Info about Caskets
Caskets
By definition, a casket or coffin, as it is also known, is just a container in which dead people are buried. In the early history of caskets, they were made out of wood, , metal or stone . In ancient Egypt, sarcophagi were beautifully decorated stone boxes used to bury dead people. Only the wealthy people could afford extravagant and expensive caskets, In Western culture since the Middle Ages, poor people have used wooden boxes. The very poorest people may not even have that. They may have had to be just wrapped in a blanket before being put into a grave. Custom carpenters in Ghana still make elaborate coffins in fancy shapes such as ears of corn, birds, or cars. Only the wealthy can afford those.
In the U.S. from the 1800’s, caskets were usually only built when they were needed. The the job of taking care of the dead was “undertook” by carpenters , that’s where we get the name “undertaker”. The carpenter and the undertaker were one and the same. In recent history, this has not been the case. The casket industry has branched off into its own entity, even though there may be some carpenters who build caskets on special request.
Caskets were made of different types of woods, including pine boards or expensive hardwood such as cherry or mahogany. Coffins were frequently made of other woods such as oak, birch, or maple. Some caskets are fiberglass. Since the 1950’s, after the Korean War, sheet metal became available as a suitable material for casket making. In the U.S., steel is the most common material used to make coffins.
There are three essential elements in coffins--there is the shell, which we have previously discussed, there is the lining, and the handle & accessories. The lining in a casket usually is made either of taffeta or velvet. It comes in a broad assortment of colors, available to match the other elements of the casket. The handle and the accessories are also designed not only for practical use, but for aesthetic reasons as well.
A casket can be made in any woodshop using only woodworking tools and techniques, but over the last 50 years, the casket industry has really become centralized. That seems to be the trend all over. Only a few large, automated industries dominate the market. This automation means less business perhaps for the small people. Those people tried to reach the public directly, either through mail, showrooms, or even the internet. Wal-Mart now sells caskets. There aren’t may casket maker industries, and the smaller people may actually be more of a casket assembler than a casket manufacturer. They may only buy prefabricated parts and put them together. Quite a bit of effort goes into casket manufacturing. First the shell is assembled, then the lining has to be shirred, or gathered, and then the lining is combined with batting and a cardboard backing to complete three layer upholstery. Of course the lining is inserted last, after the hardware and accessories. Because cremation is becoming ever popular, the casket making business is not really seeing a rise in demand for caskets. If anything, there may be a slight decline.