A History of the Old Town of Stratford and the City of Bridgeport, Connecticut, Part II, Part 5

Author: Orcutt, Samuel, 1824-1893
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: [New Haven, Conn.], [Press of Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor]
Number of Pages: 904

USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Bridgeport > A History of the Old Town of Stratford and the City of Bridgeport, Connecticut, Part II > Part 5

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produced. The standard of its workmanship has been gradu- ally increased, and it is recognized by mechanics at home and abroad as a superior instrument, furnished at a less price than other like tools, in proportion to its producing capacity.

The Bridgeport Brass Company is located on Cres- cent avenue, near East Main street. In 1865 D. W. Kissam, Samuel R. Wilmot and John Davol, owners of the Wilmot and Kissam Manufacturing Company, a corporation doing business in Brooklyn, N. Y., recognizing the advantages of Bridgeport as a manufacturing city, removed their business to this place and formed the Bridgeport Brass Company, with a capital of $150,000, of which corporation John Davol was President ; S. R. Wilmot, Treasurer; and D. W. Kissam, Secretary. In 1877 William H. Davol, son of John Davol, succeeded his father as president.

The company engaged in the general manufacture of brass wire, tubing and sheets, and also of many articles of which brass is the principal component part, specially of kerosene oil burners and lamps, in the manufacture of which a larger amount of brass is consumed than any one article for which brass is used ; and they are still largely engaged in this branch of the business. In the year 1880 a considerable por- tion of the capital stock was purchased from the estate of John Davol by Charles M. Mitchell, George E. Somers, Charles A. Hamilton, and Fred. A. Mason, of Waterbury, Conn., and Charles L. Mitchell, of New Haven-present member of Congress from second district of Connecticut. Charles M. Mitchell became President; Fred. A. Mason, Vice President and Treasurer ; George E. Somers, General Superintendent of the manufacturing department; D. W. Kissam remaining Secretary, which office he has filled since the organization of the company in 1865.

The company's business and manufacturing facilities have largely increased until they now occupy about two acres of ground in the heart of East Bridgeport, and employ about 300 workmen. Their pay roll amounts to $150,000 per annum. They consume annually 2,500 tons of coal, and more than 2,000,000 pounds of copper and zinc, in the composition

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of brass. They run four engines of a combined horse power of five hundred.

Many branches have been added to their business, such as the manufacture of seamless brass and copper tubes, clock movements, insulated copper wire of all kinds, for electrical conductors.

This company were the first to introduce and manufac- ture what is known as hard drawn copper wire, of which many thousands of miles are now used for telegraphic and telephonic lines instead of iron, owing to its greater con- ductivity of the electrical fluid.

From the above record it may be seen that the amount of the annual pay roll equals the amount of capital stock, and therefore an immense amount of sales must be effected.

Mr. B. McGovern, manufacturer of tools and machines. This business may be described as that of a machinist, tool and model maker, and manufacturer of automatic and special machinery, dies, punches, brass, steel, and all descriptions of light metallic goods and hardware. Besides these articles Mr. McGovern manufactures Brooks' patent combination padlock and Reinhardt's numbering machine, and several devices of his own invention ; among them are a " safety stirrup," the "cowboy's friend," the "anti-rattlers," and others. A specialty is "McGovern's combination Lock." At present Mr. McGovern is employing about forty hands. His shop is located on the corner of Noble and Sterling streets.

The Bridgeport Knife Company was organized in 1876, and are located on East Washington avenue, corner Hallett street; capital stock $100,000. They manufacture table knives and forks in a large variety of styles, and other household goods. Their present production is 18,000 knives and forks per day, employing over 300 persons. Their agents canvass every State and Territory in the Union, and all important places are visited by these salesmen at least every two months. Considerable attention has been given to exports, especially to South America, on both the east and west coast. In the first week of March, 1886, they shipped

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History of Stratford.

goods to the following places: Callao, Arequipa, Molende, Cumana, Iquique, Lima La Pay, Arica, and Para. It takes from two to three months to reach some of the interior places of South America. Goods for this purpose are shipped to the ports of that country packed in boxes not exceeding fifty pounds weight, and then transported on pack mules to their places of destination. These boxes are lined with tin to pre- vent the articles from being injured by rust. The new cata- logue of this company of 114 pages, describes nearly 1,000 different kinds of cutlery. By a telegraph code, distant mer- chants are enabled to order large assortments of goods with very few words, by which delays of shipment and much expense of traveling are avoided.

In the manufacture of these goods a large amount of

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BUILDINGS OF THE BRIDGEPORT KNIFE COMPANY.

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machinery is required, a great portion of which has been designed by this company. Such has been the sale of their goods that during 1885 they have continued their business in all departments on full time. The officers are: President, Anton Trunk; Vice-President, C. J. Healy, of New York ; Secretary and Treasurer, W. H. Bliss; who are also the directors.

Glover Sanford and Sons, hat manufacturers, are located at 318 Crescent avenue. The members of this com- pany came from the town of Bridgewater, in Litchfield county, Conn., where Glover Sanford had conducted the manufacture of hats from the year 1823, until his sons became associated with him, and the firm of Glover Sanford and Sons continued the same business there until their removal to Bridgeport.

In 1877 they purchased the site and buildings known as the Williams Silk Mills, and upon that site built their present buildings-the main building being 375 feet in length and 50 in width, three stories in height. They employ on an average 200 hands, and turn out 200 dozen hats per day, but have the capacity of 550 dozen per day. They make men's, boy's, children's, and ladies' felt hats of three hundred styles, there being seventy-five different processes each hat passes through before it is finished. The business requires a 150-horse power engine and a 450 boiler. The building is furnished with patent sprinklers, so that in case of fire any room could be flooded with water in a few minutes. It is probably one of the most completely arranged and well furnished manufactories in the country, and deserves the remarkable success it possesses. Glover Sanford, the founder and father, died May 30, 1878, after enjoying for a time a satisfactory reward for the many struggles of his earlier life. Frederick S. Sanford, one of the sons, died in 1876; Charles H., Homer B., and Edward G. Sanford, other sons, are living and actively engaged in the business. Charles H., Jr., Frederick H., son of Homer B., and Glover E., son of Edward G. Sanford, are also engaged with their fathers in the business.

The Bridgeport Power Company have a large brick building on the corner of Water street and South avenue, and

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besides their specialty in the manufacture of squares, they furnish power and room for several other manufacturing enterprises. They have a capital stock, paid in, of $65,000, and employ fifteen hands. The officers are: H. Kelsey, President and Treasurer; Frank B. Bradley, Secretary and Manager.

The Bridgeport Tack Works are located in the build- ings of the Bridgeport Power Company, and they manufacture tacks of every description, making a three-penny, fine steel, polished nail a specialty. The business was established in September, 1884, by Mr. E. Gowdy, the proprietor. He employs about ten hands, making up thirty tons of stock monthly. The advantage of machinery is here seen 1 the fact that one boy attends six machines.

Mr. W. E. Fitzgerald is located in the Bridgeport Power Company's buildings, corner of South avenue and Water street. He was established here July 1, 1884, and manufactures button hooks and other specialties.

The Diamond Saw Company is located in the Bridge- port Power Company's building, with a capital of $100,000. The officers are : C. B. Newcomb, of New York, President ; W. S. Edwards, of Boston, Treasurer and Manager ; J. D. Edwards, of Bridgeport, Superintendent. Their main office is in Boston. They are successors to M. Brown and Company, incorporated under New York State laws, but established in this city July 1, 1885. They have only just commenced the production of saws, employing from forty to fifty hands, but when in full operation will turn out 20,000 weekly. They can manufacture saws of any description and very rapidly, owning the so-called Hack machine, which cuts sixty blades at a time. They own, also, the patent Hack frame, and make the butcher or meat saws on the same plan. The busi- ness is very successful.

The Compressed Paper Box Company is located in the buildings of the Bridgeport Power Company, and they manufacture patent pressed paper boxes of many descriptions, round and square, paper cans, and strong paper boxes specially

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for hardware. They were established December 1, 1883, with a capital stock of $50,000. The officers are: Amos S. Treat, President; W. E. Baillie, Secretary and Treasurer ; Jonathan Godfrey, Superintendent. They manufacture on orders only, the Union Metallic Cartridge Company taking most of thei- productions.

The Ashcroft Manufacturing Company have just come to Bridgeport from Boston, and erected a new building during the winter of 1885 and 6, 200 feet long by 50 wide, four stories high, but which is not quite finished. They will employ 250 hands, many of them coming with the company from Boston the first of May next. Charles A. Moore, of New York, is President and General Manager; Martin Luscomb, Secretary and Treasurer ; H. F. Manning, Assistant Treasurer ; and G. W. Richardson, Superintendent. There is to be a foundry 60 feet by 40, connected with it, although a large part of their goods are made of brass.

The Knapp and Cowles Manufacturing Company were successors to Cowles Hardware Company, and they to Cowles and Company, and they to David A. Keys, who was the original manufacturer of the first mincing knives made in America, to be placed upon the market. The original manufacturer and the two successors were located at Unionville, in the town of Farmington, Conn. . The lead. ing articles produced at that place by the first companies were the mincing knife and screw drivers, and these were placed in the markets only of New York, Boston and Phila- delphia.

The Knapp and Cowles Company came to Bridgeport and commenced the erection of their commodious brick factory on Railroad avenue and Garden street, in July, 1884, and in November of the same year removed their entire business to these new buildings.

The company have increased their variety of screw drivers until, instead of one, they manufacture four patterns, including nearly fifty sizes and kinds, which are disposed of, as all their articles are, in the principal cities of the United States, the Canadas, and foreign markets. The mincing knife

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is still a leading staple, but twenty-four varieties are now produced instead of one at first. To these have been added a full line of garden tools, a variety of hammock and clothes line hooks, ice tools, awls, carpet stretchers, box scrapers and openers. They are also making the geers spring hinge, and a line of specialties in the house furnishing goods. They employ about thirty men, and as an illustration of the facility with which they manufacture goods, it may be stated that they produce in the one leading article about 150 dozen screw drivers per day.

The present officers are : L. S. Catlin, President; F. W. Stevens, Vice-President ; George S. Knapp, Treasurer and General Manager; and Martin Cowles, Secretary and Super- intendent.

The David M. Read and Company are merchants and carpet manufacturers. As large manufacturers of carpets they merit a record among the industries of Bridgeport.

David M. Read was born at Hoosac Falls, N. Y. His parents soon after removed to North Adams, Mass., where he passed most of his boyhood life, attending the district school and then the academy. He served as dry goods clerk in Williamstown, Stockbridge and Lenox, and in 1857 he came to Bridgeport and entered the employ of E. Birdsey and Company, with whom he remained until August, 1857. Then, having saved about $1,500, he obtained as much more of Hanford Lyon, and associating with him W. B. Hall, opened a dry goods and carpet store at 227 Main street. This firm continued at the old stand until May, 1869, when the store was removed to Wheeler's block, corner of Main street and Fairfield avenue, where it still remains. The partnership of Hall and Read continued until August 1, 1877, when Mr. Hall withdrew, and the business was continued by Mr. Read until the summer of 1885, when the organization of a stock company was effected, and the first floor and basement of two build- ings, instead of one, were occupied, forming a very popular and elegant place of business. The business of Hall and Read increased rapidly-as did also the city of Bridgeport-their sales amounting at one time to $500,000 a year. During the panics of 1857, 1861, and 1873, this house remained firm, and

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at their dissolution enjoyed the distinction of having always paid one hundred cents on the dollar.

Mr. Read, with his brother, Charles A. Read, began the manufacture of ingrain carpets, in a small way, in Water street, with two hand looms. Afterwards they purchased their present location on Middle street, and increased their business until they were operating twenty looms. In 1873 a stock company was formed with a capital of $55,000, under the name of the Read Carpet Company, David M. Read being president and selling agent. This company owns the block on the corner of Fairfield avenue and Middle street, with a frontage of one hundred feet on the former and two hundred on the latter, and have recently added a block adjoining, of one hundred and twenty by sixty-six feet. This establishment has been furnished with fifty power looms for the purpose of manufacturing ingrain, Brussels, and Axmin- ster carpets, with a capacity of 450,000 yards per year.

Mr. Read has been first alderman of the city of Bridge- port, a member of the Common Council, member of the Board of Education, and member of the school committee. He is a director in the Bridgeport National Bank, and, with the exception of the first year, has been president of the Board of Trade since its organization. He is also a director in the Mountain Grove Cemetery Association and the Fair- field County Agricultural Society. He was a member of the Connecticut National Guard for eight years as a brigade commissary, with the rank of major, and was an efficient officer. He was acting commissary-general at the encamp- ment of the Connecticut National Guard at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876, and was highly compli- mented by General Trowbridge for the executive ability displayed in the management of his department. He is a member of the vestry of St. John's Church.

On December 3, 1855, he married Helen Augusta, daugh- ter of the late Philo F. Barnum. They have two sons : Charles Barnum, treasurer in the D. M. Read Company, and David F., who graduated at Yale College in 1883, and is man- ager of the New York office of the Read Carpet Company, and one daughter, May Louise. One daughter, Helen A., died October 13, 1872. His residence is on Park avenue.

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Bridgeport Malleable Iron Company are located at the corner of Railroad avenue and South street. This busi- ness was first established here by Mr. Henry Atwater, who came from the Tuttle and Whitmore Company, of Naugatuck, and employed twenty-three men, with a capital of $30,000. In January, 1879, six months after he came here, a stock company under the present name was formed, and the busi- ness continuing to increase a reorganization was effected with a capital of $200,000, in May, 1884. Their buildings cover an area of four and a half acres, and they employ from 400 to 450 hands. They make malleable and gray iron castings, entirely upon orders, producing an endless variety, or in fact, anything that is wanted in this line, being the largest and most fully equipped establishment of the kind east of Cleve- land, Ohio. They make some very heavy work. The officers are: J. H. Whittemore, of Naugatuck, President; W. K. Chase, Vice-President ; W. A. Griffin, Treasurer; Henry Atwater, Secretary ; and A. S. Wells, General Superintend- ent. All the officers except the president reside in Bridge- port.

BUILDINGS OF THE BRIDGEPORT ORGAN COMPANY.

The Bridgeport Organ Company is located on Rail- road avenue, corner of Hancock, and was established June I, 1877, Mr. J. T. Patterson, from Birmingham, Conn., proprie- tor. He manufactures organs and various kinds of musical

Bridgeport. 755

instruments, besides filling special orders, as desired. He employs 200 hands, most of his goods being made for export trade, having a branch house at 124 Holborn, London, where he keeps a heavy stock. His building is 400 feet long, 60 feet wide, and four stories high. A specialty is the orchestrone, a patented article, made on contract, in five different styles and sizes, and being the only party manufacturing them in this country.

The West End Mill is one of the buildings erected by the organ company. It is occupied by several manufacturing companies, and is located on the corner of Railroad and Han- cock avenues.

W. B. Bostwick and Company are located in the West End Mill, where they manufacture vegetable ivory buttons. Mr. W. B. Bostwick came from New Milford, where for about twenty years he had been engaged with his brother in the same business. In August, 1884, their build- ings in that village were burned, and then he came to Bridge- port, formed a partnership with Mr. D. B. Seward, and estab- lished the present prosperous enterprise, employing from 70 to 100 hands.

In this making of buttons, on orders only, there is almost an endless variety of styles, changing almost every season. The Bostwick brothers, having been among the first pro- ducers of this kind of goods, are known all over the country, and have had thus far large success.

Standard Card and Paper Company, located in the West End Mill, was established June 1, 1884, with a capital of $5,000. Mr. S. B. Hutchinson is President and Manager, and Mr. E. T. Baram, Treasurer and Secretary. They manufacture fine wedding and photograph mounting card board paper, entirely on orders, employing about fifteen hands. Mr. S. B. Hutchinson came here from Springfield, Mass., where he learned a practical knowledge of the business.

Bridgeport Silk Company occupy a part of the West End Mill and was established October 1, 1882. Mr. M. C. Pat- terson is the proprietor and manager. He came from Union

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Hill, N. J., where he obtained a practical knowledge of the business. He manufactures dress, carriage, umbrella, and upholstering silks, making a regular line, and also anything in these kinds of goods, to order. One specialty is a pure dye black silk, in stock, one of the best articles in the market ; and another is the carriage goods, of which he produces a large line. He employs from 75 to 100 hands.

Cornwall and Patterson Manufacturing Company occupy a part of the West End Mill, were established here October 1, 1879, with a capital of $20,000; J. B. Cornwall, President and Manager. They manufacture piano and organ hardware, and a line of base ball goods, employing twenty- five men. They work on contracts, putting out large quanti- ties of their base ball goods to be made in private families, a feature of industry of which there is but very little in Bridge- port, most all goods being made in the manufacturing build- ings.

Bridgeport Steel Cutlery Company is located in the West End Mill, and was established in March, 1886; W. Minor Smith, President; E. R. Ives, Treasurer ; G. J. Brown, Secretary. Capital, $5,000. They manufacture shoe shanks, nails and steel work generally.

The Wilmot and Hobbs Manufacturing Company, on the corner of Railroad and Hancock avenues, were estab- lished in October, 1884, with a capital of $125,000. Their building is 125 by 200 feet, three stories. Samuel R. Wilmot, President; Willis F. Hobbs, Secretary ; Charles M. Duprey, Treasurer. They manufacture cold rolled iron in various forms, carriage axle boxes and hubs, steel bells and gongs, bicycle rims and felloes, and many other articles of iron, steel and copper. They make goods upon orders and are driven night and day to fill the same.

Saddle-Trees .- The manufacture of saddle-trees was closely allied to the saddlery business. Saddle-trees were early made in a small way in Danbury and at Hartford, but the business was more fully developed in Bridgeport and Newark, N. J. While Newark manufacturers supplied little

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more than the requirements of the saddlers of that place, Bridgeport supplied her home demands and sent her products in this line all through the country.

Mr. Eben Fairchild, of Trumbull, is said to have made the first saddle-trees in these parts. He very privately separated the parts of an old saddle, examined the tree, took patterns of the parts, made a dozen trees, carried them across the fields to the blacksmith and had them ironed. They were then, probably, suitably painted and varnished and placed in market. The process was repeated with increasing volume, and soon Mr. Fairchild was joined by his brother Reuben, and Isaiah Peet, having their shop at Nichols' Farms. This firm supplied the earlier Bridgeport saddlers and also sent their products to Hartford and Middletown.

Mr. Stephen Hull, a blacksmith from Danbury, com- menced the business on Main street. His residence was on the site of the Connecticut National Bank, and his shop immediately north, which was burned in the fire of 1835. Capt. William A. Peck, a leading manufacturer later, learned the business from him, and perhaps others did the same. The following persons or firms were engaged in this business from 1825 to 1860. David and Josiah Hubbell-later David Hubbell, S. and G. Sterling, David Sterling, Jr., foreman ; F. Lathrop and F. Lathrop and Son; William A. Peck and Company, and W. A. Peck, and Charles Sherman- There was also Fairchild, Peet and Company, and F. P. Ambler and Sons, at Nichols' Farms; and George Hinman and Hin- man and Edwards, at Huntington. Formerly the gig saddles in harness were made on wooden trees, and the gig trees, to which Ambler and Sons gave special attention, they regarded as the most profitable department of their business.

During the late war the United States government re- quired an immense number of the regulation saddle-trees, raw-hide covered ; the last named firm engaged in the man- ufacture of these trees extensively, and it has been continued by the surviving member of the firm, although the West, with cheaper material and labor, has almost monopolized the mark- ets with her cheaper product, and the former styles have been superseded. Not a saddle-tree of the old style is now manu-

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factured in Bridgeport proper, where thousands of dozens were formerly produced.

Pembroke Iron Foundry, manufacturers of fine, light and medium gray iron castings, is located at the corner of Barnum and Hallett streets. Besides making the castings for light machinery and sewing machines a specialty, this com- pany produce a large variety of castings for general use in machinery. In March, 1872, the enterprise was located here, occupying a whole square, bounded by four streets, and their buildings erected under the firm name of Wilson, Parsons and

PEMBROKE IRON FOUNDRY.

Company. In 1881 Mr. Wilson sold his interest in the enter- prise, and the proprietors now are Robert E. Parsons, Anson H. Landon, the firm name being Parsons and Landon. Mr. Parsons is a native of Windsor Locks, Conn., and Mr. Landon of Guilford, Conn. They employ fifty men, their pay roll being $550 per week, their sales about $75,000 a year.

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A History of the Old Town of Stratford and the City of Bridgeport, Connecticut, Part II, Part 5

Author: Orcutt, Samuel, 1824-1893 Publication date: 1886 Publisher: [New Haven, Conn.], [Press of Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor] Number of Pages: 904

Author: Orcutt, Samuel, 1824-1893
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: [New Haven, Conn.], [Press of Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor]
Number of Pages: 904