USA > Indiana > Marion County > Indianapolis > Hyman's handbook of Indianapolis : an outline history and description of the capital of Indiana, with over three hundred illustrations from photographs made expressly for this work (1907) > Part 17
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. Nordyke & Marmon Company (incorporated), Flour Mill Engi- neers, Founders and Machinists, Manufacturers of Motor Cars-The business of this institution since its beginning, over fifty years ago, has been confined chiefly to the manufacture of flour mill and cereal mill machinery and to building complete mills for the manufacture of flour and cereal products. In 1904 it added the manufacture of motor cars, equipping separate departments for this branch of work. Its founda- tion was laid by Mr. Ellis Nordyke, of Richmond, Ind., who for many years prior to 1851 was a prominent millwright engaged in building flour mills, the machinery being made by hand in the buildings in which it was to be used. Mr. Nordyke, having invented an improved flour bolt, began preparations for the manufacture of this machine and other
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devices used in flour mills. Under the firm name of Nordyke, Hant & Co., the manufacture of milling machinery was first begun in the year 1851 in a small shop in Richmond, Ind. In the year 1858 Mr. Addison H. Nordyke was taken into the business, it being carried 0.1 as E. & A. H. Nordyke until 1866, at which time Mr. Daniel W. Marmon entered the firm, which then became Nordyke, Marmon & Co. In 1871 the business was incorporated under the laws of Indiana as Nordyke. Marmon & Co. The business. had prospered and by this time had be- come one of the most prominent concerns in its field, occupying sub- stantial brick factory buildings, constituting what was then considerer quite a large plant. Mr. Amos K. Hollowell entered the company in 1875 and continued with it iu an official capacity until 1895. Owing to a wide extension of trade and to the rapid growth of the business, the company, in 1875, found its manufacturing facilities limited, necessitat- ing a change in location. Desiring to make ample provision for further expansion, and requiring better shipping facilities and better advan- tages than Richmond possessed, it was decided to move to Indianapolis. The "Quaker City" works, located in West Indianapolis, and bounded by Morris street, Kentucky avenue, the I. & V. and Belt railroads, was purchased in 1876, in which year the present company was incorporated. The factory plant above mentioned, and which the company still occu- pier, has from time to time been improved and enlarged until today it assumes pretentious proportions. It is recognized as being the largest ra tory in the world devoted to the milling machinery and mill build- ing business, and the company is widely known as "America's leading mill builders." The story of the progress of this enterprising concern is best told by the accompanying illustrations, which indicate its gradual development and substantial advancement. The factory is syste- matically arranged, with the woodworking department on one side and the ironworking on the opposite side, with the finishing, storage and shipping department connecting the two at the north end. The lumber yard and the storage for raw materials, supplies, etc., for the ironworking department are located at the south end, where facilities are provided for handling materials expeditiously from cars. Between the two wings are located the boiler house, the buhr stone mill de- partment and the storage building for finished and unfinished iron parts of the machines manufactured. A private switch, connecting with the Belt railway, extends nearly the entire length of the property and into the shipping department building. The plant is organized into various departments, each one being thoroughly equipped with improved ma- chinery and tools and many labor saving devices, excelling in facilities any other similar institution in this country. The products of the Nor- dyke & Marmon Company enjoy a world-wide reputation, being con- sidered in point of mechanical excellence, durability and efficiency the
NORDYKE & MARMON COMPANY FLOUR MILL ENGINEERS, FOUNDERS AND MACHINISTS.
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best that the market affords. The company, in its work of mill build- ing, is noted for thoroughness and close attention to details and for the high-class milling results invariably obtained. Its machinery is to be found in the representative mills of the United States, Mexico and Canada and much of it is exported to Central and South American countries and to nearly every country of the eastern hemisphere. The line of machinery embraces the following: Flour, corn, rice and other cereal milling machinery; grain elevator machinery, roller mills, port- able buhr stone mills, gyratory sieve bolters, reels, centrifugals, mid- dlings purifiers, bran dusters, dust collectors, flour, bran and feed pack- ers, degerminators, meal driers, aspirators, shellers, cleaners and many other machines; power connections, gearing, rope drives, mill supplies, etc. The regular work of this company has been accompanied by con- stant and close observance of the needs of practical milling from the operative miller's standpoint. It has facilities for developing and per- fecting, in an operating flour mill, improvements in machinery and in milling methods, thus assuring the success of all improvements before being introduced on the market. Iu 1902 the first double side entrance touring motor car made in this country was built by the company for private use. This motor car contained a number of very important improvements and attracted a great deal of attention. In 1903 a second motor car was built and in 1904 a number of the cars were made and sold. The following year the company formally placed the Marmon Motor Car on the market, and today it is known far and wide, having gained a reputation second to none. The Marmon car is noted for being the easiest riding car in the world, due to the patented system of double three-point suspension, which provides a perfectly flexible running gear. The manufacture of the Marmon car is conducted in specially equipped departments on the premises of the mill machinery works. Nordyke & Marmon Company gives steady employment to a large force of men and is rated among the most prominent manufacturing institutions of Indianapolis. The officers of the company are Daniel W. Marmon, president, and Walter C. Marmon, secretary and treasurer.
E. C. Atkins & Co .- Indianapolis is very proud of her big saw manufactory. The institution of E. C. Atkins & Co., beginning in a small way, in 1856, has constantly grown until now at the end of fifty years it has become the largest plant in the world devoted exclusively to the manufacture of saws and kindred wares. Silver steel, of which all Atkins saws are made, is a product manufactured under the com- pany's own secret formula. It is acknowledged to be the finest crucible steel that has ever been put into saw blades. Atkins silver steel saws are known the world over for their quality, durability and excellence of manufacture, and this product has done much to familiarize the world at large with the greatness of Indianapolis. The manufacturing
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department is under the direction of the president, Mr. Henry C. Atkins, son of the founder of the institution. The sales department is in charge of the vice-president and secretary, Mr. Nelson A. Glad- ding. Atkins saws are for sale by the largest and most reliable agencies all over the globe, including Canada, South America, Japau, Germany, England, France and Austria. In order to facilitate deliveries, ten branches have been established covering principal points throughout the country. These are located at Atlanta, Chicago, Memphis, Minne- apolis, New Orleans, New York, Portland, Ore., San Francisco, Seattle and Toronto, where complete stocks are carried for immediate delivery. Foreign agencies, Wolverhampton, England, Yokohama, Melbourne. Mr. M. A. Potter looks after the financial end of the business, in the capacity of treasurer, and through his hands passes the enormous sums of money representing the income and outgo of the great corporation. The works cover over five city blocks, besides maintaining Its own private gas plant, which product is used in all its tempering processes. Over 1,200 men are employed in Indianapolis alone, to say nothing of those at its various branches, which all maintain fully-equipped shops for repair work.
The company aiso operates a plant for the manufacture of ma- chine knives of all kinds, which is located at Lancaster, N. Y.
Atlas Engine Works-Like nearly all the great industries of Indi- anapolis, the Atlas Engine Works have grown from small beginnings. The plant is devoted to the manufacture of engines and boilers exclu- sively, and its product is sold wherever human industry has progressed beyond primitive handicraft. In 1872 the beginnings of the plant were made by the Indianapolis Car Manufacturing Company. In 1878 the property was taken over by the Atlas Engine Works, incorporated for this purpose. In 1880 the policy of miscellaneous manufacturing on orders was abandoned and the company determined to devote itself exclusively to the manufacture of steam engines and boilers of stand- ard types and sizes. This meant repetitive construction, with inter- changeable parts; the manufacture of eugines and boilers in lots, iu- stead of one at a time, and the carrying of large stocks of manufac- tured merchandise, not only in Indianapolis, but in various distributing points. These methods of production and distribution, so common to- day, were then new in heavy machinery and they were supplemented by constant effort to produce better goods, to sell them for less money, and to increase the volume of business. In less than a decade this aggressive policy gave the Atlas Engine Works a supremacy in the trade, a supremacy which has been steadily maintained by the con- stant improvement of the product and the widening of markets. The grounds of the company, for the most part covered with substantial brick and stone buildings, now include not only the original tract of twenty acres at Nineteenth street and Martindale avenue, but stretch
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ATLAS ENGINE WORKS-LARGEST EXCLUSIVE ENGINE AND BOILER WORKS IN THE WORLD.
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along the Belt railroad from the L. E. & W. tracks on the west to Hill- side avenue on the east, the total real estate amounting to about forty acres. The growth of the business has required frequent extensions, and building operations during the past two years have almost doubled the capacity of the plant, which was already one of the largest of its kind in the world. The employes now number about 1,800, and the efficiency of the force is greatly enhanced by the thoroughly modern and complete equipment of the shops. This equipment includes not only every labor-saving and cost-saving device that can be applied to the man- ufacture of engines and boilers, but also very complete arrangements for the health and safety of the men employed.
The Indiana Veneer and Lumber Co. is generally recognized as being the leading enterprise of its kind in this country. This company bought out the business of the Indiana Lumber and Veneer Co. in 1905, the latter company having been established in 1892. Its officers are O. M. Pruitt, president and treasurer; C. L. Goodwin, vice-president, and M. L. Hovey, secretary. The Indianapolis plant covers over five (5) acres. The equipment is of the best and the company enjoys the distinction of being the largest exclusive manufacturer of quartered oak veneer in the world. The company has a large plaut for the manufacture of lumber in Mississippi, and has a wareroom in New York City, corner First avenue and 31st street, as well as carrying a large stock at High Point, North Carolina. The company employs from one hundred and twenty- five to one hundred and fifty men. The rapid increase in the business of the company is a natural result of its long experience and its ambi- tion to stand at the head of the industry, especially in the quality of its sawed and sliced quartered oak veneer, and in its ability from its un- equaled facilities to give its customers large stocks from which to select for any customer's particular needs together with prompt serv- ice. Its motto is "Quality, promptness and courtesy."
Indianapolis Brewing Company-It may not be uninteresting to know that of all the manufacturing industries of this city, the particu- lar one that gives to us the widest advertising is the Indianapolis Brew- ing Company, which sends its product not only to all parts of the United States but also to Cuba, Porto Rico, the Philippines, China, the Argen- tine Republic and other South American states, to Central America and to Africa.
There is a reason for this widespread popularity and that reason lies in the fact that one of the leading brands of its manufacture, in competition with the highest-class beers on earth, has earned the name "Gold Medal Duesseldorfer," having won grand prizes at the Paris Ex- position in 1900, at the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904 and at subsequent expositions held at Liege in 1905 and in Paris (hygienic exposition) in 1906, and Milan, Italy, 1906.
This great brewing industry, of which the general offices and bot-
INDIANA YENNEFER LUMPEN CO.
.
INDIANA VENEER AND LUMBER COMPANY.
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tling department are located at the Schmidt brewery on High street, grew out of three small breweries established in the earlier history of Indianapolis, respectively by C. F. Schmidt, Peter Lieber and C. Maus, which were consolidated in the present company in 1889.
The various plants now give employment to 1,200 persons, the note- worthy brands being "Progress," "Tafel," "Special Brew" and "Duessel- dorfer," which are sold both in barrels and in bottles. Beside these, the company bottles other brands which have become famous, and a number of ales which equal any that may be imported. The output of this great brewing establishment now exceeds 1,000,000 barrels a year.
The bottling department is always on show to visitors to the city and is seen every year by thousands of persons, who can but admire its wonderful facilities for caring for business and the absolute clean- liness that marks every detail of manipulation. The processes from start to finish are strictly hygienic. Scientists and physicians always find a cordial welcome here, as the management desires full publicity as to its methods in preparing a health-giving beverage.
The officers of the company are: President and manager, Albert Lieber, son of Peter Lieber, founder of the Lieber Brewery, who man and boy has been in the business for 28 years; vice-president, Frederic Francke; secretary, John P. Frenzel ; treasurer, Otto N. Frenzel.
What this brewery means to the industrial life of Indianapolis is not measured alone by its regiment of employes. The employment it gives directly and indirectly to all classes of mechanics and the market it affords to the farmer are likewise to be taken into consideration.
The Home Brewing Company was organized in 1891, and its officers and stockholders, nearly ninety in number, are all residents of Indian- apolis. The brewery, bottling house, offices and outbuildings are hand- some and complete in all their appointments. The brewery is of the most modern construction, and the best equipped plant of its character in the state. The company has an incorporated capital of $400,000, and its investment now exceeds $650,000. The officers are all well-known citi- zens: President, Chris. W. Waterman; vice-President, August Hook ; secretary and treasurer, Andrew Hagen. The quality of the output is the best and continually growing in favor. Twenty-five wagons are re- quired to make distribution to the city trade and over 60 men are em- ployed. The sales now amount to between 50,000 and 60,000 barrels annually. The brands are "Home Brew." "Columbia," and "Indiana," ale and porter. in connection with the brewery is their large bottling house with a capacity of 60 barrels daily, used entirely for home con- sumption.
Capital City Brewing Company plant was built in 1905. This is the latest addition to brewing industry in this city, and the plant it has erected is of the highest efficiency and is equipped throughout with the
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INDIANAPOLIS BREWING COMPANY'S PLANTS.
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very latest and best machinery. The buildings are located on the cor- ner of West and Kansas streets and are of exceptionally handsome style of architecture. From the tapping of the first barrel the product of this brewery sprang into immediate favor with the public who appre-
CAPITAL CITY BREWING COMPANY.
ciate a good article. Their well-known brands are "TT" (Taste Tells) light beer, and "Franenlob," dark beer. This company makes a specialty of family trade. The officers of the company are: Charles Krause, president; John J. Giesen, vice-president, and Victor Jose, secretary and treasurer.
F. J. Mack & Co., house, sign and fresco painters, 26 Kentucky avenue This business was established in 1877 by Fred J. Mack, and is one of the largest and most important contracting painting concerns in
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the city, and the reputation for excellence in all branches of work done by it has been maintained since its inception. The members of the firm are F. J. Mack, C. W. Beck and F. L. Mack, Mr. F. J. Mack, the head of the firm, has been prominently identified with city affairs for many years. Ile was a member of the board of safety from 1895 to 1899, member of the park board in 1903 and was appointed a member of the board of works in 1906 under the present administration.
KNIGHT
LUISUN COMPA
KNIGHT & JILLSON COMPANY.
Knight & Jillson Company, manufacturers and wholesale dealers in steam, water, gas, plumbers', natural gas and oil well supplies, is the oldest and largest concern in this line in the state and one of the most extensive in the West. The offices and manufacturing plant are located in the company's building at 121 to 133 South Pennsylvania
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KNIGHT & JILLSON CO. PIFE YARD NEZ
KNIGHT & JILLSON CO. -PIPE YARD-NO.1.
KNIGHT & JILLSON COMPANY'S PIPE YARDS.
street. The company operates in addition two large pipe yards where an extensive stock of black and galvanized iron tubing and oil well casing is carried. Yard No. 1 is located at the east end of the Union Railway station and Yard No. 2 in the block directly south of the office and factory on South Pennsylvania street.
The J. C. Hirschman Company, Manufacturers of Mattresses and Bedding-This concern was founded over a quarter of a century ago by J. C. Hirschman, and has always maintained its position as the leading factory in its line in the state. The business was incorporated in 1898, aud is managed by F. H. Hirschman, sec- retary and treasurer. The product of the company consists of upholstered box springs, cotton felt mattresses, all other kinds of mattresses, feathers, J. C. HIRSCHMAN COMPANY. feather pillows, down and down cush- ions and everything in the bedding line. Over forty people are employed in the factory and the trade ex- tends throughout the United States.
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Indianapolis Abattoir Company, wholesale butchers, located cor- ner Morris street and White river. The business was originally estab- lished in 1882 for the purpose of fur- nishing slaughter- ing facilities for wholesale and re- tail butchers, but in 1892 the com- pany extended its operations by en- gaging in the sale of meat as well. The present plant is a thoroughly up- to-date institution INDIANAPOLIS ABATTOIR COMPANY and one of the finest in the west, affording every facility required in the business. The plant embraces fourteen acres covered with substan- tial brick buildings, with a capacity for killing from 300 to 500 hogs and 250 cattle daily. The officers are: Jos. Allerdice, president ; Henry Rauh, vice-president ; W. A. Mooney, treasurer ; Wm. G. Axt, secretary, Andrew Steffen, Cigar Manufacturer-Mr. Steffen began his career
as a cigar man- ufacturer at Madison, Ind., in 1864. Since
1875
he
has
been located in this city and is now operating the largest un- ion cigar fac- tory in the state. He em- ploys between forty and fifty people, and some of his brands are among the most popular
ANDREW STEFFEN, CIGAR FACTORY.
in the state, notably the "Tish-I-Mingo," which has a sale of more than two million a year.
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Klee & Coleman-A prominent bottling establishment of Indian- apolis is that of Klee & Coleman at 421-425 South Delaware street. The business was established in 1878 by John Klee and Henry KLEE& COLEMAN Coleman, of Dayton, Ohio, who conduct a bottling establishment there and at Piqua, Ohio, and Louisville, Ky. The business in Indianapolis is under active di- rection of M. R. Styer, manager. INDIANAPOLIS SOTTLING WORKS The office and works have a com- plete equipment of bottling ma- chinery and a fifteen-horse-power steam engine, and twenty hands are employed in bottling mineral KLEE £ COLEMAN waters, soda waters, pops and all kinds of "soft drinks." The trade of the Indianapolis establishment covers a radius of 100 miles. The local trade is especially large and keeps seven teams busy. Mr. Styer has been with the concern since 1SS1, during different periods.
Eli Lilly & Company, Incorporated, Manufacturers of Pharma- ceutical and Chemical Preparations-JIome office and laboratories, In- dianapolis, with branch houses in the fol- lowing cities: New York, Chicago, Kan- sas City, St. Louis and New Orleans, La. This concern is one of the old and sub- stantial industries of Indianapolis, eu- joying the reputation of marketing goods of the highest quality. The line of goods manufactured consists of general phar- maceuticals prescribed by physicians and dispensed by druggists. The house was organized in 1876 by the late Col. Ell Lilly and occupied the very modest quar- ters shown in the accompanying sketch. The present plant, recently enlarged ELI LILLY, 1876. and equipped, is not excelled by any in existence for the scientific and economic production of pharmaceuticals.
George J. Mayer, manufacturer of scals, stencils, rubber stamps, etc., No. 36 South Meridian street, is one of the best-known and most successful manufacturers of these goods in the United States, who has been in the business for many years and whose trade covers the United States from Maine to California and extends into Canada. The busi- ness was started in 1SS4. The product of the factory includes scals
PHILLY D. ANDANY INCORPORATED
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and stamps of every description, stencils, rubber stamps, steel stamps checks, badges, burning brands, etc. A large stock of these goods is al ways kept on hand and special designs are made to order at shor notice.
Indianapolis Manufacturers' and Carpenters' Union-The Indian apolis Manufacturers' and Carpenters' Union, located at 201-205 South New Jersey street, was incorporated thirty years ago with $70,000 cap ital stock. Mr. Val Schaaf is president, Herman F. Sprandel secretary and treasurer and Albert F. Meyer superintendent. The present plant which is located at 201 to 205 South New Jersey street, was erected
MANING MAILE .- LUNG GIZISD.
MANUFACTURERS~CARPENTERS UNION
LANING NILL.
ACRE-A.
INDIANAPOLIS MANUFACTURERS' AND CARPENTERS' UNION.
especially for the company and was occupied in January, 1899. The plant is a model one and occupies a space 60x195 feet, equipped with the latest appliances and machinery, and having private switches con- necting with all the railroads entering the city. It is one of the largest and most important concerns in the state engaged in the manufacture of doors, sash and blinds and fine interior wood finishing and manufac- tures everything embraced in planing mill work.
The Marietta Glass and Refrigerator Co., Sixteenth street and Sherman Drive-Indianapolis is especially favored in its number and variety of its manufactures and its ample and excellent shipping facili- ties ; its central location and its access to a limitless supply of cheap fuel has attracted many new industries in recent years. The Marietta Glass and Refrigerator Company is one of its most recent important acquisitions in the manufacturing line. The glass works moved to
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is city from Red Key, Indiana, in 1904, and maintains, just east of rookside park, one of the finest plants in the city, covering sixty-four res and giving employment to more than 225 persons. The buildings 'e among the most attractive in the city devoted to manufacturing
MARIETTA GLASS AND REFRIGERATOR CO.
Purposes. The company manufactureres cathedral glass, fancy figured nd colored glass, sky light and wire glass. They also manufacture the amous Eureka Opal Glass refrigerators, Opal Glass cigar and store ixtures and Opal Glass Humigars, for which this company is particu- arly noted. The officers of the company are: Wm. Butler, president ; Carl J. Pringler, vice-president ; Albert E. Einstein, secretary, and Martin L. Burgess, treasurer.
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