USA > Connecticut > Connecticut yesterday and today : 1635-1935 : celebrating three hundred years of progress in the Constitution state > Part 27
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THE AMERICAN BRASS COMPANY
From time to time after 1870 the advisa- bility of consolidating some of the existing brass companies was discussed. Nothing definite developed along this line, however, until 1893 when a special charter was secured from the State of Connecticut authorizing the formation of a new company which would include several of these corporations. This plan failed to materialize at that time. The original charter was extended in 1895 and again in 1897 and on December 14, 1899 the Goe Brass Company, Waterbury Brass Company and the Ansonia Brass & Copper Company came together as The American Brass Company. The Benedict & Burnham Manufac- turing Company and Holmes, Booth & Hayden joined on the respective dates given elsewhere in this article.
The executive officers at that time were: Charles F. Brooker,
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THE OUTGROWTH OF A CENTURY OF BRASS MAKING
President; Edward L. Frisbie, Ist Vice-President; Alfred A. Cowles, 2nd Vice-President; James S. Elton, 3rd Vice-President; John P. Elton, Secretary and Treasurer.
Charles F. Brooker had been especially active from the begin- ning in bringing about the consolidation, and as the final suc- cessful realization of the idea was so largely due to his energy and unremitting efforts, it was a fitting compliment to him that he should be chosen the first President of The American Brass Company.
On January 1, 1912, The American Brass Company became an operating company, and the following officers were elected: Charles F. Brooker, President; Edward L. Frisbie, Vice-Presi- dent; Alfred A. Cowles, Vice-President; Thomas B. Kent, Vice- President; John A. Coc, Jr., Vice-President; John P. Elton, Treasurer; George E. Cole, Assistant Treasurer; Gordon W. Burnham, Secretary; Franklin E. Weaver, Assistant Secretary.
The main office of the company, located directly across from the Waterbury Railroad Station, was built in 1913.
The Kenosha Branch, located at Kenosha, Wisconsin, traces its history back to 1886 when the company was organized by E. B. Tuttle of Waterbury, Connecticut, and a Mr. Avery of the Elgin Watch Company, Elgin, Illinois. In 1901 it was purchased by the Coe Brass Company and had at that time two hundred fifty men on the payroll and produced about 5,000,000 pounds per year. This company entered The Ameri- can Brass Company as a subsidiary of the Coe Brass Company.
On July Ist, 1917, The American Brass Company purchased the Buffalo Copper & Brass Rolling Mill, a plant located at Buffalo, New York, which has been remodeled and enlarged and is now one of the largest and best equipped brass and copper mills in the country, operating under the name of the Buffalo Branch.
In 1927 The American Brass Company purchased the Detroit Brass and Copper Company of Detroit, Michigan, now known as the Detroit Branch.
The Anaconda American Brass Company Limited, located at New Toronto, Ontario, Canada, formerly Brown's Copper and Brass Rolling Mills and purchased by 'The American Brass Com- pany in 1922, has been rebuilt and enlarged into the leading metal producing industry of Canada.
The merger in 1922 with the Anaconda Copper Mining Company represented that state of industrial development which produced companies of Inter-State scope, the active management of which remains in the hands of the personnel which has guided its growth. This trend of the nation's business has been notably
reflected in the brass mills of Connecticut. The American Brass Company and its subsidiaries produce all commercial forms of wrought copper and a wide variety of copper alloys. Among them are strips; sheets; plates; bars; rods; wire; extruded, forged and die cast shapes; tubes and pipe. Some of the metals possess softness and ductility, some are hard and rigid, still others have high strength combined with various elastic properties. All are resistant to corrosion attack. Wrought alloys of copper include additions of zinc, nickel, cadmium, aluminum, silicon, man- ganese, lead and combinations of two or more of these elements. Beryllium Copper, a recent addition, has some very remarkable properties.
The Company maintains a large staff of technically trained men. It has chemical, metallurgical and physical testing labora- tories in Waterbury and at each of the outlying mills. In addi- tion, research work on the composition of alloys, new products and corrosion is constantly going on. The Technical and Engi- neering Departments assist the Sales and Production Departments in the selection and adaptation of non-ferrous metals to the exacting needs of modern industry.
Copper and Zinc, the basic constituents of brass, were im- ported from Europe in the early days of the brass industry. As the demand for brass products increased, it was imperative that a domestic source of supply, particularly of copper, be secured. Deposits of copper along the shore of Lake Superior were known to exist before 1800, but not until 1850 Were even small shipments of domestic copper made. Statistics give the production of domestic copper as 650 tons in 1850; in 1880 the output had reached 27,000 tons, and after 1860 very little copper was imported.
This brief story of The American Brass Company has neces- sarily omitted much that is of historical and practical interest, but in conclusion it might be well to revert for a moment to the group of founders, headed by Aaron Benedict, Israel Holmes, John P. Elton, Thomas Wallace, Anson G. Phelps, Israel Coc, and others, plying their trade in small workshops from which can be traced the growth of a thriving industry. It seems in- credible that in one century such achievements could be accom- plished, but the records stand, and a study of their lives and business methods leaves no doubt as to why success attended their efforts. They laid the foundations of The American Brass Company on the bed rock of business integrity, tireless energy, remarkable ability, and undaunted courage.
Today, under the leadership of President John A. Coc, The American Brass Company is upholding the traditions of the past and maintaining its leadership.
TORRINGTON BRANCH
WATERBURY BRANCH
THE BRASS MILL OF TODAY. CONNECTICUT PLANTS OF THE AMERICAN BRASS COMPANY
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1802 SCOVILL MANUFACTURING COMPANY
1935
F Connecticut's 300 years, brass making and fabrication have flourished since 1705, a period of 230 years: and of this, Scovill Manufacturing Company's history has carried down in an unbroken line through the last 135 years. This period of a century and a third, substantially the life of the Constitution of the United States, followed directly after an event of con- trolling significance in modern history, the Industrial Revolution. In fact, in the development of the Scovill Manufacturing Company, its products, meth- ods of fabrication, managerial control and distribution of output, one can see not only an epitome of Ameri- can industry but also a symbol of the evolution of American living.
America's social and economic life have run parallel and they may both be roughly summarized into periods. Significantly, Scovill's history shows in its products, growth, and methods of operation and dis- tribution quite similar definite periods.
PERIOD I.
This period covered the years from 1776 to 1812; an era of political independence, economic scarcity and individual enterprise.
Scovill in the Early Days A Modern Factory A Hundred Years Ago
Scovill history began in the shop of Abel Porter and Company in 1802, a partnership established to make metal buttons as imported buttons were scarce and expensive. Their first buttons were cast of soft metal. Experience quickly showed they left much to be desired, as the thread quickly wore through the soft metal eye of the button. Then responded that inventive bent so often referred to as "Yankee In- genuity:" Abel Porter and Company began casting a brass wire loop in their buttons, successfully elimina- ting thread wear as a problem. Next were developed buttons made entirely of brass stamped from sheet metal, and thus manufacturing under constantly im- proving methods started on its way.
In this same period motive power underwent com- parable changes: at first one horse hitched to a wind-
lass, then an overshot water-wheel below a dam, then undershot wheels above a sluice way carried to new buildings.
In 1808 a new partner was taken in and in 1811 the ownership was changed to Leavenworth Hayden and Scovill.
PERIOD HI.
The period 1812 to 1850 marks a considerable national expansion, a steadily growing population, and for them individually and collectively a growth of self assurance and ambition.
The war of 1812 provided considerable business stimulation. The partners opened a mill to supply metal for their own button shop and no longer trav- elled 30 miles by wagon to melt, cast and "break- down" the brass but started a foundry of their own. Competition was now beginning to take on a factory character rather than one of individual initiative.
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1816, A Scovill Button Contract with the United States Government
New methods of production were developed: skilled workmen (casters, burnishers, tool maker-) were trained or imported: and several new products added. Lamps, hinges and fasteners now began to show in the line. In [827 a new partnership of the brothers Scovill was made and this was carried through to 1840 when further specialization led to a division of the business into two :- J. M. L. and W. H. Scovill to handle the mill business and Scovills and Company to handle manufactures.
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1802
SCOVILL, MANUFACTURING COMPANY
1935
Scovill Brothers Artisans, Salesmen, Managers, Owners
Daguerreotype plates and cases became an im- portant product, and this rapidly grew until it became a whole Camera business eventually to spring off like a satellite from a planet and become a separate entity by itself. Many a reader of this page probably has cherished examples of the daguerreotype art and if so the chances are good that they are "Scovill" made.
PERIOD III.
1850 to 1900 marks a steady growth toward con- solidation in national affairs, toward intensive better- ment in living conditions, and the transfer of local problems into larger and larger units.
In 1850 the several independent plants were gath- ered into one fold and incorporated as Scovill Manu- facturing Company. Steam was introduced as motive power and the product output grew to include german silver, plated metals, oil lamp burners (an item man- ufactured in great quantity even to this day ), alum- inum products (from this then semi-precious metal), coins and medals and, toward the 1900 mark, elec- trical parts, gas fixture parts, and special articles in dozens of classifications-munitions, even, at times of our nation's need in war. It is interesting to note that as the organization integrated, so inversely did the products spread and cover fields otherwise re- latively unconnected.
PERIOD IV.
The period from 1900 to date covers an amazing development of new complexities, - technological methods, interdependence between industries, and in- creased cooperation between individuals, groups and organizations.
Scovill history over this period reflects with prac- tical identity this same general outline :- growth in everything-main plant buildings to number over 200, plant area to 60 acres: new machinery, both semi-automatic and automatic; laboratory control;
rapid development of new methods of fabrication and processing; service and administrative departments larger than the entire establishment of a generation before. Employees number rapidly multiplied, though a large proportion consistently remained, as it must in a business of this kind, skilled mechanics, craftsmen and technicians. Industrial relations main- tained their coordination with modern progress.
The capital of $200,000 in 1850 became nearly a million capital and surplus in 1868, over 2 million in 1900, over 23 million today. Within the current century have come acquisitions of related industries, pins, safety pins, hooks and eyes; plumbers' brass
Scovill Plant in 1858
goods; soda fountain appliances; tire valves, gauges and air pressure equipment; and electrical household appliances.
TODAY
Scovill today stands a large and coordinated in- dustrial enterprise in constant touch with and at the ready call of practically every classification of Ameri- can manufacturers.
Casting its own non-ferrous metals, it sends from its mills brass, bronze and nickel silver in the form of sheet, rod, wire and tubing in a long list of standard alloys and a longer one for special purposes.
Its manufacturing departments operate as "Custom Tailors to Industry," furnishing some 300,000 as- sorted metal parts and products totalling millions of units yearly. Many of them are products going to other manufacturers where they promptly lose their Scovill identity and are sold under many a world- famous name. The list includes a multitude of items made of base metal, from a single part to a complete- ly assembled product :- vanity cases, lipstick con- tainers; electrical fixture parts; forgings from brass, bronze, copper and aluminum; cap and machine screws, screw machine products, special headed parts. Flashlights, ash trays, garden hose equipment, gaso- line and alcohol torches-sold through both whole- sale and retail outlets. And so on, permeating the
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1935
1802 SCOVILL MANUFACTURING COMPANY
country's whole industrial organization. Yet the old line still runs through: buttons which started this company over a century ago are still an important link in its chain of products; though now grown to include nearly innumerable types and styles, with snap fasteners for every purpose.
Obviously, Scovill salesmen must be informed and experienced men. Most of them are engineers: all of them have had plant experience: all are familiar with industrial requirements and problems. From a dozen branch offices located throughout the country they cover the vast industrial network of America. They are supported by Scovill plants located in
Scovill Plant in 1891
Connecticut, New York, Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan, and in Canada and England.
RETROSPECT
In all these 135 years, what stands out? Men -- minds-skill-unity of purpose. The secret of suc- cess has been in no single invention, discovery, or exclusive control. It has been built by men. It is perhaps typified in the company's presidents. When the first Scovill joined the organization in 1811, there were hardly a score of workers. He was one of them.
C. P. Goss
M. I .. Sperry President 1900-1918 President 1918-1920 Conservative, Aggressive, Sincere Management
He became president 39 years later. Of his successors all but one had previously had long training and ex- perience after starting in subordinate positions in the factory. Their period of preliminary training aver- ages 37 years with 27 years as a minimum and 57 years as a maximum. American experience,-in the English tradition. So with other employees: long continuous service characterizes them; advancement follows.
AND TOMORROW
Nothing remains static. Scovill products have grown, changed, bettered, with the progress of American life and standards of living.
Scovill's life, like its serviceability, is as much in the future as in the past. Its original product, brass, was the most adaptable of all metals. From it, Scovill took its motto,-Adaptability. Its products reflect America's growth and progress.
Scovill believes in America, in Connecticut, in its home town-in Itself.
Today Scovill's productive organizations are: MAIN PLANT Scovill Manufacturing Company, Founded 1802, Waterbury, Connecticut
DIVISIONAL PLANTS
Hamilton Beach Company Division, Acquired 1923, Racine, Wisconsin
Oakville Company Division, Acquired 1924, Oakville, Connecticut
Plumbers' Brass Goods Division, Acquired 1924, Waterville, Connecticut
Acquired 1925, Sturgis, Michigan
Morency-Van Buren Division, A. Schrader's Son Division,
Acquired 1930, Brooklyn, New York
PLANTS ABSORBED
The following plants, acquired in the course of the Company's growth, were absorbed into the various operating departments: Carrington Company, acquired 1882: Matthewos & Willard Manufacturing Com- pany, acquired 1903: Gilchrist Company, acquired 1926: Arnold Electric Company, acquired 1930: O. K. Manufacturing Company, acquired 1930.
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PLANTS OF THE SCOVILL MANUFACTURING COMPANY
Main Plant-Waterbury, Connecticut
A. Schrader's Son Division Brooklyn N. Y.
Plumbers' Brass Goods Division Waterville, Connecticut
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SCOVILL
Oakville Company Division, Oakville, Connecticut
A. Schrader's Son Div., Akron, Ohio (Branch Plant)
Morency-Van Buren Division Sturgis, Michigan
Hamilton Beach Company Division Racine, Wisconsin
.
A. Schrader's Son Div., Toronto, Canada ( Branch Plant )
12290
PHARMOD DRISUT JARUMAM JJIVODI BHT TO ZTMAJ9
1906 -
WATERBURY ROLLING MILLS, INC. £
-
1935
ROBERT D. SOMERS
HREE brothers, Robert, Louis and Joseph Somers, founders of the Somers Brass Co., Inc., of Water- bury, represent the third generation of a family prominently iden- tified with the pioneer days of brass manufacturing in this country. Robert Somers is also one of the founders of the Waterbury Rolling Mills, of which he is president, and his brothers are also interested in that concern as stockholders.
James P. Somers, the great uncle of the three brothers, and his brother, David, their grandfather, were among the earliest employed in the develop- ment and establishment of the industry which has made Waterbury the brass cen- ter of the world and played an impor- tant part in building the foundation upon which the great industry rests to- day.
Dwight L. Somers, son of David Som- ers and father of the three present day
representatives of the family, rolled metal in the Benedict plant for a period of 76 years, not including three years during which he served his country in the Civil War. He died October 19, 1925, at the age of 93 years. During his long service he taught many men the trade of brass rolling and was himself such an adept that during the war he was sent home on furlough in order to assist in getting out metal required to make buttons for soldiers' uniforms.
James Somers was recognized as a me- chanic of exceptional ability and an able millwright and was assisted in his work by his brother, David, who was a cabinet maker and a millwright. In the latter capacity he was noted as a builder of water wheels and did the actual con- struction on many of the most important that were erected in those days.
In 1830, James Somers, together with five other men under the leadership of Israel Holmes, formed the first company in America to manufacture brass for general sale, or for the trade. Scovill's and the Benedicts had been manufac- turing brass for their own use, but this was the first attempt to produce it as an independent enterprise. The other five men were Mr. Holmes, Philo Brown, Preserve J. Carter, S. B. Minor and Hor- ace Hotchkiss. Before the company began operations James Brown and Dr. Edward Field were added as financial partners and the firm became known as Holmes, Hotchkiss, Brown & Elton.
In 1831, while Mr. Holmes went to England to secure equipment and men, James Somers supervised the erection of the company's plant, making and install- ing, with his brother, David, the water wheels as well. He also planned the lay- out of the machinery upon its arrival
FREDERICK B. BEARDSLEY
and was active in the mill after opera- tions were begun.
During the early forties, James Som- ers became a member of the firm of Benedict & Burnham and constructed the largest waterwheel that had ever been built in Waterbury and which drove eight pairs of rolls. He introduced the method of making brass wire by having the bars cast long, rolled to the proper thickness, slit in one operation and drawn into wire. By this process Bene- dict & Burnham soon became the largest producers of wire in the Naugatuck Val- ley. He also designed and caused to be constructed the open side linked endless chain tube draw bench which aided materially in the production of brazed tubes.
WATERBURY ROLLING MILLS, INC.
The first advent of the third gene- ration of this pioneer brass family into the field as manufacturers came in 1906
Waterbury Rolling Mills
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1910 - SOMERS
BRASS COMPANY, INC. -
1935
LOUIS J. SOMERS
when Robert Somers became one of the incorporators of the Waterbury Rolling Mills, Inc. This company was formed specifically for the manufacture of sheet nickel silver, and brought together three practical operating men. They were, in addition to Mr. Somers, who became superintendent of the rolling mill, Frank P. Welton, now deceased, who acted as superintendent of the casting shop, and Abel Kenworthy, still a director of the company, who was master niechanic.
With rare foresight the founders, while starting with a small plant, so laid out their plans that it could be enlarged at any time through extension without stopping a wheel involved in operation. That their optimism was justified subse- quent events proved for it became neces- sary to double the size of the plant in 1908, two years after it was first built, and to again double it in 1912 and 1917, when it reached its present proportions.
The original plant, consisting of a small casting shop and rolling mill, was 100 by 64 square feet and some idea of its growth may be gained from the fact that the floor space at present is about two acres. The original capital stock was
$100,000 while the present issued
capital stock is $400,000. The total assets are approximately $1,000,000.
When the plant was first erected the company desired to operate it with elec- tricity but was assured by manufacturers of, electrical equipment that such opera- tion was not feasible, so it was started with steam, although Mr. Kenworthy, who has, throughout his lifetime, been recognized as an expert master me- chanic, was quite convinced that the use of electricity for such a purpose was feasible. Within a very short time manufacturers of electrical equipment came to the same conclusion and the Waterbury Rolling Mills had the sec- ond synchronous motor to be installed in the state, the first for rolling mill work. The mills are now equipped throughout with thoroughly modern elec- trical power equipment.
The company's main production is nickel silver and phosphor bronze, two of the most difficult copper alloys rolled by the mills. It also produces gilding metals, low brass and special alloys in sheets and rolls and its output is used principally by manufacturers of silver- ware, jewelry, novelties and electrical work. Before the World War the mills turned out what was then known as Ger- man silver of such excellence that it found a large market in Germany, the country of its origin. . The company also exported large quantities of table ware metal to Copenhagen, the Jensen fac- tories there, famous for their silverware, being a leading customer.
Robert D. Somers, the only one of the three original incorporators still active, is president of the company, Harry J. Beardsley vice president and Frederick B. Beardsley, secretary and treasurer, has held these offices since the formation of the company.
SOMERS BRASS COMPANY, INC.
In 1910, while Joseph E. Somers was working at the Benedict & Burnham plant, and his brother, Louis J. Somers,
JOSEPH E. SOMERS
was employed at the Waterbury Rolling. Mill plant, they built a small mill on Baldwin Avenue, the site of their pres- ent plant, chiefly for experimental rolling of composition, soft metal.
In 1915, the World War, having created an increased demand for brass, the brothers abandoned their original plan and began rolling thin guage brass for which an extensive market speedily developed. The brothers were pioneers in the production of thin guage brass and their product was of such excellence that the business grew with great rapid- ity. September 30, 1916, it was incor- porated as the Somers Brass Company, Inc., with the following officers: Robert D. Somers, president; Joseph E. Somers, treasurer; Louis J. Somers, secretary and assistant treasurer. The capital was $50,000, which it still remains. The original investment of $5,000 has in- creased to $200,000 and the plant space has grown from 60 square feet to 25,000 square feet.
'The company specializes in thin guage brass, copper, nickel silver, pure nickel and Monel metal, occupying a special field in these products which extends all over this country and abroad.
T
Present Plant of the Somers Brass Co.
Original Plant, 1910
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1849
THE WATERBURY BUTTON COMPANY
1935
WARREN F. KAYNOR President
HE making of buttons is one of the oldest indus- tries in Connecticut; it was always centered in Waterbury, and in addition to hav- ing its birthplace there, it was also the foundation of the brass indus- tries which have made that city fa- mous. The first man to engage in this business was John Allen, who made his first buttons in about 1750. Almost a century later, in 1849, the first company especially chartered for this purpose was established in Waterbury by men who were pioneers in the organization of companies which were later to form the American Brass Cor- poration. Prominent among these were: Israel Holmes and George W. Benedict.
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