The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-02-23
Making Berry Boxes.
Trom the San piego lCall Union.


sides and bottom of berry box are moth
inc more nor less than small pieces cut
from great pine, fir or whitewood shay
ing, and bent and fastened together in the
shape of box. These shavings, OF course
are not like those which fall in graceful
curls from the carpenters plane, but are
great long sheets, in each of which is
almost the entire wood of big log, and
from single shaving is frequently made
from 1000 to 5000 berry boxes.
The logs, which are brought down from
the northern coast, are unloaded in the
waters of the bay and hoated into the
boom close to the shore, where the factory
is located. From there they are hauled up
on tramway running down into the water,
so that the logs can be hoated upon the
car. When brought up, the logs are cut
by drag saw into uniform lengths as de-
sired. These sections of the log are then
placed in large steam box, Of which there
are several convenient to the machinery,
and left for twelve hours, subjected to the
effects of the exhaust steam from the en-
CINE. This softens the wood so that it can
be cut into the thin sheets desired without
checking or splitting into fragments.
A section of great log, three feet in
diameter, was rolled out from the steam
box by two men, and, after the center had
been marked at both ends, was hoiSted by
a small derrick and swung over machine,
the principal feature Of which was a long
bevel edged knife, firmly set in a strong iron
frame, in very much the same manner as
the blade OF a carpenters plane Is set.
Indeed the cutting portion of this machine
Is a great monster shaving plane. with the
edge of the blade fixed upwards. The log
was next lowered by the derrick to its pro-
per position, the operator of the machine
pulled lever, and two great clamps, with
srong, sharp pointed jaws two inches long,
advanced aud pushed their iron teeth into
the marked centers at each eud Of the log
The great wooden cylinder was now held
firmly in front of the blade of the immense
shaving plane, aud when the operator pull
cd another lever, the log commenced to
revolve towards the cutting edge, exactly
like the strip of wood in a turner's lathe
revolycs towards the chisel. Another pull
by the operator. aud the frame holding the
great blade began to move up TO the revolv-
ing log. When the knife came IN contact
with the steaming wood, the outer edges
were peeled of in thin strips without a
sound Of cutting. aud the broad sheets roll
ed out under the blade a. easily and noise
lessly Is would shoe of cheese under 4
sharp knife.
After the water soaked. outer portions
Of the log hsd been trimmed of IN this
manner. the operator adjusted, on the side
Of the log opposite 10 the cutting knife, a
number of small chiscl ike instruments al
the end of each Of which was a small, sharp
cutting edge pressing against the lug.
Thcsc little cutters are placed al various
distances, carefully measured by the opera
tor. and evidently formed au important
feature Of the operation When the loE
aeain BEGAN IT, revolutions against the
blade Of the great shaving machine, there
oame out from under the knife long.
wide. thin strip Of wood. which the men
pulled out ani rolled and folded up Ike
wall paper
A examination Of this great white,
s,camiug shaving showed that ITS entire
length was marked by parallel lines eat
partially through the wood, made by the
little cutters az the back Il The lex The
purpose Of these lines vas mystery until
The operator earel,assly broke ef an end q
TIE great shaving, making strip two OF
ihrrc inches wide. aud quickly bent it into
The form of a berry box complete, except
ing the bottom. Toy points Of bending
were the parallel lines cut Ia the wood,
shieh made the operation q shaping the
box nothing but staple mechanical
movement.
The wood bent readily Il the partial cuts
and formed the anelcs Of the box. Making
the bottom, Of eoarse. consisted IN exactly
the same operation, exeept that the strip
used for this portion vas not va long.
having ouly two cuts aud three segmsnts.
The @iddle segmen, formed, o. oourse, the
bottom u the box, and the ,wo At the cod
extended upward inside the frame formed
by the longer strip.
An bu, the small cure Of the l0s istnra-
al 81 into this long shaVios. ane-iwentcth
Of an ioch in thickness an. nearly 600
feet long. which Is folded anG NFoken into
conveutsnt lengths for handling a. fast a.
I, comes from the knife.
The machinery which thus in sew
minutes converts a roagh i9g into long
parser. Ike sheet 81 good l. called notary
veneer machine aud in the factory are
several of than Of various sizes, she largest
Of them being adapted 20 tbs shaving Of
loes ten feet eight inches 10 length This
by the way. Is the largest rotary veneer
machine 10 operation in the United States.
The thin sheets OF wood, a. fast as they
are taken from the machine, arc placed
upon long table near at hand, and push
ed under a knife operated By steam power,
which eats the wood into narrow strips,
lengthWise, aud Of the proper width for the
sides and bottom of berry box. The
knife which cuts the long shayings cruss-
wise Of coursc cuts leRgthwise Of the gram.
The narrow strips. as fast as they are cut,
are taken away by boys and carried ON an
elevator 10 the second floor Of the building,
where number oil boys and giris rapidly
bind them into box form. The last step
in the manufacture, which i done by girls,
is the fastening Of the bottom aud side strips
together. This is done by peculiar look
ing machine called ssapler, but which
might very properly be called wire sew
Ing machine