Figure 43.--Modern cigar-making machine. The spool to the right 
is the reconstituted tobacco binder, and the operator is placing 
the natural wrapper on the cutting die. 
In most handwork, by which a few of the high-priced cigars are still made 
the filler part is blended and shaped, and wrapped with binder leaves. Then 
it is placed into the lower half of a mold block containing usually 20 indi- 
vidual molds the shape and size of the finished cigar. The upper half is 
placed over the mold block and held in position under pressure for several 
hours. The molded bunches are taken out one at a time, and the wrapper rolled 
on. Wrappers must be the finest of the tobaccos used in the cigars, of good 
color, and without imperfections. Each wrapper leaf, which has first been cut 
to the right size is wrapped spirally around the cigar, beginning at the base, 
and tapered off to form the head. The end of the wrapper is fastened with a 
gum paste, or similar material. 
In making the very finest grade cigars, no form or mold is used. These 
cigars are entirely shaped, sized, and rolled by hand, on a specially made 
board or block fitted with a knife for clipping the bunch and the end. A high 
degree of skill and dexterity is required in making uniformly high grade hand- 
made cigars. 
Cigars are normally wrapped individually in cellophane. A large propor- 
tion are now packaged in 'five-pack'"' cellophane-wrapped containers for handy 
merchandising by supermarkets, etc. However, many are still packed in boxes 
ef 25"s and 50's. Formerly the boxes were made exclusively of Spanish cedar, 
but most are now made of fiberboard. The cigars are carefully packed accord- 
ing to color shade, so that all packed together will have the same color. 
About 23,000 persons are employed in cigar factories at the present time. 
Currently over 8 billion cigars are produced annually in the United States and 
Puerto Rico. (Imports of cigars amount to over 23 million.) Approximately 95 
to 103 million pounds (farm-sales weight) of domestic leaf are used annually, 
and between 60 and 65 million pounds are imported. Cuba formerly wes the most 
important supplier. The Philippines rank first now. 
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