Improved Process for the Manufacture of Shaped Articles from Crosswise Arranged Superposed Veneers.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Mar., 1898
Complete Specification Lelt, 3rd Dec., 1898-Accepted, 7th Mar., 1899
Improved Process for the Manufacture of Shaped Articles from
Crosswise Arranged Superposed Veneers.
I, CARL WITTKOWSKY, of 121A, Potsdamer Street, of Berlin, Kingdom of
Prussia, German Empire, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a process for the manufacture of objects of various
shapes, such as trays, bowls, plates, boxes, travelling-trunks and the like from
veneers having their direction of grain arranged crosswise above, or to each other,
and has for its object the production of these articles from wood veneers in a
manner hitherto not attained.
It is a recognised fact, that the manufacture of articles for domestic and other
purposes from three or more ply veneers, having their grain crosswise one to the
other, the thickness of which exceeded 1 mm., as for instance, plates, trays, buffet
boards and the like, having a raised flange or edge, further for instance, boxes
or trunks with rectangular bent edges etc. was hitherto an impossibility.
Articles, such as bowls, plates and the like have therefore up to the present
time either been turned out of a solid wood block possessing the required diameter,
or, merely straight boards have been employed upon which the required rims,
flanges, ornamental edges and the like have been produced either by screwing
the said edge upon the article or by glueing the same, and in the case of box-like
bodies the sides of which required to be rectangular to the bottom of the box,
the said adjacent parts, (in this case the sides) were simply either glued, dovetailed,
nailed or screwed etc., to the said bottom.
Before proceeding with the description I will here state the required enumera-
tion of the drawings, which for the better understanding of my invention I have
caused to be annexed as a part of this specification.
Figure shows a bowl or the like in its finished form,
Figure 2 shows the said bowl in the form produced by the first bending process,
Figure 3 shows the body of a travelling trunk or box, bent the second time,
Figure 4 shows in perspective a finished trunk manufactured according to my
improved process.
A small portion of the outer veneer being broken away, the direction of grain
of the next under-lying inner veneer is clearly seen.
Figure 4 also shows in perspective a part of a trunk, in which the method of
arranging each of the three veneers a² a¹ and a can be seen, and further the
direction of grain of the veneers,
Figure 5 shows an end view of a travelling trunk the lower portion as shown
not being in section,
Figures 6 & 7 show the means of connecting the sides of a trunk of this
description to the bottom.
Figure 8 shows one of the modified forms of a trunk body manufactured accord-
ing to my improved process and strengthened by the employment (in the manner
Price 811

page_text: shown) of extra veneers which, however, are attached simultaneously with the
other veneers, in the manner hereinafter described.
Referring to the preamble of the specification, I remark, that my experiments
to produce from wood veneers a shaped article, for instance a bowl or the like, such
as represented in Figure 1, were commenced, by placing the three or more ply
veneers, the contact surfaces of which were provided with a suitable binding
substance or glue, in a mould, in such manner, that the grain was crosswise one
above the other, said veneers being subsequently subjected to pressure in the
shaped mould.
As a result I regularly found that the veneers having a direction of grain
parallel to the direction of bending did not bend at the edge, but were simply
compressed and crushed by the said mould away from the bending edge, whilst
the one veneer having a cross grain to the bending influence, it is true, held
together in the direction of the grain, yet notwithstanding this, small and short
breaks or cracks occurred.
My second series of experiments consisted in the employment upon the veneer
of a binding substance, which was allowed to partly dry upon the same, whereupon
pressure and heat was applied.
This experiment yielded a still less favorable result, as each separate veneer,
as long as it was not connected with the other veneers, was found to break in
proportion to its dryness.
I therefore proceeded to produce the required bending in two operations, by first
uniting the three veneers and subjecting same to pressure, in such manner, that
pressure applied in the first bending process caused the veneers to assume a shape
which broadly indicated the result of the second bending operation.
This first shape (of operation No. 1, or of the first bending process) is indicated
by Figure 2. It will be seen from this figure, that no proper form is in reality
imparted to the object, but simply a broad flange has been produced, which in
general would correspond to the amount of bending which each separate veneer
would admit of in a natural state when unconnected with any other veneer.
My next operation was to take the article I had obtained by operation No. 1
(consisting or made up of three ply veneers securely united, the shape of which
was, however, as indicated, not yet complete) and subject the said article to a
second application of pressure between moulds shaped as shown in Figure 1, in
order to produce the intended bowl or the like without the outer or inner
veneers showing a break. I conducted these operations upon the basis, that, if
the veneers were once thoroughly united, that in a longitudinal and cross direction
the grains of one veneer are held by the grains of the veneers behind and cross-
wise to the same, that in such case breaks could not take place. But also this
experiment did not succeed, for even when using a binding substance which
became soft by heat and pressure, breaks occurred before the object was properly
under the influence of the entire pressure, and the full influence of the heat;
the binding substance was therefore not sufficiently quickly softened and therefore
breaks were unavoidable.
This result induced me to produce the necessary softness by uniting the veneers
with a binding substance insoluble in water and placing the thus united veneer
bodies in water subsequent to the first pressing, to make same soft for the next
pressing.
The result was a very marked swelling of the outer surfaces, and moreover,
the largest portion of the water sucked up by the wood surfaces still remained in
the wood or more precisely in the article under treatment, even after the second
pressing, so that the bowl or the like did not retain the form imparted by the
second pressing, the same soon after the said second pressing, returning to its
previous shape. This was, however, one step forward, more especially, as breaks
of the outer veneers no longer took place.
These experiences and experiments have however led to the discovery of the
improved process, forming the subject of this invention. By means of the herein-

page_text: after described process the problem above indicated has been solved in a satisfactory
and successful manner.
In my improved process the article or object obtained by the first pressing
operation, is slightly damped with water upon its outer and inner surfaces with
a sponge or cloth, then subjected upon its upper surface to a steam jet having a
pressure of about 2-3 atm.
The result is such, that during the short time in which the hot steam jet plays
upon the surface, that the water, which the above mentioned dampening of the
surfaces had left upon the said surfaces, is forced by the steam jet into the pores
of the wood and thus caused to directly act upon the binding substance between
the veneers, whilst the outer surfaces of the wood remained comparatively dry, i.e.
the pores of the wood are thus not entirely saturated with the water.
Whilst the upper surfaces of the wood remain comparatively dry, the surfaces
connected by the binding substance receive only as much moisture and heat
above 100°, as is necessary for the proper success or action of the second pressing
operation.
The wood and also the binding substance thus becomes soft or pliable and the
comparatively small quantity of moisture imparted to the article under treatment
disappears under the subsequent action of the heat and pressure of the second
operation so quickly, that although the wood and the binding material become
pliable or flexible enough, so as to take or receive at a pressure lasting from
3-4 minutes the complete form desired, they soon however, again assume or go
back into the former stiff state, that; upon taking the article from the mould after
the second pressing, the article has no longer even a tendency to return to its
former shape, the veneers retaining absolutely the shape given them by the second
pressing without a break or split or without showing the slightest traces of the
processes or treatment to which they have been subjected.
Thus by means of my improved, hereinbefore described process, I am now in a
position, not only to produce bowls, plates, trays and articles of daily use of various
and many kinds, said articles possessing a pressed, profile, raised or ornamented
edge, but, furthermore, I can also by the said process produce box shape bodies,
as by means of the said process straight boards or plates can be bent to obtuse,
rectangular, or acute angular boards having a direction of grain parallel to the
sides of the angle.
It it of course clear that the said boards forming the box or the like must
not be bent at too sharp an angle or, more precisely, must not receive a sharp edge,
nor is 1or industrial purposes a sharp edge necessary; it is sufficient if the
rectangular surfaces are united by rounded edges, or more precisely, by a rounded
corner between the two surfaces.
When employing my process for boxes or trunks I can for instance produce a
box or trunk resembling in appearance and shape the now usual and desired shape
of a cane-trunk, which shape I have also shown in the accompanying drawing.
This I attain by subjecting the veneers to the first pressing process in order to
produce a straight three or more ply veneer board or plate, subsequently exposing
the so obtained united three or more ply veneer-board or plate to the action of
superheated steam at a pressure of about three atm. After the same has been
previously softened or moistened at the place of bend, I place the board or plate
between two upright moulds and so bend the same, that the said board assumes
or takes the U-shape or form shown in Figure 3, and marked with the letter a.
In a similar manner the lid or cover can be produced from one straight plate
and assumes the shape marked "" also in Figure 3, said cover being of course
produced from a shorter plate.
The two ends of the box and the cover can be fitted from pieces of wood cut in
the ordinary way or produced in any known manner, said sides or ends being
subsequently connected with the bent plates a and b by nails, screws, angle-irons,
glue, or in any other approved manner.
Yet these side or end pieces can, however, be produced in the same manner as

page_text: the above mentioned bodies, viz. by joining between preliminary moulds three or
more ply veneers to a plate (for the said ends) the edges of which plate may form
an angle of approximately 45°. After these plates have been suitably fitted and
cut, the same could be moistened along the four edges, exposed to the action of a
steam jet, and the edges bent in moulds to the rectangular shape required. These
end pieces or more precisely, the edges of the same could then be connected to
the body of the trunk in any approved manner either by glue, nails, screws or
the like.
The advantage of such articles produced by means of my improved process
resides in the fact that an enormous resistability is produced by the crosswise
position of the veneers, or more precisely, by the cross-direction of the grain of the
one veneer board to the one immediately adjacent to it, secondly these articles
produced by my improved process are extremely light in weight, and furthermore
have a peculiar and increased strength.
It is well known, that veneers lying with their grain in a cross direction to each
other, have approximately the same resistability as a board of about 6 times the
thickness, the further important advantage being present, that such vencers with
their grain running in opposite directions can neither contract or shrink, swell
or split.
From the herein before described improved process it will be clear that for
travelling trunks, boxes and the like a new process or method of manufacture is
hereby provided, said process as will be apparent, admitting of various modifica-
tions, which I will proceed to fully describe by examples in order to obviate every
misunderstanding.
I take three or more veneers of 1 to 1 mm thickness corresponding to the
size of the travelling trunk or box to be produced, and firstly unite these veneers
one to the other to a straight board. For this purpose I make use of a glue or
binding substance which after becoming completely dry does not assume glass
hardness, as ordinary joiners glue, my said glue still possessing certain amount
of flexibility. But any other kind of glue or binding substance can be used
so long as the same possesses the above mentioned quality.
I then so arrange the veneers that the veneer which shall ultimately form the
outer veneer of the box or trunk runs with the direction of grain parallel to the
longitudinal axis of the body or box subsequently to be formed whilst each
following veneer has its grain crosswise or opposite to the veneer immediately
above it.
After the three or more ply veneers have been united and dried, to a straight
board, I bring the same between two rectangular moulds, the edges of which
moulds are suitably rounded, and then expose the said board or plate two or three
minutes to a very strong pressure. Hereby I remark, that the plate or board
which is to be rectangularly bent, must be previously damped by water or steam
upon the whole length of the bending edges, the moulds between which the
bending takes place, also being somewhat heated.
In the same manner as the first bending, the second bending of the plate by
pressure is accomplished after which the U-shaped body is completely attained.
The cover or lid of the box is bent in the same manner, as hereinbefore described
with reference to the U-shaped body of the box.
As another feature of my invention I have to remark, that, should it be desired
to give the bent box body extra strength at the longitudinal edges, which perhaps
is desirable in the case of large trunks, I can so proceed that instead of using one
united plate, I employ three united plates and subsequently bend the same in such
manner that by placing the end surfaces one over another, the bending angle, i.e.
the material at the angle of bend receives double the thickness. This form of
my improved trunk is shown in Figure 8 of the accompanying drawing.
The three plates or boards shown in Figure 8 are united and bent at one and
the same time, whereby it will be clear, that also a double strength of the

page_text: said edges is obtained. The strengthened edges are therefore united to the box
simultaneously with the veneers forming the body of the box.
In conclusion the box body is now closed by the two end or side walls. For
this purpose the edges of the box body as well as the end piece produced from the
three ply veneer in the before described manner are so cut or tapered, that the
said edges fit against each other at approximately half a right angle, the joint being
subsequently secured by glue. For protection the joint can, if desired, be covered
with leather or thin angle iron.
These said end walls can also, as hereinbefore indicated, be produced by cutting
and fitting ordinary wood end pieces to the three or more ply U-shaped box
body.
But these sides or end pieces can, however, as herein before stated, be produced
in the same manner as the abovementioned bodies, viz. by joining between pre-
liminary moulds three or more ply veneers to a plate, the ends of which could
form approximately an angle of 45°. After these plates have been suitably cut
and fitted, the same could be moistened along the four edges, exposed to the action
of a steam jet, and the edges bent in moulds to the rectangular shape required.
These end pieces or more precisely the edges of the same, are then connected
to the body of the trunk in any approved manner, either by glue, screws, nails or
the like.
In conclusion my improved and novel trunk body produced in the above described
manner has the advantage, not only of great durability and lightness, but in
comparison with the cane plate trunks now upon the market, in which the body
is produced by the uniting of many pieces of cane cut at the edges and subsequently
closely glued to a plate, my improved veneer body can be more cheaply manu-
factured & is considerably lighter, the said crosswise connected rectangular bent
veneer-boards or plates possessing also an elasticity, which quite equals that of the
said cane-plate-trunks.
Improved Process for the Manufacture of Shaped Articles from
Crosswise Arranged Superposed Veneers.
I, CARL WITTKOWSKY, of 121A, Potsdamer Street, of Berlin, Kingdom of
Prussia, German Empire, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to a process for the manufacture of objects of various
shapes, such as trays, bowls, plates, boxes travelling-trunks and the like from
veneers having their direction of grain arranged crosswise above or to each other,
and has for its object the production of these articles from wood veneers in a
manner hitherto not attained.
It is a recognised fact, that the manufacture of articles for domestic and other
purposes from three or more ply veneers having their grain crosswise one to the
other, the thickness of which exceeded 1 mm, as for instance, plates, trays, buffet
boards and the like, having a raised flange or edge, further for instance boxes
or trunks with rectangular bent edges etc. was hitherto an impossibility.
Articles, such as bowls, plates and the like have therefore up to the present

page_text: time either been turned out of a solid wood block possessing the required diameter,
or, merely straight boards have been employed upon which the required rims,
flanges, ornamental edges and the like have been produced either by screwing
the said edge upon the article or by glueing the same, and in the case of box-like
bodies the sides of which required to be rectangular to the bottom of the box
the said adjacent parts, (in this case the sides) were simply either glued, dovetailed,
nailed or screwed etc., to the said bottom.
Before proceeding with the description I will here state the required enumera-
tion of the drawings, which for the better understanding of my invention I have
filed with the Provisional Specification, and in which:
Figure 1 shows a bowl or the like in its finished form,
Figure 2 shows the said bowl in the form produced by the first bending process,
Figure 3 shows the body of a travelling trunk or box, bent the second time,
Figure 4 shows in perspective a finished trunk manufactured according to my
improved process.
A small portion of the outer veneer being broken away, the direction of grain
of the next under-lying inner veneer is clearly seen.
Figure 4 also shows in perspective a part of a trunk, in which the method of
arranging each of the three veneers a² a¹ and a can be seen, and further the
direction of grain of the veneers,
Figure 5 shows an end view of a travelling trunk the lower portion as shown
not being in section.
Figures 6&7 show the means of connecting the sides of a trunk of this
description to the bottom.
"
Figure 8 shows one of the modified forms of a trunk body manufactured accord-
ing to my improved process and strengthened by the employment (in the manner
shown) of extra veneers which, however, are attached simultaneously with the
other veneers, in the manner hereinafter described.
Referring to the preamble of the specification I remark, that my experiments
to produce from wood veneers a shaped article, for instance a bowl or the like, such
as represented in Figure 1, were commenced by placing the three or more ply
veneers, the contact surfaces of which were provided with a suitable binding
substance or glue, in a mould, in such manner, that the grain was crosswise one
above the other, said veneers being subsequently subjected to pressure in the
shaped mould.
As a result I regularly found that the veneers having a direction of grain
parallel to the direction of bending did not bend at the edge, but were simply
compressed and crushed by the said mould away from the bending edge, whilst
the one veneer having a cross grain to the bending influence, it is true, half
together in the direction of the grain, yet notwithstanding this, small and short
breaks or cracks occurred.
My second series of experiments consisted in the employment upon the veneer
of a binding substance, which was allowed to partly dry upon the same, whereupon
pressure and heat was applied.
This experiment yielded a still less favorable result, as each separate veneer,
as long as it was not connected with the other veneers, was found to break in
proportion to its dryness.
I therefore proceeded to produce the required bending in two operations, by first
uniting the three veneers and subjecting same to pressure, in such manner, that
pressure applied in the first bending process caused the veneers to assume a shape
which broadly indicated the result of the second bending operation.
This first shape (or operation No. 1 or of the first bending process) is indicated
by Figure 2. It will be seen from this figure, that no proper form is in reality
imparted to the object, but simply a broad flange has been produced, which in
general would correspond to the amount of bending which each separate veneer
would admit of in a natural state when unconnected with any other veneer.
My next operation was to take the article I had obtained by operation No. 1

page_text: (consisting or made up of three ply veneers securely united, the shape of which
was, however as indicated, not yet complete) and subject the said article to a
second application of pressure between moulds shaped as shown in Figure 1, in
order to produce the intended bowl or the like without the outer or inner
veneers showing a break. I conducted these operations upon the basis, that, if
the veneers were once thoroughly united, that in a longitudinal and cross direction
the grains of one veneer are held by the grains of the veneers behind and cross-
wise to the same, that in such cases breaks could not take place. But also this
experiment did not succeed, for even when using a binding substance which
became soft by heat and pressure, breaks occurred before the object was properly
under the influence of the entire pressure and the full influence of the heat;
the binding substance was therefore not sufficiently quickly softened and therefore
breaks were unavoidable.
This result induced me to produce the necessary softness by uniting the veneers
with a
binding substance insoluble in water and placing the thus united veneer
bodies in water subsequent to the first pressing, to make same soft for the next
pressing.
The result was a very marked swelling of the outer surfaces, and moreover,
the largest portion of the water sucked up by the wood surfaces still remained in
the wood or more precisely in the article under treatment, even after the second
pressing, so that the bowl or the like did not retain the form imparted by the
second pressing, the same soon after the said second pressing, returning to its
previous shape. This was, however, one step forward, more especially, as breaks
of the outer veneers no longer took place.
These experiences and experiments have however led to the discovery of the
improved process, forming the subject of this invention. By means of the herein-
after described process the problem above indicated has been solved in a satisfactory
and successful manner.
In my improved process the article or object obtained by the first pressing
operation, is slightly damped with water upon its outer and inner surfaces with
a sponge or cloth, then subjected upon its upper surface to a steam jet having a
pressure of about 2-3 atm.
The result is such, that during the short time in which the hot steam jet plays
upon the surface, that the water, which the above mentioned dampening of the
surfaces had left upon the said surfaces, is forced by the steam jet into the pores
of the wood and thus caused to directly act upon the binding substance between
the veneers whilst the outer surfaces of the wood remained comparatively dry, i.e.
the pores of the wood are thus not entirely saturated with the water.
Whilst the upper surfaces of the wood remain comparatively dry, the surfaces
connected by the binding substance receive only as much moisture and heat
above 100°, as is necessary for the proper success or action of the second pressing
operation.
The wood and also the binding substance thus becomes soft or pliable and the
comparatively small quantity of moisture imparted to the article under treatment
disappears under the subsequent action of the heat and pressure of the second
operation so quickly, that although the wood and the binding material become
pliable or flexible enough, so as to take or receive at a pressure lasting from
3-4 minutes the complete form desired, they soon however, again assume or go
back into the former stiff state, that, upon taking the article from the mould after
the second pressing, the article has no longer even a tendency to return to its
former shape, the veneers retaining absolutely the shape given them by the second
pressing without a break or split or without showing the slightest traces of the
processes or treatment to which they have been subjected.
Thus by means of my improved, herein before described process, I am in a
position, not only to produce bowls, plates, trays and articles of daily use of various
and many kinds, said articles possessing a pressed, profile, raised or ornamented
edge, but, furthermore, I can also by the said process produce box shape bodies,

page_text: as by means of the said process straight boards or plates can be bent to obtuse,
rectangular, or acute angular boards having a direction of grain parallel to the
sides of the angle.
It is of course clear that the said boards forming the box or the like must
not be bent at too sharp an angle or, more precisely, must not receive a sharp edge,
nor is for industrial purposes a sharp edge necessary; it is sufficient if the
rectangular surfaces are united by rounded edges, or more precisely, by a rounded
corner between the two surfaces.
When employing my process for boxes or trunks I can for instance produce a
box or trunk resembling in appearance and shape the now usual and desired shape
of a cane-trunk, which shape I have also shown in the accompanying drawing.
This I attain by subjecting the vencers to the first pressing process in order to
produce a straight three or more ply veneer board or plate, subsequently exposing
the so obtained united three or more ply veneer-board or plate to the action of
superheated steam at a pressure of about three atm. After the same has been
previously softened or moistened at the place of bend, I place the board or plate
between two upright moulds and so bend the same, that the said board assumes
or takes the U-shape or form shown in Figure 3, and marked with the letter a.
In a similar manner the lid or cover can be produced from one straight plate
and assumes the shape marked "6" also in Figure 3, said cover being of course
produced from a shorter plate.
The two ends of the box and the cover can be fitted from pieces of wood cut in
the ordinary way or produced in any known manner, said sides or cuds being
subsequently connected with the bent plates a and b by nails, screws, angle-irons,
glue, or in any other approved manner.
Yet these side- or end-pieces can, however, be produced in the same manner as
the above mentioned bodies, viz. by joining between preliminary moulds three or
more ply veneers to a plate (for the said ends) the edges of which plate may form.
an angle of approximately 45°. After these plates have been suitably fitted and
cut, the same could be moistened along the four edges, exposed to the action of a
steam jet, and the edges bent in moulds to the rectangular shape required. These
end pieces or more precisely, the edges of the same could then be connected to
the body of the trunk in any approved manner either by glue, nails, screws or
the like.
The advantage of such articles produced by means of my improved process
resides in the fact that an enormous resistability is produced by the crosswise
position of the veneers, or more precisely, by the cross-direction of the grain of the
one veneer board to the one immediately adjacent to it, secondly these articles
produced by my improved process are extremely light in weight, and furthermore
have a peculiar and increased strength.
It is well known, that veneers lying with their grain in a cross direction to each
other, have approximately the same resistability as a board of about 6 times the
thickness, the further important advantage being present, that such veneers with
their grain running in opposite directions can neither contract or shrink, swell
or split.
From the herein before described improved process it will be clear, that for
travelling trunks, boxes and the like a new process or method of manufacture is
hereby provided, said process, as will be apparent, admitting of various modifica-
tions, which I will proceed to fully describe by examples in order to obviate every
misunderstanding.
I take three or more veneers of 1 to 1mm. thickness corresponding to the
size of the travelling trunk or box to be produced, and firstly unite these veneers
one to the other to a straight board. For this purpose I make use of a glue or
binding substance which after becoming completely dry does not assume glass
hardness, as ordinary joiners glue, my said glue still possessing certain amount
of flexibility. But any other kind of glue or binding substance can be used
as long as the same possesses the above mentioned quality.

page_text: I then so arrange the veneers that the veneer which shall ultimately form the
outer veneer of the box or trunk runs with the direction of grain parallel to the
longitudinal axis of the body or box subsequently to be formed, whilst each
following veneer has its grain crosswise or opposite to the vencer immediately
above it.
After the three or more ply veneers have been united and dried, to a straight
board, I bring the same between two rectangular moulds, the edges of which
moulds are suitably rounded, and then expose the said board or plate two or three
minutes to a very strong pressure. Hereby I remark, that the plate or board
which is to be rectangularly bent, must be previously damped by water or steam
upon the whole length of the bending edges, the moulds between which the
bending takes place, also being somewhat heated.
In the same manner as the first bending, the second bending of the plate by
pressure is accomplished after which the U-shaped body is completely attained.
The cover or lid of the box is bent in the same manner, as hereinbefore described
with reference to the U-shaped body of the box.
As another feature of my invention I have to remark, that, should it be desired
to give the bent box body extra strength at the longitudinal edges, which perhaps
is desirable in the case of large trunks, I can so proceed that instead of using one
united plate, I employ three united plates and subsequently bend the same in such
manner that by placing the end surfaces one over another, the bending angle, i.e.
the material at the angle of bend receives double the thickness. This form of
my improved trunk is shown in Figure 8 of the drawing.
The three plates or boards shown in Figure S are united and bent at one and
the same time, whereby it will be clear, that also a double strength of the
said edges is obtained. The strengthened edges are therefore united to the box
simultaneously with the veneers forming the body of the box.
In conclusion the box body is now closed by the two end or side walls. For
this purpose the edges of the box body as well as the end piece produced from the
three ply veneer in the before described manner are so cut or tapered, that the
said edges fit against each other at approximately half a right angle, the joint being
subsequently secured by glue. For protection the joint can, if desired, be covered
with leather or thin angle iron.
These said end walls can also, as hereinbefore indicated, be produced by cutting
and fitting ordinary wood end pieces to the three or more play U-shaped box
body.
But these sides or end pieces can, however, as herein before stated, be produced
in the same manner as the above mentioned bodies, viz. by joining between pre-
liminary moulds three or more ply veneers to a plate, the ends of which could
form approximately an angle of 45°. After these plates have been suitably cut
and fitted, the same could be moistened along the four edges, exposed to the action
of a steam jet, and the edges bent in moulds to the rectangular shape required.
These end pieces or more precisely the edges of the same, are then connected
to the body of the trunk in any approved manner, either by glue, screws, nails or
the like.
In conclusion my improved and novel trunk body produced in the above described
manner has the advantage not only of great durability and lightness, but in
comparison with the cane plate trunks now upon the market, in which the body
is produced by the uniting of many pieces of cane cut at the edges and subsequently
closely glued to a plate. My improved veneer body can be more cheaply manu-
factured, is considerably lighter, the said crosswise connected rectangular bent
veneer-boards or plates possessing also an elasticity, which quite equals that of the
said cane-plate-trunks.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is -
1. The method of manufacturing shaped articles from crosswise arranged

page_text: superposed veneers consisting in first uniting the latter with each other and at the
same time preliminarily shaping them, then subjecting the surface of the pre-
liminary shaped article to the action of steam, finally completing the shaping of
the said article by aid of pressure and heat, substantially as described.
2. The method of manufacturing shaped articles from crosswise arranged super-
posed veneers consisting in first uniting the latter with each other and at the
same time subjecting the same to pressure, so as to obtain a preliminary shaping
of the same, then subjecting the preliminary shaped article to the action of steam
to soften the same at its outside only, and finally subjecting said article to heat
and at the same time pressing the said article the second time so as to thereby
complete its shape, substantially as described.
3. The method of manufacturing trunk mantles from crosswise arranged super-
posed veneers consisting in first uniting at least three veneers, in such manner, that
the grains of the exterior veneer run in the longitudinal direction of the trunk,
then subjecting the surfaces of the trunk plate to the action of steam and finally
shaping the plate into a mantle by heating and bending to a U-shaped body,
substantially as described.
4. The method of manufacturing U-shaped trunk-mantles from crosswise arranged
superposed veneers in a flat state; subjecting the united veneers to the action of
steam and bending the same to form first one shank or side of the plate
rectangularly and thereafter the other shank or side, substantially as described.
Dated this 1st day of December 1808
CARL WITTKOWSKY.
By Robert Deissler,
31A, Luisen Strasse, Berlin, N.W., Germany,
Agent for the Applicant.