132 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



wood effected by dry-rot, is immediately detected, and must he 

 rejected. Hogsheads, barrels, kegs and firkins are manufactured 

 identically equal, lience all the difficulties of stowage are over- 

 come The ultimate strength of barrels and casks is increased at 

 least twenty-five per cent., and yet less material is employed and 

 none wasted; the work of the cooper is made to assume its maxi- 

 mum density and durability. 



Every two staves are exactly alike, and each stave is symme- 

 trical, and formed with mathematical accuracy, so much so, that 

 the contents of a barrel or hogshead may be accurately determined 

 from the measurement of a single stave. Casks retain a perma- 

 nent form, perfectly air-tight, water-tight and flour-tight. 



If fifteen, or any other number of Livermore's equal and sym- 

 metrical staves form a barrel, any set may be selected at random. 

 The use of truss or gauge hoops are not required. A given number 

 of staves, placed promiscuously, form a cask mathematically accu- 

 rate, and do not require being marked. 



In order to form an adequate idea of the importance of this 

 invention, patented in this country and in Europe, it should be 

 considered that the wheat and other grains raised in the United 

 States and the Canadas would require, in transportation, nearly a 

 hundred millions of barrels and casks annually; while in Europe, 

 more than a thousand millions of barrels, hggsheads and casks are 

 required annually. 



The invention consists of three separate machines, viz: A 

 Shaper, Jointer and Head-cutter. The staves, after being sawed 

 and seasoned, are planed on one side with any ordinary planing 

 machine, reducing them to a uniform thickness. They, are then 

 passed through the shaper, which process gives them the proper 

 form. 



In the manufacture of casks, the staves are heated for four or 

 five minutes, previous to passing through the shaper, which enables 

 them to retain their firmness and required shape; but this is not 

 necessary in the manufacture of ordinary barrels. The staves are 

 then placed in the jointer, where, by an ingenious process, they 

 are jointed, chamfered and crozed, and finished in the most perfect 

 manner, ready to be set up at any future time. The head-cutter 



