Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 October 1893 — Pies by the Ten Thousand. [ARTICLE]

Pies by the Ten Thousand.

One hardly realizes the capacity of tho New Englander for pie until he is told that Boston has a pie bakery capable of turning out 10,000 pics a day, and that it is running nt its full capacity all the time. Most of the work is done by machinery under the direction of experts, who know just whut a pie should be, and the product is of all sort* and sizes, from the ordinary pumpkin pie to the most delicious mince, and from a little pie worth s nickel to a huge rectangular affair that will feed a family. One of the most interesting operations is the baking. It is arranged so that a big wheel, at least 12 feet long and 16 in diameter, is suspended by its axle in a big oven under which is u glowing fire. Hung from the rims of this wheel at equal distances from each other are eight iron platform*, upon which pies are placed. Such is the manner of suspension that they always remain horizontal. This wheel is revolved by power. One of these platforms is before the opening in the oven, which opening is as large as the wheel itself. The attendants cover this platform with pies, and the wheel is turned until the next one comes into view, which is then filled, and so on until the eight have been supplied. The next turn bring* into view the first lot put in, and they are ready to take out. They are removed and the platform filled again. The wheel turns and another baked lot is presented, and so it goes on day after day, 1,000 an hour taking their course over this pit of fire.—[Picayune.