Bridgeton pioneer., 1888-05-10
A GREAT INVENTION.
Cox's Can Cappers a Great
Success.

n IOsEE0 ItpOTteF Oh SATURDAY
afternoon climbed the narrow stair
way leading to the machine shops of
|. H. Cox & Sons, on Water street, and
found himself in a large room in which
busily engaged were half dozen men,
all working on Cox's Cappers, one of
the best and most successful inyen-
tions ever offered to the public. This
business has grown within the past
five years to such an extent that we
deem it proper to give a description
of the machine and its manufacture to
the readers.
l. II. Cox, who short time since
died, was blacksmith, and nearly all
of his life worked at the anvil. His
son James was can maker by trade.
and until recent years was engaged in
that business. While at work over
his anvil, Mr.. Cox received his first
thoughts of the invention, which
in after years he perfected to such an
extent that it has jumped into popular
favor. He went Immediately at work
upon a model, and invoked the aid of
his son spoken of above. Together
they planned and worked, met with
the usual discouragements and over
came them until during the year 1888,
they turned out the first machine. 1t
worked fairly well, and a patent was
taken out. Two machines were made
the first year, and after much difficulty
they succeeded in introducing them into
canning works. Immediately they were
received into favor, and in 1886 five of
them were made and sold, while last
year thirty five of them were set up.
The work of improving them went
on until this Spring. when it was re-
duced to such simplicity, that it is
hardly likely that it will ever be greatly
improved upon. Orders are rolling in,
and now in California, Nebraska,
Indiana, Kansas, Iowa. Mississippi,
New Jersey and other places, the ma
chimes are in operation and highly
spoken of. This year men who used
them last year, are sending duplicate
Orders for these machines. and with
their orders the highest testimonials.
In this city Benz. S. Ayars, the West
Jersey Packing Company, and Stout's
works are using them, and this year
new ones will be added in some of the
other houses.
Cox's Gaping machine is a simple
yet wonderful invention. 1t is made
entirely of iron aud weighs about 500
pounds. 1t is made in a compact and
substantial manner and soders the caps
On one dozen cans at a single opera
tion.
The twelve irons are revolved by a
crank and crescent, moving toothed
rack bar. into which is geared pinion
on the shank of each iron. The cans
are placed in a tray, having a groove
lengthwise in the bottom, to fit guide
on the bed plate. Near the end of this
guide is a spring stop, worked by q
small treadle, which stops the tray
of cans in the proper position for the
irons above. The arms are raised and
lowered by two-armed lever, worked
by treadle with a guide on the floor.
The irons are adjusted so as to fit in
the groove of each can, and have suf-
ficient play to adapt themselves to any
slight irregularity in either tray or can.
The weighted rods passing through
the centre OF the irons hold the caps
in place after raising the irons until
the solder chills.
The capacity of the machine is 36
cans a minute, and the usual hours
work is 1900 cans. 1t saves one half
labor, and from one-third to one half
of solder over the hand system.
There are other Gaping machines in
the market, but none of them ever
gave satisfaction. One of the Chicago
make sells for 81 900 but has never
given satisfaction. The machine made
by Cox Il Sons are sold for four hun
dred dollars, and are SO simple that it
is impossible for them to get out of
order. We are glad that our own
citizens have been able to make such
a great invention and trust that the
little shops on Water street is but
the nucleus of a manufactery which
will rival any of the large business
houses of our progressive city.
Another new bottling establishment
This time on the Shiloh pike, just this
side of the toll gate. A couple of men
of this city have purchased property
there, and will Immediately commence
business on the premises. There does