Cork: Being the story of the origin of cork, the processes employed in its manufacture & its various uses in the world to-day

by Armstrong Cork Company

Sorting Tapered Corks at Pittsburgh Factory

Free now from objectionable matter, the strips are cut into small rectangular blocks of the dimensions of the cork desired. In this process, just as in blocking, care must be taken to avoid defects in the bark, and at the same time to prevent waste. Passing to another department the rectangular pieces are rounded into proper shape.

Cork Polishing Wheels

In Spain, before the days of large cork factories employing labor saving machinery, and even to a great extent at the present time, all of these operations are carried out by hand.

Packing Department at Pittsburgh

Whole families participate, slicing the bark into strips, then into squares, and finally cutting the corks from the square blocks slowly and laboriously. This hand method of manufacture is gradually disappearing as more and more machinery comes into general use.