Wichita eagle., 1888-09-19
CLEANING BOTTLES.
Ingenious Devices for Removing All
Traces of Former Contents.

Traces of Former Contents.
There are probably few old-fashioned
bOttlers who clean not only temperance
drink bottles, but also wine bottles with
shot; but that is not the practice in the
latest approved bottling establishments,
says the New York Sun. There is one in
South Fifth avenue where five thousand bot
ties are cleaned every day, and thoroughly
cleansed, without the use of shot
Ordinary root beer and SarSaparilla bot
ties are easily cleaned, because the material
used IN them is readily and quickly soluble
in cold water. The bottles are dumped,
throat up, into big tub of clean cold water,
which is kept clean by constant replenish-
ment Each bottle is quickly filed and al
lowed to soak short time Then the clean
er grasps three or four bottles in his two
hands, holding them throat up and shakes
them vigorously. That is sufficient to dis
lodge the sugary coating, and then the bot
ties are inverted and allowed to drain off
AS they are made of transparent green
glass it is easy to see when they are clean
Care is taken to wash out any flies that
have been sepulchred in the bottle in their
search for sweet things. The old-fashioned
stone bottles that were formerly used for
root beer have long been discarded as too
heavy and costly.
The cleaning of saltwater bottles is
more carefully done. Here warm water IS
used, and the workman manipulates a four
pronged tool that looks like a fork Each
prong is mounted with stiff blade of India
rubber, of such shape that when the prong
Is thrust into the bottle the rubber blade
reaches the inner side of the bottle. In
front of the workman is a cocoa mat. This
serves double purpose. The mat cleans
the outside Of the bottle, and the rolling
brings the whole inside of the bottle in con-
tact with the rubber blade. A few vigor-
Gus rolls clean the bottle thoroughly, and
then it IS rinsed and ready Tor use.
Still another process is used for lager
beer bottles, which require even more Wig
orous washing. This is done by machine
with revolving spindles, on which are
placed rubber brushes. The bottle Is thrust
over the spindle, which is run BY steam,
and running water carries of the scum.
Each bottle then gets a thorough internal
securing.
1t is, in fact, an essential element Of sue
cess IN the bOttling business TO keep the
bottles clean, and no manufacturer who ex-
poets to keep his custom would dare neglect
the essential clement Of cleanliness. The
element OF cost prevents, if no other con-
siderations could do so. the slow and tedious
method of cleaning bottles with shot. There
was bottle washing macIue in use here not
long ago which cleansed bottles with revolv-
ing bristle brushes, but the wear and tear
OF bristles was found to DC too expensive,
although the work done was very effective
The substitution of rubber blades for the
bristleS proves TO be cheaper and quite as
thorough.
A much better way than the use of shot
for cleaning bottles is to put small piece
Of iron chain with small links into the bot
ties with some water. This, when ratified
about, will clean bottle well. OF course,
if 4 bottle has been filed with any greasy
substance the only way to clean it thorough
" is with strong alhai, and this is done by
all careful bottlers.