TIGHT COOPERAGE 



161 



In finishing tight cooperage barrels, flat steel or iron hoops are used 

 almost entirely, as they are stronger and less liable to breakage and dam- 

 age than wooden hoops. They are, however, much more expensive 

 than the wooden hoops. 



FIG. 42. Machine for chamfering, howeling and crozing tight barrels. 



Many of the tight-barrel plants assemble from 300 to 1000 or more 

 packages per day of ten hours. In a plant turning out from 500 to 800 

 barrels formed of 34-in. staves and 2o-m. heading the following labor 

 was employed. All of the men excepting the foreman receive^ ordinary 

 day wages running from $1.75 to $2.25 per day before the war: 

 i man to bring in the bundles of staves, 

 i man raising and setting up the staves- 

 i man to steam the barrels and to operate the windlass to bring the staves 



together with the top hoop, 

 i man looking after the stoves or heaters, 

 i man to level up the barrels, 

 i man to run the trusser. 

 i man to croze the barrels, 

 i man to bore bung holes, 

 i man operating the heading-up machine, 

 i man at the thin hooper, 

 i man testing barrels, 

 i man making hoops, 

 i man inspecting and repairing barrels, 

 i foreman. 



