Abstract: A panel of fabric is guided from a spool to a gathering device. The gathering device includes a spindle located above and across the width of the panel of fabric and having a plurality of spaced apart wheels attached thereto. Extending radially from the wheels are a plurality of flexible mechanical fingers, or alternately, flexible bristles. As the wheels rotate the flexible projections gather the fabric into folds. A panel of backing material is guided to underlay the gathered fabric. The gathered fabric is then adhered to the backing material. A means for conveying the fabric and backing material is also provided.

Abstract: A casket having a base or body produced by a single press of a forming stamp, and a top or cap also formed by a single press of a forming stamp. The base or body may be formed by the same tooling as the top or cap reducing the equipment necessary, time of production and labor costs in manufacture of the casket shell.

Abstract: A corner piece is adapted to be installed over a corner of a metal casket having a predetermined number of tack welds securing adjacent side and end panels to one another. The corner piece extends from the top to the bottom of the casket and includes outwardly projecting top rail and bottom rail parts together with an intermediate recessed part which mate with the casket top rail, bottom rail and intermediate section, respectively, at each corner. A downwardly projecting lip at the top of the corner piece engages with internal surfaces of the top rail and upwardly projecting surfaces at the bottom are received by recess surfaces of the bottom rail in securing the corner piece to the casket. Each corner piece is sufficiently resilient to permit the ends to be flexed and spread apart thereby facilitating mounting of the corner piece.