How Paper Boxes Are Made / A practical and instructive book telling how the beginner may manufacture all kinds of paper boxes, with special chapters on the printing department for paper box plants, embossing, gold-leafing, label work, etc.

by Robert F. Salade

LACING

Paper lacing adds decidedly to the appearance of the interior of a candy box, and it helps in making the contents of the box look tempting. Nearly all good candy boxes contain lacing for the reasons mentioned, and some have lacing which is of excellent quality. In some cases the box has two laces, one on either side, and in other instances, a plain or fancy fly leaf on one side.

The Stokes & Smith Lacing and Fly-Leafing Machine is a very useful device on this class of work. It will glue and insert laces or fly-leaves to the boxes as fast as the operator can handle them.

A great deal of lacing and fly-leafing work is still being done by hand operators, and one advantage of the hand-work is that a pure white paste may be used, while the machine requires glue to run properly. On fine candy boxes sanitary white paste should be used for the lacing or fly-leaves, as a yellow glue would not look as clean.

Candy Box with Two Flyleaves and Two Laces.

The U. S. Lace Paper Works, Inc., of New York City, supply many different varieties of lacing to the trade. This paper may be run on the Stokes & Smith Lacing and Fly-Leafing Machine, or on the Bird Fly Machine. Sample books of the lacing will be furnished on request.

SHOULDERED BOXES WITH EXTENSION TOPS AND
BOTTOMS

Manufacturers of fine chocolates and candies are using shouldered boxes with extension tops and bottoms to a great extent as containers of this product, and many boxes of this variety also have padded tops.

The boxes and lids are first made in the same way as plain set-up boxes. Separate pieces of box-board, about ¼ of an inch larger on all four edges than the size of the box, are then glued to the tops of the lids and to the bottoms of the boxes. After this has been done, the boxes and lids are then wrapped with the covering paper, the paper being turned in over the top edges of the box and the corresponding edges of the lid. The shoulder, or neck section is then set in the box.

Candy Box with Extension Top and Bottom.

The John T. Robinson Company, of Hyde Park, Mass., has designed an extension edge machine which is especially adapted to this kind of work. The machine automatically glues and places the blanks on the tops and bottoms of the boxes, placing the blanks accurately into position so that the margins are the same on all four edges. Stacks of the blanks are set in the machine which is equipped with a glue-fountain and rollers for applying glue to one side of the blanks. As the operator places a box or lid on the form, an automatic feeding device moves the glued blank to the box or lid in just the right position. This machine is adjustable, of course, to blanks of various sizes. The Stokes & Smith Extension Bottom Gauge is another time-saving device for this kind of product.

Stack of Box Blanks with Bottoms Attached.

As mentioned before, the Stokes & Smith Wrapping Machine is well adapted to the work of wrapping candy boxes having extension edges, but when this or any other wrapping machine is used for such work, it is essential that the wrappers be cut out at the corners to suit the requirements.

Box Ready for Staying.

In the case of a padded top for a candy box, this top is applied after the cotton wadding has been put on and covered. First, the cotton wadding is loosely placed on the piece of box-board which is to form the top. Second, a sheet of heavy paper, same size as the wadding, is laid over the top of the wadding. Third, the top is then wrapped with the covering paper, turning in over the under-side of the top. Fourth, the covered, padded top is now glued to the top of the lid which has previously been covered on the sides. This is said to be the most efficient method for making lids with padded tops, although it is practicable to cover the lid while the piece of box-board and wadding rests upon it.

Development of the Wrapper.

Some expensive candy boxes in the larger sizes, square or oblong, have extension edges as wide as ½ of an inch, but in such cases the box-board used for the tops and bottoms should be of heavy weight so that the wide, covered edges will not break easily. Most extension edges on candy boxes average from ⅛ to ¼ of an inch.

Shouldered Candy Box Tied with Ribbon.

Many shouldered candy boxes with extension edges have padded tops; are covered with fine colored and embossed paper, and are tied together with silk or satin ribbon of a color that blends well with the color of the covering. When ribbons are used, the ribbons are inserted between the bottom of the box and the piece of box-board which forms the extension edges, which means that the extension-bottom piece must be glued to the bottom of the box after the ribbons have been applied. The ends of the ribbons are to be tied in large bows over the top of the lid after the sweetmeats have been placed in the box. Or, the ribbons may be in the form of loops, which slip over the lid.

The shoulders, or necks, are made in long strips; are folded and stayed at one corner, and are then cut to the proper sizes for insertion in the boxes. The cut sections of shoulder-strips are covered with glazed paper, at the top edges, before being set in the boxes.

Box-board used for all good candy boxes is lined on one side with white news or book paper before being cut and scored.