Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1902-08-08
MAKING A BASEBALL. :
An Operation That Requires Muci,
Skin and Fine Work.

An Operation That Requires Much
Skin and Fine Work.
The production OF baseball is an
! operation almost as unknown TO the
public as its use is familiar.
Yet nearly 100000 balls a year. or
about 10000 a day, are manufactured
by one Pennsylvania factory alone.
and for great many of these S15O
apiece is paid.
"A remarkable amount of skill and
fine workmanship is needed to turn
out ball that will stand. even for n
short time. the powerful batting OF the
big players or will come up to the re-
quirements for league work.
The various steps in the manufac-
ture of first class baseball are briefly
as follows:
1t is first n solid ball of Para rubber
just an inch through. The ball is
placed In a machine by a boy tender
and is automatically wound with a
strong, pure WOODEN yarn. The wind
Ing Is done with an evenness that no
human fingers could equal, and the
thick, blue mixed wool forms per-
fectly uniform covering for the core.
This layer is made just an inch thick.
When the right amount OF yarn has
been wound on il. the machine stops
automatically. The ball, now two
inches thick. is removed and another
core set.
The partly finished balls are next
dipped-that is. they are dropped into
transparent fluid called plastic CON-
position" which is really q kind of
cement. This fluid is very adhesive,
and when it enters the wool covering
there is qualification that prevents
the ball from ever being Knocked out
OF shape. So certain is this. in fact,
that the company guarantees to re-
place all balls that are so injured.
The balls are next wound again, this
time with a certain definite thickness
of three ply white yarn. This is GOV
cred with n three ply blue yarn until
it has reached the requisite size of
nine inches in circumference. All OF
these winding processes have been au-
tomato, and the balls appear of ex-
actly the same size and weight But
no chances are taken, and each is
weighed several times during the final
winding so that accuracy may be as
sured.
After being dipped in the cement
again the bail is ready for covering.
The covers are alum tanned horse
hide, which is as soft and fine as the
best white kid. For the best balls only
eighteen covers can be got out of one
hide, as only the very choicest parts
can be used.
The hide Is first knee staked. That
is, 1t is stretched backward and for
ward over n knee high stake by
strong boy till il will stretch no more.
The cutting is done by machinery.
The cover is in two pieces, each the
shape OF the figure 8. A machine
cuts out these pieces and perforates
them ready for sewing. These ma
chimes are wonderfully accurate and
very rapid.
The balls are placed for covering
In hampers of wood. and the covers
are fastened first with brass, staples
and then with strong cotton thread OF
the best quality 1t takes about fif-
teen minutes to sew the cover ON n
ball. This requires considerable mus
Gle, and only men are employed on the
work.
The ball is still rough on the seams.
II is rolled by hand and few hours
later by machinery whence il energies
the completed article ready for pack
ing and selling.
The whole process of making n ball
takes just thirty minutes, and Il often
happens that its life on the diamond
Is no longer. The professional leagues
usually put in play during a game
from four TO six new balls, which are
never again used except for practice.
Amateurs put in play two. three or
four balls, according TO their wealth.
Where all the old balls so is n ques-
ton that has never been solved. but
several million disappear every season.
When the winter comes on. the sea-
sons output has gone.-New York
World.