Catoctin clarion., 1910-03-03
Hagerstown Industry no Revolntionize
The Coffin Trade.

HaSefSIOWn IHuustfy ~ hVNoi"'"'~s
The Coffin Trade.
Hagerstown has snindustry that prom
ises to do for the burial casket industry
something similar to that which the Mer-
ganthaler Linotype has done for type
setting. There will be this difference.
There is practically no end to printing
while the demand for coffins is limited by
the death rate. Howbeit, there are 5000
deaths each day in the United States and
many times more in the balance OF the
world.
In the olden day funerals were depend
ent largely upon the expedition with
which cabinet makers could manufacture
coffins. Within more recent years large
factories have been located conveniently
so that the undertaken no longer makes
the casket for which he has need If he
doesn't have it in stock he telegraphs to
the factory and an express company de-
livers the goods in short order.
Since the days when the Egyptians
embalmed the bodies of their dead, so
we'll that their mummes have been found
after three thousand, and more years,
there has been desire in human breasts
to protect from the destroying elements
the corpse of their loved ones. Modern
embalming has long way to go before
it reaches Egyptian perfection, and in
lieu thereof there has sprung up de-
mand for burial caskets of indestructiple
materials.
There are several concernsin in this coun
try engaged in the manufacture of steel
and copper caskets, but the cost of pro-
duction has been so great that few per-
sons have been able to afford such luxur-
les.
The Montross Metal Casket Company
of Hagerstown has begun the manufact-
ure of steel and copper caskets that pos
sess every beauty of the finest wood to-
gether with every advantage inherent in
the indestructibe metals.
The Mohtross caskets have this advan
tage over metal caskets heretofore on
.he market in that they have neither bolt
nor seam, but is pressed out of sheet
stee' or sheet copper.
In the simplicity of the Montross pro-
less of manufacture lies its possibilities.
The item of labor in the cost Of produc
ton is so slight thatit can be sold in com
petition with all but the very cheapest
of wood burial caskets.
The Montross company has in operation
three presses and a fourth is about to be
added The four will have a capacity of
800 caskets day or enough to supply
one-tenth of the demand in the United
States.
The vi ,itors enters the press room and
sees three ponderous machines. By their
sides are piles of one-siX teenth inch sheet
steel and large dies used in the three pro-
cesses of pressing. Each of these presses
makes standard size casket.
More than 900 caskets have been press
ed and are to be seen in different stages
of completion. A goodly number have
been trimmed up ready for use and SO
closely resemble the wood where it leaves
the impression of the grain. Vanishing,
polishing, anealing, trimming follow rap
idly until the completed product is ready
for shipment.
While. caskets have been sent out on
exhibition purposes, the Montross com
pany is not ready to market its product.
There are SO many demands for the 6
foot inch casket that the directors of
the company decided not to begin mar
keting until the new 1900 ton press can
be installed. The building in. which the
three machines are located is not high
enough to accommodate the 1900 ton
machine, so new building l50x72 feet
is being erected to accommodate it. Up
on the erection of this building and the
installation of the new machine the com
pany will be ready to handle the exten-
sive business that awaits it,
The Montross company has the world
for its dominion, without ii competitor
now or during the life of its patents. Its
machines can have no duplicate outside
of it's own factory except with its con
sent. l.. A. Montross, president of the
company designed the machines of which
the company owns the patent rights.
Bank Loses.
In the case of the First National Bank
of Hagerstown, against the endorsers of
note for 81 1874 made by VIM. A. Flagh-
er of A. A. Fox and Luke Harbaugh
In the note case Of the Peoples Nation
al Bank, Waynesboro, against W. A., J.
M. and Mrs Caroline Flaugher a non
pros was entered by order of the plaintiff
as to Caroline Flaugher and in the second
case of the same bank against w. A, j.
M. and Mrs. Caroline Flaugher, Luke
Harbaugh and A. A. Fox, non pros was
entered as to Mrs. Flaugher, Harbaugh
and Fox. The last two notes involved
$285, respectively.
Chamberlain Stomach and Liver Tab.
let's are safe, sure and reliable, and have
been praised by thousands of women who
have been restored to health through
their gentle aid and curative properties.
Sold by All Dealers.