USA > Connecticut > Connecticut yesterday and today : 1635-1935 : celebrating three hundred years of progress in the Constitution state > Part 18
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portion of the company's products had to be plated, a job plating department was established and is today considered one of the best and most modern plating plants in New England.
Withing three years (in 1910) after Mr. Chidsey had taken over the reins of the business, a three-story modern brick building of fire- proof construction was built supplanting the old wooden structure. Additional buildings were added in 1913, 1919 and 1925 increasing the floor space to 64,000 square feet which represented a growth of 1400 per cent in manufacturing space between 1907 and 1925.
By this time both companies had found their niche; expanded as leaders in their respective fields, The Veeder Company dominated in the sphere of counting devices for the smaller types of machines and had built up a business in the manufacture of die castings, The Root
Company led the field in the development and sales of counting de vices for application in the heavier industries, as well as establishin a large hinge and stamping enterprise and a model job plating de partment which specialized on the plating of difficult shapes. Fo lowing the line of good economies in manufacture and distributio after the retirement of Mr. David J. Post and Mr. Curtis IL. Veede from the Verder Ally. Co., the two companies were consolidated o May 15, 1928, into Veeder-Root, Incorporated, with main offices i Hartford.
The present officers of the Company are: John T. Chidsey, Chair man of the Board; Graham H. Anthony, President; John IL Chaplin Vice President and Sales Manager; Charles G. Allyn. Secretary an. Treasurer.
The Hartford Division of FEEDER-ROOT, INC., where the Smaller Counters we Male.
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THE ARROW-HART & HEGEMAN ELECTRIC CO. Incorporated 1928 HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT
EDWARD R. GRIER Chairman
JOHN R. COOK President
MONROE GUETT Vice President
SAMUEL P. WILLIAMS CHARLES G. PERKINS Vice President
ALFRED H. PEASE
HE ARROW-HART & HEGEMAN ELECTRIC COMPANY was incorpor- ated in 1928, the result of the merger of the Arrow Electric Company, founded in 1905, and the Hart & Hegeman Manufacturing Company, founded in 1890. At their inception, both units of this Company were pioneers in devel- oping switches and other electric wiring devices; today the combination is rated as one of the largest manufacturers of these products in the world.
The Hart & Hegeman Manufacturing Company was started in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1890 by Gerald Waldo Hart and George S. Hegeman. In 1891 they moved to Hartford, a closer source of supply for materials and labor, and this Company was incorporated under the laws of Connecticut in 1891. Mr. Hegeman died in 1897 and the follow- ing year Mr. Hart severed his connection with the Company, being succeeded by Alfred H. Pease, who controlled the business and was its President until his death in 1913. Following his death Shiras Mor- ris was elected President, which position he retained until his death in 1927. Samuel P. Williams was then made President, and shortly afterwards the merger was effected with the Arrow Electric Com- pany in 1928.
The beginnings of the Arrow Electric Company are to be found in the switch business started by Charles G. Perkins in 1880. It was while conduct - ing this business that he developed the Perkins electric switch, a special type of carbon filament for incandescent lamps, and numerous other appurte.
nances for the infant industry. Mr. Perkins was one of the first Yankee inventors to turn his mechanical skill and ingenuity to these electrical problem. This earliest venture into the manufacturing hcl was disposed of to other interests about the year 1900. Mr. Perkins entered into the manufactur- ing field a second time in 1905, with the founding of the Perkins Corporation. In 1908 Edward R. Grier joined the organization, and the corporation became the Arrow Electric Company. The original factory was housed in small rented quarters near the "Glen- wood" Railroad Station, just across the railroad tracks from one of the company's present modern plants.
The Arrow Electric Company experienced its growth from one of the city's small manufacturing establishments to its present pre-eminent position in the field, largely as a result of Mr. Grier's busi- ness acumen. It was also through his foresight and financial ability that the merger with the Hart & Hegeman Manufacturing Co. was brought about in 1928, a measure resulting in great economies in pro- duction and new goods developments as it com- bined two outstanding engineering units.
With the consummation of the merger, the manu- facturing activities of the two companies were brought together, with offices in the main plant on Hawthorne Street. Its other plants in Hartford are located at Broad Street and Capitol Avenue; Russ, Lawrence and Broad Streets; and Capitol Avenue and Laurel Street. Subsidiary plants are the Wash- ington Porcelain Co., Washington, N. J., Arrow- Hart & Hegeman (Canada) Ltd., Toronto, Arrow
£
Manufacturers of WIRING DEVICES and CONTROL APPARATUS
Electric Switches, Ltd., London, England. Through distributing agencies and branches, the companies' products go to every part of the world.
Mr. Grier was elected President of the Arrow- Hart & Hegeman Electric Company at the time of its formation, and remained in this capacity until 1932, when he became Chairman of the Board. John R. Cook was then elected President.
Behind the establishment and the development of this institution there is the interesting story of the control of electric light and power which, until about 1880, had been more of a dream than a reality. It was the necessity of solving this problem which led to the formation of both the Hart & Hegeman Manu- facturing Co. and the Arrow Electric Company.
The problem of controlling electric current, turn- ing it off and on, and making it convenient for pub- lic use, was solved in a primitive but satisfactory manner by Mr. Hart and Mr. Perkins. Later, as the electrical industry progressed, improvements and new designs were developed in switches, lamp- holders, receptacles, and other current controlling devices, to keep abreast of this rapidly developing industry. Thousands of new electrical wiring de-
vices had to be designed to supply the needs of mod- ern lighting, power control, and electrical appliances in homes and industry. With each of these improve- ments and new developments greater perfection in design and performance was required. In these 55 years of progress, the founders and developers of this Company, through years of research, experiments and tests, became recognized leaders in this branch of the electrical industry. Foremost among these men is the company's vice president and chief engineer, Monroe Guett, in whose name an impressive num- ber of patents have been granted. He has been in active charge of factory operation and inventive de- velopment since the founding of one of the branches of the company in 1890.
The Arrow-Hart & Hegeman Electric Co. today continues this tradition of producing modern elec- trical wiring devices and control apparatus to meet the wide and diversified requirements of today's national and international markets. Throughout the company's history, dating back to the beginnings of the industry itself, this company has concentrated its efforts in making the control of electricity efficient, safe and convenient for everyone.
OFFICERS
DIRECTORS
EDWARD R. GRIER Chairman
JOHN R. COOK President
SAMUEL P. WILLIAMS
Vice President
MONROE GUETT Vice President
THOMAS A. INCH Treasurer
CHARLES A. TENEYCK
Assistant Treasurer
E. BOSWORTH GRIER Secretary
ROBERT C. BUELL, Investment Broker JOHN R. COOK
W. R. C. CORSON, President, Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company ARTHUR P. DAY, Chairman, Hartford Connecticut Trust Co.
SAMUEL FERGUSON, Chairman, Hartford Electric Light Co. DANIEL, J. GLAZIER, Vice President, Hartford Fire Insurance Co.
EDWARD R. GRIER CHARLES WELLES GROSS, Senior Part- ner, Gross, Hyde & Williams
MONROE GUETT THOMAS A. INCH
ARTHUR L. SHIPMAN, Senior Partner, Shipman & Goodwin, Attorneys
GEORGE S. STEVENSON, Senior Partner, Stevenson, Gregory & Co. SAMUEL P. WILLIAMS
Hawthorne Street Plant & Offices
1
AIR VIEW OF ENSIGN-BICKFORD PLANT AT SIMSBURY
SBURY
-41621
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THE ENSIGN-BICKFORD COMPANY, SIMSBURY
Founded in 1836
JOSEPH R. ENSIGN
JOSEPH TOY
WILLIAM BICKFORD
AFETY FUSE, consisting of a core of black powder which is enveloped in jute yarn and surrounded by additional cotton yarns and waterproofing mater- ials, in general appearance like a good sized piece of twine, is used in blasting operations in mines and quarries for conducting fire to the blasting cap which, in turn, sets off the explosive charge.
The story of the fuse industry in America commences with its introduction and manufacture at the site of the first American copper mine, Newgate, at Granby, Connecticut (then a part of Simsbury). In 1830 the Phoenix Mining Company purchased the Newgate property for $1,200 and commenced mining oper- ations under the superintendency of Richard Bacon of Simsbury.
About the year 1836, while travelling in England in the interest of copper mining, Richard Bacon called on members of the firm of Bickford, Smith & Davey the original manufacturers of Safety Fuse, and asked to be appointed agent for the sale of fuse in the United States. After some deliberation a shipment of fuse consigned to Bacon was sent to America, but an ad valorem duty of 20 per cent made further importation pro- hibitive. Negotiations then ensued resulting in partnership ar- rangements between the English firm and Bacon for the intro- duction of the manufacture of safety fuse in the United States.
The original completed partnership agreement for the estab- fishing of the first American fuse company dated May 6th, 1837, started the co-partnership of Bacon, Bickford, Eales & Co.
Thus it was that the first American made fuse came to be manufactured at the site of the first copper mine in America- Newgate-a circumstance which was logical in view of Mr. Bacon's connection with the Phoenix Mining Company and the fact that the fuse could be used there. Within a very short time, however, mining ceased at Newgate and the fuse works were moved to a small water-power site at East Weatogue.
In 1839, Mr. Joseph Toy, a young Cornishman, was sent over from the English firm. In 1851 the partnership became Toy, Bickford & Co. and the plant was moved to its present site on Hop Brook in Simsbury. Under the management of Joseph Toy the fuse business was ably carried on and at his
death in 1887 Mr. Rasph H. Ensign, his son-in-law, became manager of the firm, which then took the name of Ensign, Bickford & Co. In the year 1907 the partnership of Ensign, Bickford & Co. was incorporated under the name of The Ensign- Bickford Company. At that time consolidation of the Climax Fuse Company at Avon, Conn. with The Ensign-Bickford Com- pany took place.
With all the developments in fuse manufacture that have gone on abroad and at home, The Ensign-Bickford Company management has kept constantly in touch. The result of this has been that the product of The Ensign-Bickford Company has steadily improved and its use has become widespread. Many million feet of fuse were manufactured for the Isthmian Canal Commission for use in the construction of the Panama Canal; and during the World War special fuse was furnished for hand grenades, mis-fire charges and other special uses. The Company received a citation from the War Department in recognition of the services rendered. To keep insofar as possible a control on materials entering into the manufacture of safety fuse, the Com- pany has built its own cotton and jute mills and has established a Laboratory for testing not only raw materials but the finished product.
In the year 1913 The Ensign-Bickford Company introduced Cordeau-Bickford into the United States. This is a detonating fuse consisting of a lead tube filled with trinitrotoluene and it is now widely used by quarries and mines, especially in well- drill shooting where many holes have to be shot at one time.
The present factory is located at the south end of the town on Hop Brook. 'The buildings were designed and constructed by employees of the Company and built of native red sandstone taken from the Company's own quarry. The Company maintains some 250 homes for its employees, who number approximately 390 for the Simsbury and Avon plants together.
The present officers of the company are Joseph R. Ensign, President; Robert Darling, Vice-President; Henry E. Ellsworth, Vice-President; J. Kell Brandon, Secretary; Chester R. Seymour, Treasurer; Robert E. Darling, Assistant Secretary; John E. Ells- worth, Assistant Treasurer.
11633
1912 - THE G. E. PRENTICE MANUFACTURING CO.
1935
G. E. PRENTICE, President
HE G. E. PRENTICE MANUFAC - TURING COM-
PANY was organized in 1912 by its present president, George E. Prentice. Mr. Pren- tice's years of experience before starting his own business had been va- ried and his career up to the formation of his own company is an interesting one; it is largely due to his industry and inventive and business ability that his first tiny factory has since 1912 grown into the second largest slide- fastener production plant in the world.
Mr. Prentice had worked in a print- ing plant and a shoe store in England before coming to this country, and in America he was for seven years con- nected with the jewelry firm of Churchill and Lewis in New Britain. When this company moved to New York, Mr. Prentice was immediately taken on by the Traut and Hine Man- ufacturing Company. In a little over a year his accomplishments were rec- ognized and he was made superin- tendent of the plant.
The Traut and Hine Company was one of New Britain's pioneer hard- ware factories and at this time it was going into its eighth year. Until that time the firm had never paid a divi- dend. A year after Mr. Prentice took over the reins the stockholders received their first dividend check.
Machinery hummed, orders poured in, profits were realized. Mr. Prentice's inventions caused a number of patents to be taken out and assigned to the concern.
In 1912 George Prentice resigned his Traut and Hine position to start his own business. A good organizer, a fine mechanic, and possessing shrewd executive ability, he went over to Ken- sington and with two helpers he set up his new factory.
To start, he personally designed a number of suspender, garter and arm band buckles, then cut the master hubs, made the dies and plating solutions and went out and sold the goods from the first samples. Despite Mr. Pren- tice's almost superhuman efforts in at- tempting to make the business profit- able, the gross sales for the first year were disappointing. However, by the application of sound business princi- ples, sales increased in every succeed- ing year; through times of normal business and through times of depres- sion, the sales have grown without a break.
When the house of Prentice took on the aspect of being a successful en- terprise, the producing of the com- paratively new slide fastener or zipper was undertaken. It was Mr. Pren- tice's object "to develope for commer- cial uses, the smoothest, strongest and best interlocking slide fastener and to
be able to manufacture it so inexpen- sively that it would be possible to use it on all grades and classes of mer- chandise." With this thought in mind, Mr. Prentice and his associate, Robert C. Legat, finally succeeded and were granted United States Patent No. 1658392.
The bulk of the company's business is now in the manufacture and sale of the zipper. They . make zippers for more than one hundred and fifty dif- ferent articles, from automobile tire covers to sporting and leather goods, indeed for practically every article which needs to be opened and closed. 'The company holds patents on five different kinds of slide fasteners; of which it manufactures two, it being the only house in the world producing two types of this item. And to add to its laurels, the Prentice machines turn out the smallest zipper known, and, too, make more sizes of this ar- ticle than any other firm.
The concern docs a gross business of close to $1,000,000 a year; its machinery produces 10,000 different kinds of designs and articles. In addi- tion the factory is the largest maker of key-holders of the leather case va- riety in the world, while in the field of invention George Prentice has pro- duced over one hundred United States patents and one hundred and fifty in foreign countries.
Main Plant of the G. E. Prentice Mfg. Co. at Berlin, Connecticut
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First and Present Permanent Home of Salvation Army in Hartford
THE
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ARMY
130,- AMERICAN WALL PAPER & PAINT CO.
JAMERICAN
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The Salvation Army's prison cork started here in 1885. Since May, 1935, the Army woork in this division, which covers Connectiont, Vermont and Western Massachusetts, has been carried on by Adjutant Ralph Miller, youngest Divisional Officer in the United States. Adjutant Miller succeeded Lieutenant Colonel Albert E. Bates in this position.
THE FLINT-BRUCE COMPANY
Established - 1891
HE FLINT - BRUCE COMPANY was founded in the days when Grover Cleveland was president and life moved along leisurely in carriages. Under the leadership of one of its co-founders it has lived through forty-four years of the greatest changes that history has ever witnessed. In 1891 John E. Bruce and Will Filley opened a furniture store at 103 Asylum Street, at exactly the same location as the Asylum Street entrance of the present-day store. The only other furniture stores in Hartford at that time were George W. Flint's, Julius Kellog's, Seidler & May's, Henry Speiske's, C. C. Fuller's and Robbin's; today the Flint-Bruce Company is the only one left of this large group.
This venture of Mr. Bruce and Mr. Filley was almost immediately
successful, and within a few years the store had expanded from the original quarters of a single floor to occupy the entire building at 103 Asy- lum Street. Mr. Filley remained with the company for eighteen years, retiring in 1909.
Soon after Mr. Filley's with- drawal from the partnership, George WV. Flint and Company merged with Mr. Bruce to form the Flint-Bruce Company. Shortly after this merger the promise of increased business was So great that a six-story building was erected adjoining the original home and extending through to Trumbull Street.
Following the death of Mr. Flint in 1921, George W. Butler was ad- mitted to the firm as a partner to take full charge of the buying and merchandising. There was a strange coincidence in Mr. Butler's entrance to the firm, for as a boy he had
JOHN E. BRUCE President and Founder of The Flint- Bruce Company
worked in his father's store which was adjacent to Flint-Bruce's. After many years of experience in metro- politan furniture stores he returned to very nearly the site of his first job.
The Flint-Bruce Store as It Was in 1891. Today the Store Occupies Thirty Times the Space Shown Here.
441661.
HARTFORD'S OLDEST AND LARGEST FURNITURE STORE
GEORGE M. BUTLER Vice-President and Assistant Treas- urer of The Flint-Bruce Company
In the latter twenties the Flint- Bruce Company experienced a growth which was phenomenal. A separate department was installed for their large stock of early American
reproductions, and many new lines of household furnishings and equipment were added to their stock. During this time an interior decorating de- partment was built up to serve the customers; more room was acquired for display on Trumbull Street; and a six-story warehouse fronting on the railroad on Atlantic Street was pur- chased.
Today the Flint-Bruce Company has two acres of floor space devoted to the display of home-furnishings, of which their stock is the greatest of any store in New England with the exception of Boston. In the present modern store there are separate de- partments for radios, kitchen equip- ment (gas, electric, and coal ranges, washing machines, refrigerators and ironers), office furniture, and floor coverings. Two complete homes- thirty model rooms have been built and furnished with a view to best
showing of the furniture and offer- ing a suggestion to the buyer as to decoration.
The Flint-Bruce Company is a member by invitation of the Grand Rapids Furniture Guild, to which fewer than four hundred of the twelve thousand furniture stores in the country belong. It is a member of Century Furniture Associates, a buying group of forty-eight furniture stores whose purchases total many millions. All the benefits and price concessions of large scale buying, can be given to the customers of the in- dividual stores.
Although The Flint-Bruce Com- pany is Hartford's oldest furniture store, it succeeds in remaining modern and ahead of the times, for the con- servatism taught by years is always well tempered with the youthful, pro- gressive spirit which is an inherent part of the Company's policy.
BUSINESS FURNITURE
THE FLINTA THE FLINT
BRUCE GO. BRUCE CO.
QUIPMENT
BRUCE
FLINT MUCL CO.
-.
The New Entrance on Trumbull Street to Hartford's Oldest and Largest Furniture Store.
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HARTFORD'S OLDEST EATING HOUSE-HONISS'S
Estab. 18.45
This is the This is the Original Old Original Old OYSTERBAR OYSTER BAR
Seen Service At this Location Since the Year
Seen Service At this Location Since the Year
1845
1845
Fred Atchison, fifty-two years with Honiss's known from coast to coast, and friend of many Hartford celebrities
HE HONISS OYSTER HOUSE COM- PANY, now in its ninetieth year, is the oldest and most famous of Hartford's eating places. It began its long and suc- cessful career in 1845, when it was opened as an "oyster depot" under the United States Hotel, then one of the best known hostelries in America. At that time there were only three tables, seating a total of nine persons; today Honiss's seating capacity is one hundred and fifty.
The business, started by two partners, Barnes and Coats, later passed into other hands and was succes- sively controlled by Henry Goodale, A. Thomas & Company, and Charles Bradley. About 1870 Thom- as A. Honiss assumed control, and thirteen years later he was joined by Mr. Fred Atchison, present genial host and president. During the year 1900 Mr. Honiss retired from business, selling his inter- est to Mr. Edwin Tolhurst, a half brother. Mr. Atchison, with two associates, Thomas E. O'Neill
and William W. Hastings, purchased the business in 1914 and incorporated in the following year as the Honiss Oyster House Company. Mr. Hastings is still with the company as vice-president. The other officers are John J. Rome, secretary, and C. L. An- drew, assistant treasurer.
Many historical objects decorate the entrance to the Honiss Oyster House. In fact, they constitute a unique art gallery, for Mr. Atchison has made a life- long hobby of collecting famous historical portraits and unusual relics. During the years this famous res- taurant has served its inimitable sea foods to many celebrities of America and the Continent.
Honiss's trade extends beyond the restaurant, how- ever. Thousands of pounds of their famous sea foods leave their retail and wholesale departments weekly for customers in Hartford, West Hartford, and nearby institutions. The deliveries are made twice daily, morning and afternoon, by Honiss's three de- livery trucks.
411681>
1835-WITKOWER'S CELEBRATES ITS 100th ANNIVERSARY -1935
BOOKS BROWN & GROSS.
&RETAIL ARE
BOOKS
BROWN & GROSS.
RETAIL
GAUSS
17
Witkoscer's As It Appeared in 1878 Under the Name of Brown & Gross
HEN Witkower's in Hartford celebrated its one W hundredth anniversary this year, the shades of many great men must have joined the festivities unseen. For Witkower's is a bookstore with a tradition and with memories. On March 6, 1860, Abraham Lincoln, who had spoken in Hartford the day before, came to the store to meet Gideon Welles and to hold a two- hour political and economic discussion with him, which led to the appointment of Welles as Secretary of the Navy in the Lincoln cabinet. For a number of years Mark Twain was almost a daily visitor to the store; so were Harriet Beecher Stowe, Charles Dudley Warner and William Gillette. Lever- ett Belknap, who became a partner in the firm in 1880, and who is known now as a genial eighty-four-year-old antiquarian, tells of frequent hilarious sessions in the back room of the shop when Mark Twain would convulse his hearers with funny stories, not unmixed with profanity.
Although the store has gone through seven changes of name and three of location since it was founded, it has not lost the atmosphere which has made it so successful. For the past sixty- six years it has been at the same address, 77 Asylum Street, and the facade has scarcely been changed in that time. But the casual observer would be wrong if he inferred from the rather old-fashioned looking display windows and entrance that the store itself was old-fashioned. Israel Witkower, the present owner, is known through New England as one of the best in- formed bookmen in the business and as a good merchandiser.
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