USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > History of Waterbury and the Naugatuck Valley, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 30
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It was a considerable period after the organization of the company before the president became an active factor in the management of the business, and the first president after the incorporation in 1846 was Philo Brown. The presi- dents of Holmes, Booth & Haydens, of the Waterbury Brass Company, of the Brown Company and of the Benedict and Burnham Company served in turn but were not active in control of the business until Theodore I. Driggs became presi- dent on the 24th of January, 1888. On the 6th of February, 1913, Fred E. Bart- lett became vice president, with H. B. Jenkins as assistant secretary. On the 2d of February, 1914, the same officers were chosen save that T. I. Driggs was elected assistant treasurer. On the 2d of February, 1916, Gordon W. Burnham became a director, together with John P. Elton, H. B. Jenkins, T. I. Driggs, Geo. A. Driggs, Harris Whittemore, F. E. Bartlett, W. W. Bowers and John Booth Burrall. In February, 1916, T. I. Driggs was elected general manager as well as assistant treasurer.
The business was originally located on East Main Street, where the Poli Theater now stands, but was removed in 1894 to Waterville in order to secure more room. In 1890 the company was doing a business of about one hundred and fifty thousand dollars per annum. Today the business of the corporation amounts to $3,000,000 per annum.
The plant covers 50 acres of ground, and the factory comprises 7 buildings, 4 stories in height with basement. One building is 250 by 50 feet, another 160 by 60 feet, a third 150 by 35 feet, a fourth 33 by 40 feet, and a fifth 60 by 150 feet. There is also a I-story building 80 by 100 feet and another 80 by 150 feet. They employ 900 people, 35 per cent of whom are skilled operatives. Forty per cent of the employes are women.
The company manufactures notions and brass goods, safety pins and hooks and eyes. The plant is operated by steam and electric power. Automatic processes have been developed and the output, under the name of the American Pin Company, is sold all over the world.
Its construction work for the past seventeen years is the best evidence of its vast growth.
HFGICO
BENEDICT & BURNHAM MANUFACTURING COMPANY, WATERBURY
.
PLANT OF THE WATERBURY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, WATERBURY
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In 1900 it erected the 4-story central factory, 40 by 192, at a cost of $25,000. In 1902 it added the 4-story brick factory, 40 by 36, at a cost of $23,000. In 1903 the new foundry building, I-story brick, 60 by 62, was put up in Water- ville at a cost of $15,000. In 1904 the casting shop, 62 by 120, was added to the Waterville plant. This was followed in 1905 with a 2-story brick addition 53 by 162 and in 1906 with the large 4-story brick, 53 by 257, and the wing, 18 by 23, which was put up at a cost of $62,000. In 1909 and 1910 the 2-story brick buildings, 15 by 23 and 18 by 23, were added to the plant. In, 1915 it further increased its working plant by a 1-story brick building containing 8,858 square feet.
The Oakville Company, organized in 1852 by Greene Kendrick with a capital stock of $53,000, has grown to be one of the largest organizations of its kind in the country.
From the start of a few low buildings, the growth has been very satisfactory, as the plant now consists of several brick buildings, ranging from one to five stories in height. The various departments are equipped with the latest and most approved automatic wire machines, and all needed appliances operated by either steam, electricity or water, and lighted by electricity supplied by the company's own electric plant.
Its construction work has kept pace with the growth of its business. In 1900 two additions of brick, one 4 stories, 40 by 45, and the other 2 stories, 35 by 65, were put up. In 1905 the 4-story brick, 32 by 92, and a I-story brick, 18 by 81, were added. In 1907 and 1908 the two 4-story brick buildings, 38 by 200, and 40 by 200, were added, thus giving them most of the present large frontage on the main road. In 1909 and 1910 the 5-story brick building, 30 by 251, was added, and in 1916 the latest 5-story was put up, the most modern of all the equipment.
It now employs about one thousand hands, of whom 40 per cent are women.
It has done some fine work in the way of securing improved housing condi- tions for its employes and has built model homes, both for workmen and clerical help. Ten of these smaller homes are now under construction.
Elisha Leavenworth succeeded to the presidency on the death of Joseph C. Welton in 1874. His successor was E. C. Lewis, who was succeeded by J. Hobart Bronson, who still occupies that position. Mr. Bronson succeeded Nathaniel H. Perry as secretary and general manager in 1877, becoming president on Novem- ber 18, 1901. At that time Walter Place was secretary and the directors were J. H. Bronson, Elisha Leavenworth, J. S. Elton, H. S. Chase and J. A. Smith.
The present directors are: H. S. Chase, W. E. Fulton, J. R. Smith, Truman S. Lewis, George Boden, J. Hobart Bronson. Its present officers are: J. Hobart Bronson, president and treasurer; vice president, Henry S. Chase; assistant treasurer, Bennett Bronson; secretary, George Boden.
Its capitalization is $600,000.
In 1909 there were employed in the United States 4,976 hands in the pin. needle and hook and eye business of the country. Waterbury and Torrington together are credited with nearly half of these employes. The proportion has not been reduced since that time. The three concerns in Waterbury, the American Pin Company, the Oakwell Company and Plume & Atwood, manufacture con- servatively estimated, one-half of all the pins and safety pins made in the United States, fully as large, if not an even larger percentage, of hooks and eyes and some needles. Needles are also made at Torrington in the Naugatuck Valley.
CHAPTER XIX
MACHINE SHOPS AND FOUNDRIES
THE WATERBURY FARREL FOUNDRY & MACHINE COMPANY-THE WATERBURY MACHINE COMPANY-THE E. J. MANVILLE MACHINE COMPANY-THE BLAKE & JOHNSON COMPANY-THE WATERBURY TOOL COMPANY-THE LUDINGTON CIG- ARETTE MACHINE COMPANY-THE ROWBOTTOM MACHINE COMPANY-ANDREW C. CAMPBELL, INC .- HENDERSON BROTHERS-SEYMOUR SMITHI & SON-THE MANUFACTURERS FOUNDRY COMPANY-THE WATERBURY CASTINGS COMPANY- THE METAL SPECIALTIES COMPANY-THE ATLAS MACHINE COMPANY- WATER- BURY STANDARD TOOL AND MACHINE COMPANY-WATERBURY PRESSED METAL AND TOOL COMPANY.
The plant of the present Waterbury Farrel Foundry & Machine Company was started in 1851, and in 1857 was conducted in connection with the Ansonia Foundry under the name of the Farrel Foundry & Machine Company, and so continued until 1880, when the Farrels sold out. In the latter year the present company was organized as the Waterbury Farrel Foundry & Machine Company, with E. C. Lewis as president, Wm. E. Fulton as secretary, and George B. Lam- har as superintendent.
The men at the head of affairs have been with the company for many years. William E. Fulton is president, David C. Griggs secretary and William S. Fulton is treasurer. It's capital is $440,000.
It has constructed eleven factory buildings on its present site since 1900. In 1901 a four story brick factory building 48 by 196 was erected. In 1902 the three story brick and steel factory 47 by 194 was put up. It has built additions nearly every year, those in the period from 1915 to 1917 summing up approximately $150,000.
The Waterbury Farrel Foundry & Machine Company designs and builds rolling mill machinery, for brass, copper, and German silver, brass tube and wire machinery, hydraulic presses, power presses, drop presses, foot presses, cartridge and special machinery, and rivet machines for making automatically rivets, bolts and screw blanks.
In the two plants it now employs about eight hundred hands.
Edward C. Lewis, formerly president of the Waterbury Farrel Foundry & Machine Company, was one of the best known manufacturers in this section. He came to Waterbury in the early '50s to manage the branch of what was then known as the Ansonia Farrel Foundry & Machine Company. He died October 24, 1901. and at that time was a director in the Dime Savings Bank, one of the original projectors of the Manufacturers Bank, president of the Oakville Com- pany, a director in the Benedict & Burnham Company, the Plume & Atwood Com- pany and the Holmes, Booth & Haydens Company.
THIE WATERBURY MACHINE COMPANY
The Waterbury Machine Company, reorganized in 1885, capital $60,000, was originally located in Oakville, and was moved to Waterbury in 1891. In 1893
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its officers were William E. Fulton, president; George B. Lamb, treasurer; R. S. Wotkyns, secretary. In 1911 it was taken over as an adjunct corporation of the Waterbury Farrel Foundry & Machine Company, the plants being operated under one management and with identical outputs. It has, however, still a separate cor- porate organization. At present on its old site the two companies are putting up a large extension with a two story front on Bank Street, and a one story build- ing on Meadow Street. Its capital remains at $60,000.
Its officers at present are : President, William E. Fulton; secretary, William D. Pierson ; treasurer, William S. Fulton.
The company manufactures automatic machines of great ingenuity, such as automatic machinery for making hinges and butts. The machines for making screw. blanks and nut blanks are particularly complete and show the advance that has been made in the way of automatic devices.
THE E. J. MANVILLE MACHINE COMPANY
The E. J. Manville Machine Company was established by Eli J. Manville Sep- tember 15, 1878. He invented various machines, of which the best known are the planer and shaper called the "Hendey," the cold reducing machine to reduce the size of wire, which brought into existence the Excelsior Needle Company of Torrington, and the safety pin machine, the building of which was the starting point of the E. J. Manville Machine Company. Mr. Manville was the president of the company until his death in 1886.
On October 6, 1886, the concern was incorporated, capital $25,000, with E. J. Manville as president, which position he held only twenty-four days ; R. C. Man- ville, treasurer; W. W. Manville, secretary, and F. B. Manville, F. J. Manville and G. H. Manville, directors.
In 1896 the Manvilles sold out and Martin H. Brennan became president and manager, with D. T. Hart as treasurer. Charles T. Brennan is now secretary and superintendent. Its capital now is $100,000.
The company is now extensively engaged in making direct-acting, double stroke. solid die cold heading and bolt machines, the bolt head trimming machines, thread rolling machines and the automatic Duplex belt-cutting machine. The Manville Company designed all the automatic machinery for the Ford Automo- bile Company.
The original factory was on Benedict Street. The company removed to Meadow Street in 1886, and in 1904 to the present location, where they have a frontage of 300 feet on East Main Street, with a depth of 325 feet. The buildings are in part 21/2 stories in height and partially of sawtooth construction. The factory has about two acres of floor space, and employs 300 people, mostly skilled machinists.
In 1904 the Manville Company put up five of its factory buildings. Extensions were made in 1910 and 1914. Additional construction work is now going on.
THE BLAKE & JOHNSON COMPANY
Blake & Johnson, which was organized on February 17, 1852, with a capital of $8,000, is one of the historic industrial concerns of the city, with an unbroken record of success. In 1894 it was located on East Main Street and its officers were: President and treasurer, Orville H. Stevens ; secretary, R. R. Stannard. On November 17, 1894, Mr. Stevens died and James S. Elton succeeded to the
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presidency and Mr. Stannard to the treasurership. The directors were then F. J. Kingsbury, James S. Elton, C. N. Wayland, and R. R. Stannard.
In 1898 Franklin A. Taylor became secretary, remaining until October IO, 1899, when he resigned to join the Randoph & Clowes forces, Robert P. Lewis succeeding him. In 1899 Mr. Stannard succeeded to the presidency, which posi- tion he held until his death, January 4, 1906. John P. Elton succeeded to the presidency, which position he still holds. In 1914 Lancaster P. Clark was made secretary and general manager. In January, 1917, Charles E. Stevens, son of its former president, became secretary, which position he still holds. Mr. Clark is now treasurer and general manager.
On May 3, 1906, Blake & Johnson changed its name to The Blake & Johnson Company. On January 30, 1908, its capital. was increased to $120,000. On February 3, 1914, it was again increased to $200,000.
The company operates two plants. Its manufacturing division is located at 1495 Thomaston Avenue, where its output is rivets, screws, studs, nuts, wire forms, cotter pins, screw machine products, piano, organ and player hardware, and specialties from wire and rod.
In its machinery division at 173 North Elm Street it makes threaders for roll- ing threads, headers for making rivets, presses, grinders, slitters and formers for wire forming.
It employs about four hundred hands.
The Blake & Johnson Company erected its new plant at Waterville in 1909. This consists of a factory building of brick and concrete construction, 200 by 260 feet in size, one story with basement, and a power plant, also of brick and con- crete, one story and basement 50 by 80 feet in size ; cost $150,000.
It built a two story addition in 1914 and is at present making still further improvements.
THE WATERBURY TOOL COMPANY
The Waterbury Tool Company was incorporated in September, 1898, by Horace G. Hoadley, who has been its president and treasurer since that time. Its capital is $280,000. It began building the Universal ratchet drill invented by Prof. Harvey D. Williams of Cornell. This was perfected by Reynold Janney, who has been vice president and chief engineer of the company since 1904. Its hydraulic machines for transmitting power at variable speeds are now used for turret turning, gun-elevating, shell hoists and powder hoists, rammers, main steering gear, and to control submarine diving rudders.
This business was started on the top floor of the factory of the New Britain Machine Company in that city. Later the present site on East Aurora Street, Waterbury, was bought and a large factory was built. The main building is 120 by 212 feet, and one of the best equipped structures in the country.
The company has built for rental to its employes nine one-family frame houses on the part of its 10-acre shop site most distant from the present machine shop. A 40-foot street has been laid out and the houses built on both sides of it. They are of five dissimilar types so that the group does not have the appearance of factory houses. They are of five and six rooms, on lots 50 by 120 feet, and have city water, bathrooms, hot-air furnaces, electric light and arrangements for sewage disposal by means of septic tanks. The company has also built, for rental to foremen, on lots 60 by 140 feet, within fifteen minutes' walk of the shop, two twin houses with modern improvements.
The officials of the Waterbury Tool Company are Horace G. Hoadley, presi-
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dent and treasurer; Reynold Janney, vice president and chief engineer; Charles P. Haight, secretary and assistant treasurer, and William S. Wilkinson, superin- tendent.
THE LUDINGTON CIGARETTE MACHINE COMPANY
The Ludington Cigarette Machine Company was incorporated for $50,000 in 1909. Its first officers were Frank J. Ludington, president ; F. E. Ludington, vice president, and V. M. Shaw, secretary. The death of F. J. Ludington occurred in the year of the company's organization and his nephew, F. W. Ludington, suc- ceeded. At present the officers are F. W. Ludington, president ; F. C. Cannon, vice president, and F. E. Ludington, secretary and treasurer.
The company manufactures cigarette and tobacco machinery, the basic inven- tions being the creations of its founder, Frank J. Ludington. These proved epoch- making and profitable and the business he created, though at first small, expanded rapidly and was eventually incorporated shortly before his death. From 1907 the company occupied first two and later three floors in the T. F. Jackson loft building on Printers' Court, now the Republican Building, but by November, 1917, it had outgrown these quarters and announced its intention of erecting a plant on the Watertown Road, next to the New Haven Dairy Company, to consist of one long two story and basement factory building.
On January 31, 1917, the company's capital was increased to $350,000.
THE ROWBOTTOM MACHINE COMPANY
The Rowbottom Machine Company was organized June 1, 1902, capital $10,000. Its first officers were George Rowbottom, president; W. A. Robbins, vice president, and Hugh A. Pendlebury, secretary and treasurer. It started in a little wooden building as manufacturers of special automatic machinery. In 1903 it bought a small piece of ground and built a small brick factory. In 1905 it built the first large addition, following it in 1911 with another addition. In 1912 it purchased the business of the Manville Bros. Company, machinery build- ers. In 1915 the company more than doubled all its space, and now has 19,500 square feet of floor space in mill construction buildings. The company owns three acres of ground, and a plant equipped with electric power, individual motors and sprinkler system. It employs about seventy-five skilled mechanics.
It has developed automatic machinery of various kinds, including one of the first successful machines for making high grade cigarettes, with a capacity of 450 per minute, a machine for sewing hooks and eyes on cards, turning out three cards of two dozen hooks and eyes per minute; also tube forming machinery, box machinery, disc grinding machinery, automatic button machinery, and tube bend- ing machinery. It now builds and sells a universal coin milling machine which will mill any style of coin. The company does a large business for the trade in milling coins, medals, etc., and their business in this particular covers the two Americas.
ANDREW C. CAMPBELL, INCORPORATED
Andrew C. Campbell, Inc., was chartered in 1912, with a capital of $50,000. The following are the officers: President, Andrew C. Campbell; secretary, W. Wheeler ; Treasurer, Walter B. Lasher, of Bridgeport.
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Mr. Campbell has designed some of the most successfully operated machines in America and in 1912 opened his own plant to manufacture his latest machinery for the lightning manufacture of the cotter pin a split pin used very extensively, especially in the making of automobiles.
In 1916 the American Chain Company of Bridgeport, makers of the Weed tire chain. needing Mr. Campbell's services, purchased the plant, but operates it under the former corporation name. It has recently purchased two adjoining lots, and will at once extend the factory erected in 1913 by Mr. Campbell. Mr. Campbell is now designing some of the machinery needed in the emergency fleet equipment works of the American Chain Company's plant at Norfolk, Va. The output of cotter pins at the Waterbury plant is nearly a million daily. Sixty men are employed.
Mr. Campbell has been a very prolific inventor, having taken out thirty-six patents from 1880 to 1912.
The DeLong Company of Philadelphia contracted with the E. J. Manville Machine Company for twenty-two machines to turn out their hooks at higher speed. Their last machine was designed by Andrew C. Campbell and turned out 240 "see that hump" hooks per minute. The model or first machine was run at 300 hooks per minute and was the fastest machine of the kind in the world. The adjustable treadle, made by the Waterbury Farrel Foundry & Machine Com- pany for its presses was the invention of A. C. Campbell and is still put out with the firm's presses.
The machine put out by the E. J. Manville Machine Company for a special assembling operation on shoe shanks was a Campbell invention. The E. J. Man- ville Machine Company's double stroke header, which has been the biggest kind of a money-maker and time saver, was also a Campbell invention. The same firm also made the machine designed by Campbell for making bicycle nipples. After an infringement fight in which the Manville Company won out, this patent was sold to the Excelsior Needle Company of Torrington. The Manville success with screw slotting machines began with the machines designed by Mr. Campbell.
Andrew C. Campbell also designed for John Granger of Philadelphia the machine to make the "Granger" dress hook. It is able to turn out the hooks at the rate of 150 per minute.
The ball heading machines which turns out 125 balls per minute were designed by Campbell, and are in use all over the country.
HENDERSON BROTHERS
Henderson Brothers, machinists, organized in 1880 with John and Alexander Henderson as firm members. Ten years later the business was reorganized under the name of Henderson & Baird Company, with John Henderson, Thomas Hen- derson and Joseph H. Baird as incorporators, and with a capital of $20,000. In 1884, it removed to 133 South Leonard Street, where the company has two build- ings, one of which is two stories in height and the other one story. With the withdrawal of Mr. Baird partnership relations were resumed. The company is now engaged in the manufacture of patent elevators and tumbling barrels, the latter being the invention of John Henderson. About twenty people are employed.
THE SEYMOUR SMITH & SON, INCORPORATED
The Seymour Smith & Son ( Inc.) of Oakville was incorporated December 31, 1912, capital $25,000, succeeding Seymour Smith & Son. established in 1872.
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Seymour Smith, the founder of the business, had one son, William H., who became the associate and afterward the successor of his father, continuing the business of manufacturing pruning implements of various kinds and descriptions which are largely sent to a foreign field. It employs thirty hands.
The present officers are William H. Smith, president; Ella R. Smith, secre- tary, and George H. Smith, treasurer.
THE MANUFACTURERS FOUNDRY COMPANY
The Manufacturers Foundry Company was incorporated in January, 1900, with a capital of $10,000. Its first officers were: President, Henry D. Beach ; secretary and manager, Edward W. Beach ; treasurer, Charles F. Bronson. From the outset, its special castings for chemical work gave it a reputation throughout the east. It is now making exclusively high grade motor cylinder castings for autos and aeroplanes.
In 1905 its capital had been increased to $50,000 and its officers were: George W. Beach. president ; Edward W. Beach, secretary and treasurer ; F. C. Fromm, assistant treasurer. In the following year Mr. Fromm became treasurer.
In 1908 the capital was increased to $100,000, and in 1909 the officers were : S. E. Hopkins, president ; secretary, Edward W. Beach; treasurer, F. C. Fromm.
The capital of the company in 1917 is $200,000, and its officers are: Presi- dent, S. E. Hopkins ; vice president, E. W. Beach; secretary and treasurer, F. C. Fromm.
Practically the entire plant has been built in the last twelve years, since it moved from its location on Benedict Street to its present site on Railroad Hill, near Eagle Street. It has taken a number of years to develop the grade of gray iron castings now made exclusively by the company.
In 1904 it erected two two-story brick buildings, one 80 by 170 and the other 27 by 34. In 1906 two additions were erected. In 1907 and 1908 four steel and concrete structures were added. In 1909 and 1910 one further addition was made.
In 1913 and 1914 four of its buildings were put up. Some further additions were made in 1916 and 1917.
THE WATERBURY FOUNDRY COMPANY
The Waterbury Foundry Company was incorporated in 1907 with a capital of $140,000, taking over the business of B. H. Fry & Company and the factory erected by that firm in 1904. Until his death in 1911, Benj. H. Fry was presi- dent of the Waterbury Foundry Company with Arthur A. Tanner, secretary. The latter succeeded to the position of president and treasurer, which he still holds. The vice president in 1917 is John S. Neagle, and the secretary, C. F. Fiederman.
No large additions have been made to the plant since 1912, although the capacity of the foundry has been greatly increased by recent important alterations.
THIE WATERBURY CASTINGS COMPANY
The Waterbury Castings Company was organized in 1907. J. R. Smith was president : L. A. Platt, vice president ; C. S. Bull, treasurer ; and George E. Camp, secretary.
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The plant is on Railroad Hill Street and covers four acres. Its capital is $100,000. It has a one story foundry of mill construction, with 22,000 square feet of floor space. There are 175 employes, of whom 50 per cent are skilled. It is a jobbing foundry with a capacity of twenty-five tons of castings daily. The product is sold in Waterbury and to outside points.
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