Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-01-02
THE TIN-CAN INDUSTRY.
An Enormous Saving from Mcchani-
cal Manufacture.


"No branch of tin manufacture has
undergone such radical changes within
the last few years rs the manufacture of
cans for packing and canning purposes, :"
said tinware manufacturer who was
questioned relative to the mechanical
improvements of the trade. "From an
insignificant business it has grown to be
one of great magnitude, and one, fur
Their, that is increasing every year with
the increase in consumption of canned
goods. The high cost of plate tin, cou-
pied with the popular prices at which
packers have endeavored to put their
goods on the market, las necessitated
the discontinuance of hand labor. On
the other hand, the uncertainty of crops
has centralized the business aud run out
the small scattered manufacturers.
Formerly such cans were made by
hand, and the demand of one season was
scarcely supplied before work was begun
on stock for the next year. 1t was found,
however, that IN unexpected drought Or
frost or rainy spell often spoil crop.
and Mt the last moment, by killing the
demand for cans, locked up thousands
of dollars worth of manufactured goods
for twelve monihs-a difficulty which is
now never experienced. The necessity
of cheapening food cans has resulted in
machinery which automatically does the
whole work, even to soldering and count
ing: and the Capitalization of the can
making business springs from the fact
that when single concern, for instance,
can turn oil quarter OF million cans
in single day, packers can wait till
they know with certainty how many cans
they will need before ordering them, or
even rcscind mn order on moments no.
tice without mountaineering or causing
loss to the manufacturers. There is now
no need of capitals being tied up.
Give or six boys cnn now easily turn
off 90, 900 day and have scarcely more
to do than watch tho machines. The
plate tin is fed in at one end of series
of connected machines. The ends and
bodies of the cans are stamped ont, con-
Quoted along, put together, soldered,
counted, and almost put Oh the cars for
shipping, without the intervention of
hand labor; whereas, formerly, can
making was but lower class OF pieced
work, requiring the shears and soldering
iron. / don't think it an overestimnte
to say that improved machinery has
lessened the actual cost OF manuiectur-
ing this sort of goods fully rs per cent.
The plant required for this machine
work is, Of course, pretty expensive, but
their erection pays because packers will
buy no other than machine made cans.
"The requirements made of manufac-
turers are very exacting. They have to
pay for all cans and contents over aud
above three in a thousand that arc found
defective: and the amount of money
thus pnid is remarkably small wien we
take into consideration the rapidity with
which the cans ale turned off and the
saving in material effected in each can
made. Where formerly seventy pounds
OF solder was required for 200 cans the
new process of manufacture requires
but fifteen. The saving of solder, you
see, is no small item in the reduction of
cost. And, by the way, this mass of sol
der formerly used gave rise to that fake
about lead-poisoninR by canned goods.
There isn't genuine case OF such lead |
ON record. 1t takes months |
in lead works TO impregnate ones sys
tenn with poison; the mere contact OF
food with sollered point will not do it. |
The real cause OF the poisoning is the /
of the food. Seeing great /
rolls of solder in the cars containing the 1
food, physicians have jumped /
at q false conclusion and needlessly I
CHARMED the public. - hicdg0 Ncies.