Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-02-06
MAKEUP OF A BALL
Labor Involved in Putting Little
Sphere Together So 1t
Will Last.
SKILL AND FINE WORKMANSHIP
Various Steps in the Manufacture by
the SpauIdinR
Bros.

Directors of the Three-Eye league
have adopted the Spauldfng league
ball for the ensuing season. This
means that hundreds of dozens of
these balls will be used by the league
clubs. Few people realize the inn
menssity Of the baseball industry in
this country.
A remarkable amount of skill and
fine workmanship is needed to turn
out a ball that will stand, even for
short time, the powerful batting of
the big players or will come up to the
requirements for league work. The
various steps in the manufacture of
first class baseball are briefly as
follows:
1t is first solid ball of Para rub
Der just an inch through. The ball
is placed in a machine by boy tender
and is automatically wound with a
strong pure wooden yarn. The wind
ing is done with an evenness that no
human finger could equal. and the
thick, blue mixed wool forms a per-
fectly uniform covering for the core.
The layer is made just an inch
thick. When the right amount of yarn
has been wound on it, the machine
stops automatically, the ball now
two inches thick, is removed and an
other core set.
The partly finished balls are next
dipped; that is they are dipped into
trans parent fluid called plaster. com
Position which is really a kind of
cement. This fluid is very adhesive.
and when il enters the wool covering
there is n 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 thickness of
three-ply white yarn. This is covered
with n thrcc-plv blue until it has
reached the required size of MIN inch
eS i'm circumference. All of these
winding processes have been aautornat,
ic. and the balls appear of exactly the
same size and weight. But no chances
are taken. and each is weighed several
times during the fine winding, so that
accuracy may be assured.
After being dipped in the cement
again, the ball is ready fer covering |
The covers are alum+tanned horse |
hide. which is as soft and fine as the !
best white kid. For the best ball only
Is covers could be got out of one hide, !
as only the choicest parts can be used. |
Treating the Hide
The hide is first knee-staked; that
is, it is stretched backward and for
ward over Il knee-hide stake by Il
strong boy. till it will stretch no
more. The quitting is done by machin-
cry. The cover is in two pieces, each
the shape of Il figure s.. y 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 Is min
utes to sew a cover on the ball. This
requires considerable muscle and only
men are employed on the work.
The ball is still rough on the seams.
1t is rolled by hand, and few hours
later by machinery, whence it emer-
ges the complete article, ready for
packing and selling.
The market for base balls is entirely
in this country, ii the exception of
small recent demand that has de
vclGped in Cuba and the Philippines.
During the Boxer uprising in China,
quite a number of balls were exported
there for the use of the American
troops.
The whole process of making a ball
takes just 80 minutes, and it often
happens that the life on the diamond
is no longer. The professional leagues
usually put in play during Il game
from four to six new balls which are
never again used except for practice.
Amateurs put. i'm play two, three, or
-four s-eoTrling to their wealth.
An the old balls go is a ques-
= nat has never been solved, but
sex al millions disappear every sea-
son. When the winter comes on, the
seasons output has gone.