AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



133 



is very simple in its construction and design; it turns out a per- 

 fectly finished head, that will fit exactly the square groove in the 

 staves, entirely superseding the necessity of lining hoops. 



One shaper, four jointers, and one head-cutter, with the labor 

 of eight men and five boys, will turn out staves and heads for five 

 hundred barrels a day. These staves and heads, in transporting, 

 occupy not more than one eighth the space of a barrel set up, and 

 hence the expense is correspondingly diminished. When they 

 arrive at the place of destination, they require but small store- 

 room, and need not be set up till wanted. 



Fig. 1. The Shaper. 



The above figure represents the Shaper, which consists of a 

 series of five pairs of convex and concave rollers, so arranged 

 with respect to each other, and so shaped, as to give the staves 

 the requisite curve, and at the same time compressing the wood 

 in such a manner that the f )rra given to the staves is permanently 

 retained. The first roller is slightly convex, the next has greater 

 convexity, and this convexity increases throughout the series, the 

 last of the series completing the required transverse section and 

 perfectly circular curvature of the stave. Above these rollers, 

 and curved so as to conform to the convexity of the lower series, 

 is another series of rollers. The lower series are arranged to con- 

 form to the required longitudinal curve for the staves, and may 

 be adjusted by set screws; the upper rollers are adjusted, and 

 their relative distance from the lower series fixed also by set 

 screws, so as to give the requisite compression to the stave blanks 



