Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-08-19
THE TINFOIL INDUSTRY.
1T Is PURELY OF AMERICAN ORIGIN
AND GROWTH.

Recent ornamental novelties made
of pure tinfoil lacquered with gold
and embossed in various forms. man.
ufactured for the drug. confection-
ers' and tobacconists' trades, serve to
call attention to an invention and in
dustry that are purely of American
origin and growth. Before the inven-
tor of tinfoil hit upon the idea Of
rolling tin upon sheets of lead. the
two metals being previously welded
together, the only tinfoil known to
the world was that Of pure tin beaten
by process similar to that followed
by gold-leaf beaters. This beaten
tin was made in England, and only
small quantities Were imported into
this country. Its use was limited be-
cause Of its expense and It's liability
to tear.
The first tinfoil rolling mill was
established in New York City half
century ago, and 1t was started on
such modest scale that the rollers
were obtained as secondhand iron.
The English-beaten tinfoil was found
to be SO expensive in this country
that cheaper method Of making it
was tried, and proved successful. The
business of this early, but not ex-
tinct, tinfoil factory was thus an
nounced: Foil Rolling Mill and Me-
tallic Cap Works; tobacconists' foil,
plain or embossed. tin sheet-foil for
druggists and bottlers. superior to the
Imported article"
In the half century which has fol-
lowed this modest beginning of an
industry great strides have been made
in manufacturing tinfoil and in apply
ing it to manifold commercial uses.
New machines have been made to
work it up into handsome ornamen-
tai forms, and considerable capital has
been invested to extend its useful
ness. There is very little export
trade in tinfoil. as the foil is also
made extensively in England, France
and Germany, but the home trade is
adequately supplied by the four tin
foil factories in this country-two in
New York, one in Philadelphia, and
another in st. Louis. After the eX.
piration of the original patents these
four factories started almost simulta-
neously, and they have controlled the
output of the material ever since.
New machinery and processes for
improving the tinfoil are being invent
ed nearly every year, and the quail
ity of the material produced today
is infinitely better than that Of
dozen years ago. A good deal of the
new machinery is made to enhance
the ornamental effects of the foil, but
not little of it is made to increase
the strength and wearing quality of
the material. In the druggist and
confectionery trades the demand for
very highly ornamental tinfoil effects
is especially urgent, and artists of
considerable ability are engaged to
produce fancy patterns. The silvery
surface of the tinfoil Is made more
effective by fancy patterns of stars,
figures and fine lines, which are
stamped or embossed in the sheets
by special machinery. Recently ma
chinery was made to print the pat
terms on the sheets of foil in colors.
In order to do this the sheets of foil
are put through regular printing cy-
Under presses, which not only color
the patterns but stamp in the dead"
effects of various figures and lines.
The machinery required for this deli
cate work is quite elaborate and rep
resents part of the invested capital
of the plant.
The tinfoil is also lacquered hand
somely with gold, which, in connec-
tion with the embosslng and print
ing in colors, produces remarkably
artistic effects. Many large firms en-
ploy these fancy effects as trade
marks which are stamped or printed
on all the foil they use as wrapping
for their articles. Tinfoil is growing
rapidly in use for wrapping purposes
where food and other articles must
be kept from the air as much as
possible. It's first use was for to-
bacco wrapping, and the demand in
this trade stands first today. Fine ci-
gars, plug tobacco and cigarettes
have the fine aroma Of the tobacco
and the natural moisture retained in
definitely by this process. Most pre-
pared foods are wrapped in tinfoil,
and now that the manufacture of
these has grown tremendously the
demand for tinfoil has increased al
so to remarkable proportions. Cheese,
yeast cakes, and other products of
the delicatessen order require an
nually tons of pure tinfoil. Confec-
fectioners also have resorted to
the use of tinfoil for wrap
ping their choice candies in prefer
ence to tissue paper. The drug trade
has found infinite uses for the foil be-
cause of it's air-tight qualities, which
keep the goods from direct contact
with the atmosphere
Perishable goods shipped to warm,
tropical countries are frequently
wrapped in tinfoil to exclude the air
and to retain the natural moisture.
A combination of thin paper and tin
foil is considered better for food pro-
ducts than the foil alone. 1t was con-