Name/Title
Booklet, Corrections, Wisconsin. State Prison, Badger Binder TwineDescription
Booklet, Corrections, Wisconsin. State Prison, Badger Binder Twine. Badger Binder Twine. This picture is taken from a 1941 or '42 notes pad from the Badger Twine Co. This notebook contains photos of the Badger Binder Twine Co. which operated out of the Waupun State Prison and the story of the Twining process. For the complete story, please see below.
TO THE FARMERS OF WISCONSIN:
Success means much to our many friends; to our binder twine industry the most important meaning has been our continual and successful operation since the establishment of the industry in 1912. The farmers of our state, through the legislature, were responsible and insistent that the State of Wisconsin manufacture binder twine at the State Prison, thus providing productive labor for the inmates. With your splendid help and co-operation, we have gone forward giving you quality binder twine at moderate prices; cost plus a small margin of profit, and at the same time holding down taxes by letting our inmates earn their way while serving time. The maintenance of prison binder twine plants has maintained a lower level of prices to the advantage of the farmer.
Our dealers are handing this little book to you as an expression of thanks and appreciation for your twine orders, your fine spirit of co-operation and, your boosting Badger Binder Twine.
Don't forget - you as a taxpayer hold stock in the Badger Binder Twine Industry.
When in need of binder twine-ask your dealer for the old reliable "BADGER", it runs even and long, smooth and strong.
WISCONSIN STATE PRISON, John C. Burke, Warden.
BADGER TWINE
Binder twine is made from various kinds of hard fibres, all of which are imported. American grown hemp is not used in the manufacture of binder twine as it is of a soft texture. The selected fibres used in the manufacture of Badger Binder Twine, consist of Yucatan Sisal from the State of Yucatan, Mexico; Cuban Sisal from Cuba; Java Sisal from Java; African Sisal from Africa and Manila Hemp from the Philippine Islands.
All fibres, which go into the manufacture of binder twine, are carefully selected for the particular grade of twine for which it is to be used. Fibres are graded according to length, color, texture and strength. Manila Hemp is graded according to government specifications.
In the manufacture of binder twine the fibre is lubricated or treated with various oils, greases, preservatives etc., to strengthen and preserve the fibre from insect destruction and weather conditions.
The fibres are put up in bales of various sizes from 270 to 700 pounds according to kind, and when received stored in large concrete warehouses built especially for this purpose. When taken into the preparation department, the bales of fibre are opened, the strands of fibre unfolded, straightened and spread out in piles. The scutcher machine first receives the fibre removing all possible tow, lint and separating the more or less connected ends of the separate fibres. Leaving the scutcher the strands of fibre are fed into what is known as the breaker. This is a heavy and powerful machine of the endless belt type, the belt being made of steel bars each carrying a number of sharp steel pins. In the breaker the fibre passes through heavy corrugated rolls receiving the lubricant treatment and then onto the endless steel belt which draws the strands slowly into the machine, straightening them and combing them into order. The strands are fed side by side to make a wide ribbon of fibre. Halfway along the machine this slow belt drops down while a fast moving belt with its pins takes the ribbon and pulls it rapidly forward. This action combs out the fibre into a finer thread. Then it passes through rollers which iron it into a still smoother, finer mass of threads as it comes out of the delivery end of the machine. The combing and ironing of the fibre is repeated through other breakers, the object being to separate the fibres into finer threads and straightening all of them into a strand of uniform size and strength. The combination of strands produce a ribbon or sliver. From the breakers the sliver of fibre is run through the spreaders, which are similar to the breakers in construction and operation. From the spreaders the fibre is run through the drawing frames, or regulators, which regulate the size of the sliver for the finisher. The finisher then takes the sliver and gives it a final combing and ironing, leaving the strands smooth and sleek and of the right weight per foot to produce the 500 or 600 feet of twine per pound whichever may be in manufacture.
The sliver of fibre is now taken to the spinning department, here it is fed into the spinning machine by a toothed belt which gives it a final combing, then into a "former" which shapes the flat ribbon into a compact round bundle, then into the spinner which twists the fibres into twine which is wound on large spools or bobbins.
The bobbins are then taken to the balling department where machines wind the twine into the new eight pound balls. The balls are then inspected and tagged, taken to the balling department where they are rolled into perfect shape, and weighed before being packed into the burlap bags and tied with rope.
Our warehouses for storing binder twine are specially constructed of concrete and are dark and cool so that the twine may keep fresh and in the best of condition until shipped to the farmer.
In the course of manufacture, our twine is carefully inspected, sampled, weighed and supervised by experienced twine men, who have devoted their lives to the manufacture of binder twine.
Careful tests are regularly made, to assure that the twine is running evenly, full length and tensile strength is up to specifications. Weights are taken, and twine is wound on a large steel reel to prove its smooth unwinding quality and length. Our testing room is fully equipped to make the required analysis of our finished product that we may guarantee it to our customers.
While binder twine is used principally for the tying of small grains and corn on the harvest field, it also has many other uses.Acquisition
Accession
2001.0002Source or Donor
Waupun Historical SocietyAcquisition Method
Bequest,Collected by
