The larger-size candy boxes, like the five-pound size, are often made in the form of hearts, diamonds, hexagon, octagon, square with round corners, oblong with round corners, shamrocks, fans, keystones, shields, and other figures. Nearly all boxes of this variety have shoulders and extension tops and bottoms. The pieces of box-boards for the tops and bottoms, whatever the shape desired may be, are cut out by means of steel dies, and the cover paper for the tops are also cut out with steel dies, so that the paper will accurately fit on the tops, or lids, after the other covering work has been done.
Moreover, for fancy boxes of this class, smaller pieces of box-board than the pieces used for the extension tops and bottoms must also be cut out into the shapes of hearts, diamonds, etc., to be used as formers for the boxes and lids, as follows:
First, the strip of heavy cardboard for the side of the box is stayed together at the ends, and the side-piece is then placed around a form of a heart, diamond or whatever the subject may be. This correctly forms the sides of the odd-shaped box, but to keep the shape permanently, the smaller piece of box-board is set in at the top, and the sides of the box are then covered, the edges of the covering paper being turned at the top of the form so as to hold the set-in piece firmly. The form may now be removed from the box, and the covered extension-edge piece of box-board glued on. The lid is constructed in the same way.
Another, and perhaps a better method is in placing the side-piece on the form; setting in the bottom or top-piece; gluing on the extension-edge piece, and then covering the box in such a manner as to wrap the edges of the covering paper around the sides and extension-edges. The cut out piece of covering paper—a heart, diamond, or whatever it may be—is then pasted to the top of the lid.
It is to be understood that the side-pieces, and the set-in top and bottom-pieces are lined on the inner side with white or colored glazed paper before the boxes and lids are made. In other words, the stock is lined before being cut into the different shapes.