of
certain sizes of gloves and mittens.
The skins, two or three thicknesses at
a. time, after being laid under cutter,
were chopped square in an instant
This was the second step in the pro-
cess. In another place young man
stood before machine that looked
like printing press of moderate size.
Beside HIM on table were heaps of
the square cut skins. He showed me,
at sign from the fore-woman, q
square box open on one side, in which
was shining-steel outline of a hand.
On this outline or shape he now laid
six squares of skin, and, slipping a
cover on the box, placed it on the top
of the queer-looking machine, fixing
it very squarely and evenly. Then he
siezed string which held the handle
of an upper arm, pulled this arm with
it two big iron balls--one at each
end-twisted it on one side, then gave
IL a sharp, sudden turn twice, each
time soft distinct thud being heard
Now you are to look" said my
conductor.
The young man again fastened the
handle of the cutting-machine, then he
took out the box. He was obliged to
use hammer in opening it, the top
had become so fast. There in the box
lay the entire glove, cut as smoothly
and evenly and perfectly in shape as if
done by the most dexterous scissors
six of them. Each part of the six gloves
was complete; the hand, the fingers,
the thumb isolated and by itself, with
the little gusset on the under side OF
the thumbpiece and the strips that 90
between the fingers. The workman
quickly took out and laid aside the six
gloves and repeated the operation with
another set Of six skins.
"Are all your gloves cut by ma.
chineryp" / asked.
"All, save those made to private
orders, where the hand is carefully meas
ured all over and the skin cut with
the scissors. Now, see again. From
the cutting-machine-and all gloves
made for the general trade in Europe
are cut in the same way-must be taker
out all the shavings, the little scraps
that ale waste. This is done by othel
workmen. Then pairs are carefully
sorted to each other and laid togethei
and marked"
"Are they all made herep''
'sOh, no, they are carried to the pri
vate houses by the dozen of pairs, al
persons taking them away having
book hNwhich the number taken an,
returned Aregistered. We make onl,
the best quality here"
The buzz of sewing-machines wa
audible all over the building; and n,
wonder, since the large room was en-
tirely occupied by girls making differ
ent kinds of gloves. There are severa
kinds of machines used in glove-sewing
some of French invention, some o
American, the over sewers all French
No gloves whatever are now sewed b
hand. My guide led me to one side q
the long-room, in which she said tn
finest gloves were made, and wher
several girls sat each before a peculiar
looking machine, its needles turne
sidewise instead of being in hori
zontal position. This process seeme
to be dainty one. On each machin
Law pile of soft dark skins. cut an
and ready for manufacture. The ma
chine was in this instance threade
with white silk, two spools. The or
orator picked up glove and folded
together-from the lower part of tn
thumb to the wrist it is cut whole
and began the outside seam, diminr
tive hook letting down the silk, tn
needle catching it. and thus the beaut
full. even overseam of the glove ws
made. When she reached the top {
the little finger the operator paused
and picking up pile of small Sits
Kid. selected one and inserted it in th
seam she was sewing, If you will e