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THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



that its axis, as it is cut from the bark, be parallel with the axis of the 

 tree on which the bark grew ; but the broad, flat corks have to be cut 

 perpendicular to the axis of the tree. Only the finest corks are now 

 made by hand. A good workman can turn out, in the method de- 

 scribed, about one thousand corks a day. 



We give representations of three machines invented by Demuth, 

 which are so simple in their operation that any one can make corks 

 upon them at the first trial. The first machine cuts the cork into 

 strips (Fig. 1) ; the second into squares eight thousand a day with a 



Fig. 1. Machine for Cutting Cork-Strips. 



woman or a child to work it (Fig. 2). This machine separates the 

 squares automatically, according to their sizes, and by an ingenious 

 arrangement the knives are made to sharpen themselves by passing 

 over a whetstone-rubber at each forward and return motion. With 

 the third machine, for shaping the corks, five thousand corks may 

 be finished in a day (Fig. 3). It is so arranged that the square of 

 cork, firmly fastened between two pointed jaws, turns with them in 

 front of a knife-blade, which is managed with the hand after the fash- 

 ion of a plane. This blade is so connected by a chain-gearing with the 

 jaws holding the cork, that the movements of the two tools are in 

 harmony with one another. The parts of this machine can be ar- 

 ranged to cut corks of any size, and of cylindrical or conical shape as 



