This is also frequently used in different colors, previously cut in sheets of the proper size.

It may not be generally known that tin foil, now so widely known to the trade, is not a foil of tin alone, but composed mainly of lead, with but a slight alloy of tin. The manifold appliances of tin foil to articles of consumption is not regulated with any law such as exists in European countries, forbidding the use of lead or composition, or otherwise impure tin foil, in all cases where it may, through oxidation or contact with the goods, become poisonous and injurious to the health of the consumer. With bottlers tin foil is employed as a package dressing, and its tasteful use enhances the value of the beverages to an appreciable degree. Too little attention has been paid to this subject thus far. It is to be hoped that ignorance, and not willful oversight of the facts, has led many manufacturers and dealers to use an article accompanied with such risks for the sake of saving a trifle in the cost. This saving is in most instances imaginary, as the pure tin foil combines such a fineness and large yield with relatively great softness and strength, that it will practically answer most purposes, and not cost more than an equal surface of the lightest composition foil, while the heavier grades of the latter will be much more expensive to use.

The operator places a sheet on the palm of his left hand, covers it with paste, and taking the bottle in his right hand, places the neck on the sheet of tin foil, and by a dexterous turn wraps the latter about the bottle neck and cork, as seen on the bottle shown in next figure. Practice will soon make an operator skillful at this work.

Fig. 277. - Improved Capping Machine.