Flu has been affecting work for a long time 0

[RWB]

Here's an interesting letter from Scovill Mfg Co. mentioning that delivery of coin blanks (cents and nickels) to the Philadelphia Mint was delayed. Part of the reason was that workmen in the bright dipping department had the "grip" - what we now call influenza or "flu."

Scovill supplied all blanks for cents and nickels for many years. It was much cheaper for the mint to buy ready-made blanks than to make their own. The same kind of production problems occurred at Scovill as at the mints, but Scovill seemed more careful in removing defective blanks. However, than did not prevent at least one batch of cent blanks being being contaminated by CuNi blanks cut to cent size.

Edited March 28, 2020 by RWB

[kbbpll]

They are still around as Scovill Fasteners. Interesting history.

"–1850– The Company incorporates as Scovill Manufacturing Company to reflect the expansion into product lines such as brass lamps, munitions, fuses for artillery, some of the earliest cameras and plates as well as coin blanks for the US Mint."

[Henri Charriere]

[Side historical note:

Scoville?  I believe George P. Metesky's sisters worked in their factory.  They knew nothing of his criminal career as New York City's "Mad Bomber" back in the 1940's and 1950's.]

[DWLange]

I wonder whether Covid-19 has caused any delays in the shipment of planchets from the Mint's vendors.