Question
Here is the question : WHAT DID THE JOB OF A COOPER ENTAIL?
Option
Here is the option for the question :
- Making wooden barrels
- Farming chickens
- Printmaking
- Shoemaking
The Answer:
And, the answer for the the question is :
Explanation:
Craftsmen in early American society who specialized in making wooden barrels were known as coopers. Due to the fact that essentials such as liquids and powders were stored and delivered in wooden barrels, demand for new barrels was extremely high. This was evidenced by the large number of farmers, fishers, and merchants who placed orders for new barrels. By 1776, the manufacturing of military supplies increased, keeping coopers even occupied than before, and they were delivered all over the country during the Revolution.
In colonial America, a cooper was a skilled craftsman who specialized in making wooden barrels, casks, and other containers. The job of a cooper was essential to the functioning of colonial society, as wooden barrels were used to transport and store a wide variety of goods, including food, drink, and other commodities.
The process of making a wooden barrel was a complex and time-consuming one, requiring a great deal of skill and expertise. The first step was to select the right type of wood, which had to be strong, durable, and able to withstand the rigors of transportation. Oak was the most commonly used wood for barrels, but other types of wood, such as chestnut and pine, were also used.
Once the wood had been selected, the cooper would cut it into staves, which were long, narrow pieces of wood that would form the sides of the barrel. The staves had to be cut precisely, with just the right amount of curvature and taper, so that they would fit together tightly and form a watertight seal.
The staves were then assembled into a circular shape, with metal hoops placed around the outside to hold them in place. The cooper would then use specialized tools, such as a croze and a chamfer knife, to shape and smooth the edges of the staves so that they would fit together perfectly.
Once the barrel had been assembled, it was then heated over a fire to make the wood pliable. This allowed the cooper to bend the staves into their final shape, creating the distinctive bulge in the middle of the barrel. The barrel was then cooled and the hoops were tightened, creating a tight seal that would prevent any leaks.
The job of a cooper required a great deal of skill and expertise, and it was often passed down from generation to generation within families. Coopers played an essential role in colonial society, and their work was critical to the functioning of the economy. Without the skills of coopers, colonial America would not have been able to transport and store the vast quantities of goods that were necessary for the survival and prosperity of the colonies.