Abstract: A tubular cover or metal support members has been provided in which the tubular cover member is made of multiple layers of material such as wood veneer and in which all of the layers are severed to form a slit to extend longitudinally of the tube and in which a hinge point is formed diametrically opposite to the slit by severing all except the outer layer of material. In one embodiment, the hinge is reinforced with a sheet of inorganic material. Applying the tube to the support member entails opening the cover to place it on the support member and fastening the opposite edges of the slit to each other to make a permanent enclosure for the support member.

Abstract: A wooden tube made up of tubular layers of wood veneer and the method of making it in which the various tubular layers are made from flat sheets of wood veneer having the grain in one layer extending longitudinally and the grain in an adjacent layer extending circumferentially of the tube so that the grain in adjacent layers extend transversely of each other with all joints extending in the direction of the wood grain being edge to edge butt joints and all joints extending transversely to the wood grain being interlocking finger joints and with adjoining tubular layers being bonded to each other to form a unitary tube.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying pressure and heat to a tubular workpiece made up of layers of wood and bonding agent and formed on a tubular mandrel having a sealed, slit tube engageable with the exterior of the workpiece and acting with a housing and end walls to form an air pressure chamber by which the slit tube can be circumferentially expanded and contracted throughout its length and at the same time heat can be applied to the housing to heat the exterior of the tubular workpiece while heated air is circulated through the tubular mandrel on which the workpiece is supported to accelerate curing.

Abstract: A tube making machine in which flat sheets of material are bent to conform with the outside surface of a cylindrical mandrel defining the interior of the tube, with bending taking place in a loop of a belt which contains the mandrel so that the material to be bend is radially compressed by the belt over a major surface of the mandrel beginning at a first line of contact where the belt first comes in contact with the mandrel and extending circumferentially to a second line of contact where the belt leaves the mandrel as the material reaches the second line of contact it is guided and maintained in contact with the mandrel until it reaches the first line of contact and reenters the space between the belt and the mandrel. The belt loop and the guide surface forms a continuous path over the entire circumference of the mandrel.

Abstract: A wooden tube made up of tubular layers of wood veneer and the method of making it in which the various tubular layers are made from flat sheets of wood veneer having the grain in one layer extending longitudinally and the grain in an adjacent layer extending circumferentially of the tube so that the grain in adjacent layers extend transversely of each other with all joints extending in the direction of the wood grain being edge to edge butt joints and all joints extending transversely to the wood grain being interlocking finger joints and with adjoining tubular layers being bonded to each other to form a unitary tube.