From the slicer the strips pass to the blocking machines, where, by means of a rapidly rotating tubular punch, cylindrical pieces are bored out and released with almost incredible speed.
Blocking Department at Pittsburgh
The operative, of course, must use care to avoid defective spots in the bark, and also to cut the corks out as closely together as possible so as to reduce waste to a minimum. The stoppers which come from these machines are round with parallel sides. If tapered corks are desired, larger at the upper end than at the lower, the cylindrical or “straight” pieces must be passed through another machine, which handles them deftly, holding them against the edge of another circular knife.
Cork Insoles
Seemingly motionless, the only outward indication of the speed with which the keen blade is revolving is the delicate shaving which curls upward for an instant, only to be drawn away through pipes by powerful air-suction to the mill building a hundred yards distant, where all such waste is ground up, to be disposed of in the form of various by-products.
Making Tapered Corks at Pittsburgh
Both “straights” and “tapers” next journey to the washing rooms. There dumped in great vats, thousands at a time, they are carefully washed and then dried by being whirled about dizzily in great revolving cylinders of wire net located in heated chambers.