FOR CLEANSING AND PURIFYING CASKS. 125 



cleansed, it becomes a matter of considerable importance how and at 

 what cost this enormous amount of work is acomplished. 



As regards the cleansing process — it is worthy of note, that the first 

 successful introduction of machinery for this purpose was in the year 

 1843, when the author, in concert with Mr. W. Lymington, produced the 

 machine already referred to, as well as the improved mode of purifying. 

 Previous to this period the only known method of cleansing was by 

 the introduction of steam or hot water, or both, assisted by a chain 

 placed inside, and a rolling motion given to the cask by hand. By 

 such means it will not be difficult to see how uncertain would be the 

 internal state of the cask. 



The machine invented in 1843 consisted of a double frame suited to 

 the form and size of each cask, revolving one within the other, and at 

 right angles to each other, in such a compound manner as to cause a 

 chain of peculiar construction, assisted by hot water, to traverse com- 

 pletely over every portion of the cask and so effectually remove all ad- 

 hering matter. These machines still continue to be held in high repute 

 in many first-rate establishments — and, so far as cleansing is concerned, 

 they are nearly, if not quite, equal to anything which has since 

 been attempted in this way. There is, however, one objection to them 

 — namely, they are only calculated to cleanse one cask at a time ; 

 this, in such establishments as the two leading Burton hoitses (whose 

 demand for casks each day amounts to thousands), has been a complete 

 bar to their introduction and use. 



The new machine now placed before the Association not only gets 

 over the difficulty in respect to the number of casks cleansed at one 

 time, but is superior to the old machine in point of speed generally. 



This machine consists mainly of two circular discs, with an upright 

 shaft or spindle in the centre, which has a screw at each end (the 

 threads being cut right and left handed). The two discs have likewise 

 eacli a corresponding female screw, which, when turned round on the 

 upright spindle (the same being temporarily fixed) it will be easy to 

 see, will cause the discs to advance or recede from each other, according 

 as they are turned to the right or left hand. Such is the mode by which 

 , the casks are either secured or released from the machine — that is, by 

 turning in one direction the casks are effectually secured between two 

 discs ; by turning the reverse way, they are released. 



Any number of casks which the bottom disc will contain, and 

 even a second tier (if desired), can be fixed and afterwards cleansed at 

 one operation — say two sets of 5 or 10 casks. 



A compound motion is given to this machine not dissimilar (so far 

 as the outer action is concerned) to the old machine ; but from the fact 

 of the cask being placed in an upright position in the machine, and 

 likewise surrounding the middle shaft or spindle, the casks themselves, 

 when the machine is set in motion, are twirled about in a manner 

 altogether peculiar and effective. The best cleansing medium is found 



