[Illustration:  By permission of Messrs. Urquhart, Lindsay & Co.  Ltd FIG 48 SEMI-MECHANICAL BAG OR SACK CUTTING MACHINE]

Fig. 48 illustrates one of the semi-mechanical machines for this purpose; this particular type being made by Messrs. Urquhart, Lindsay & Co., Ltd., Dundee.  About eight or nine different cloths are arranged in frames behind the cutting machine, and the ends of these cloths passed between the horizontal bars at the back of the machine.  They are then led between the rollers, under the cutting knife, and on to the table.  The length of cloth is measured as it passes between the rollers, and different change pinions are supplied so that practically any length may be cut.  Eight or nine lengths are thus passed under the knife frame simultaneously, and when the required length has been delivered, the operative inserts the knife in the slot of the knife frame, and pushes it forward by means of the long handle shown distinctly above the frame and table.  He thus cuts eight or nine at a time, after which a further length is drawn forward, and the cycle repeated.  Means are provided for registering the number passed through; from 36,000 yards to 40,000 yards can be treated per day.

The bags may be made of different materials, e.g. the first four in Fig. 32.  When hessian cloth, II, Fig. 32, is used, the sewing is usually done by quick-running small machines, such as the Yankee or Union; each of these machines is capable of sewing more than 2,000 bags per day.  For the heavier types of cloth, such as sacking, S, Fig. 32, the sewing is almost invariably done by the Laing or overhead sewing machine, the general type of which is illustrated in Fig. 49, and made by Mr. D. J. Macdonald, South St. Roque’s Works, Dundee.  This is an absolutely fast stitch, and approximately 1,000 bags can be sewn in one day.

[Illustration:  FIG. 49 OVERHEAD (LAING) SACK SEWING MACHINE By permission of Mr. D. J. Macdonald]

The distinctive marks in bags for identification often take the form of coloured stripes woven in the cloth, and as illustrated at S, Fig. 32.  It is obvious that a considerable variety can be made by altering the number of the stripes, their position, and their width, while if different coloured threads appear in the same cloth, the variety is still further increased.

Many firms, however, prefer to have their names, trade marks, and other distinctive features printed on the bags; in these cases, the necessary particulars are printed on the otherwise completed bag by a sack-printing machine of the flat-bed or circular roller type.  The latter type, which is most largely used, is illustrated in Fig. 50.  It is termed a two-colour machine, and is made by Mr. D. J. Macdonald, Dundee; it will be observed that there are two rollers for the two distinct colours, say red and black.  Occasionally three and four-colour machines are used, but the one-colour type is probably the most common.