Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-10-21
SHIRTS FOR ARMY
ARE MADE HERE

SnirtS Ior our boys IN the Un1ted
States army are being made at the
shirt factory OF the c. F. Hathaway
& Co. in this city and are being
turned out at the rate of so dozen u
day. The process through which a
piece Of the army regulation olive
drab cloth goes, III being made into
a shirt for a soldier is a most inter-
csting one. The patterns and speci-
fications are furnished by the u. S.
government and the greatest econo-
my Is practiced in the cutting Of the
material, the most efficient work
manship used and the closest inspcc-
ton placed upon each article in or
der that the best may be offered to
our fighters.
On the top floor of the factory is a
! wide, light room where all the cut
ting takes place. Upon tables - feet
long are placed the long rolls Of cloth.
The placing Of the cloth and the
marking demands very careful at
tention With the patterns which
are furnished by the government the
| marking Of the top layer Of the cloth
is made. Then the cloth is placed,
edges even onto the table. 144 thick,
and the cutting takes place. The cut
| ting is done by q powerful electric
| machine equipped with knife blade
| that cuts evenly and clearly through
the cloth. being directed by one man
! who does the cutting. In this way II
dozen shirts are cut at one time ana
! this takes about four hours time.
The cutting machine is run through
| the cloth following the pattern close
! ly. III many markings one marking
| serves for two cuttings, that IL. the
| pattern is so closely and savingly ap-
! piled that there is no waste between
| the cuttings. Many a thrift needle
woman might well take pointers
, from these expert cutters and APP
| ply them to their own home sewing.
After the cutting Of the material
| into the different shapes. one II each
| kind OF which will make shirt.
| these pieces are taken to the second
| floor. Each piece is carefully marked
! SO that mistakes and therefore waste
! NAV be avoided. The body of the
| shirt is hemmed and the gussets put
! into it. The upper part OF the shirt
| is reinforced with strong white cioth
| which adds to the warmth OF the
| shirt The front yoke and the back
! yoke are stitched with the two-nee-
! die machine which is another meth
! cd of saving time and labor. The
| two-needle machine make foubie
/ row of stitching. In some parts OF
: the work the four-needle machine IS
used.
! Further work in connection with
the stitching n the joining of the
| front yoke and the back yoke. All
stitching in the yolies is done with a
! tvso-needle machine. A four needle
ma chine is used in stitching the front
of the shirt, the button strap and the
under piece together. The pockets
are put on by two-needle machines,
thus insuring good, substantial
pocket. The sleeves are put In be-
fore the shirt is sewed up the sides.
No raw edges are left on any part OF
] the shirt.
( Before the shirts are fully COM
| pleted they are inspected by sharp
ewes inspectors who can detect the
least error. Frank Smith, manager OF
the Waterville establishment, be-
lieves that it is much easier to cor
! rect a mistake when shirt is half
done than when it is completed and
in this way much saving Is brought
about.
! Care must he taken in regard to
| the shape of the shirts as each web
OF cloth may have a particular weave
which. in some way, would change
the style of the shirt. So the weave
of the cloth is studied and the cut
ting and making carried out accord
ingiy.
/, The work of making shirts for the
| Government started by the Hath
away Co. a year ago last August and
the average of so dozen shirts week
has since been turned out, besides
the regular work of the factory. II
some Waterville boy should be wear
! ing a Hathaway shirt In France no
| would have no way OF knowing it
because there are no trade labels on
the shirt, only the lot and style num-
Der which is for the convenience Of
the quartermaster's department.
Eage huge wooden boxF containing
the shirts and ready for shipment
bear the inscription: Military Sup
niles for Aany-Ruah.s