USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Waltham > History of the American Waltham Watch Company of Waltham, Mass., 1904 > Part 2
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produce watch movements, but not cases, so that naturally there was created a demand for watch cases, and case fac- tories were created to an extent hardly justified by the demand. But the fact of their existence gave the Waltham company the opportunity to withdraw from that line of work, and devote their resources of capital, skill, and factory ca-
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The Factory in 1870 from a Photograph.
pacity to the production of watch movements alone. With the increasing facilities of additional room and improved machinery the production of watch movements continued to increase until the summer of 1893, when the widespread com- mercial panic compelled the curtailment of production to but little more than one-half of its previous amount. But the liberal policy of the factory management kept the working force as large as possible and so continued to manufacture much in excess of the requirements of the market, and gradually increased the number of employes. But notwith- standing the almost constant increase it was several years
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before the number of employes reached that of 1893. In the meantime, however, great advances were being made in the direction of machine construction, so that the daily product of the factory reached its previous high number long before the number of operatives did so. But both the number of operatives and the daily product of watch movements have steadily increased, and not only so, but the average grade of the movements produced has been gradually raised. Of course the last mentioned fact has resulted from the very favorable conditions of general business. The wonderful accuracy of the new automatic machinery has also been a potent factor in the increasing excellence of the product. The adoption of systematic time inspection by most of the leading railway systems of America has created a demand for watches of a degree of accuracy in performance which was previously uncalled for, and in meeting this demand the American Waltham Watch Company did its utmost. Aside from its mechanical equipment it has an independent astro- nomical outfit which, by more than twenty years of useful- ness, has justified its creation and maintenance. This outfit consists of an observatory building equipped with a transit instrument for observing the passage of stars across the local meridian, a chronograph instrument for recording the movements of the pendulum of a sidereal clock, and also the telegraphic signals made by the observer at and during the passage of the star across the graduated field of vision in the transit instrument. In addition to the sidereal clock there are two "mean time clocks," one of which telegraphic- ly transmits signals to all parts of the factory which have to do with the adjustment and timing of watches. This astronomical equipment is soon to be reinstalled in apart- ments now being prepared, and when complete will be equal if not superior to anything of the kind in the world. It is in charge of Mr. H. E. Duncan, of whom personal mention is made in another place.
We have said that the prosperity of the watch company
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enabled it to increase its capital in 1865 to $750,000. With a steady increase of business in the few succeeding years a still further increase was required, and in August, 1870, a half million in addition was made, bringing the amount to $1,250,000. But within three years thereafter still more working capital was needed, and $250,000 were added. Mr. Robbins provided the opportunity for employes to subscribe for a portion of this stock on more liberal terms than were allowed to outside parties. The amount of $1,500,000 capital was continued till 1885, when the Massachusetts legislature authorized an increase to $4,000,000, and also authorized the change of corporate name to the American Waltham Watch Company. In March of that year the stockholders voted to increase the capital to $2,000,000, and in March, 1889 they voted another increase of $1,000,000. In 1899 it was voted to still further increase to the limit authorized by the legislature. Of this money a portion was devoted to the enlargement of the factory and its equipment with new and improved machinery. Of course the continued increase in product involves an enormous increase in the number of watch movements in process in all departments of the fac- tory. The production of the factory, however, has increased at a much greater ratio than the in- crease of its capital, for whereas up to 1884 the total product for the preceding thirty years amounted to 2,515,- 119, the succeeding ten years saw that number more than doubled (the total product reaching 5,897,035). The decade just passed more than doubled that product, the total being about 12,000,000.
Mention has been made of the enlargement of the factory plant. The successive changes and enlargements are shown by the accompanying views. Not only was the factory en- larged, but the style and construction of the buildings was modified to better adapt them to the improved methods and scale of manufacture. The original factory buildings were built with walls of concrete and the rooms were both low
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The Factory of the American Waltham Watch Company in 1904.
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and narrow. The second form of construction included wooden frames filled in with brick and plastered on the out- side and inside. The last of the original buildings was de- molished in 1879. Of the second type only a single wing, which was built in 1865, stood until 1905 and was then demolished. Beginning about 1873 brick construction was adopted, and a third story was built in the first of these wings; a few years later a fourth story was added, and by filling into the river in the rear of the factory suffi- cient land was obtained to lengthen some of the wings. Estates adjoining each end of the factory were also pur- chased and built upon. Besides enlarging at both ends and also in front and in the rear, there remained one other direction for enlargement, namely, the top, and within the past four years a fifth story has been added to most of the wings. In 1903 a five-story wing was built, somewhat different in style, and of improved construction, making use of steel beams for supporting the floors and roofs.
In the later buildings much attention has been given to fire protection, by adopting what is called the "slow burning construction." As additional stories were made there was needed corresponding provision for the safety of the em- ployes by furnishing means for rapid exit from every room in case of emergency; so that each room has at least two exits.
With changes and enlargements almost constantly in prog- ress, it is hardly possible to give a complete pictorial record, but the views already given will indicate some of the suc- cessive changes in the factory buildings. It will be readily realized that the great extent of the buildings makes it now impossible to obtain a complete photographic view, but the accompanying illustration shows substantially the present appearance of this great factory. A comparison of this view with that of the original factory will give some indication of the progress in fifty years. But the actual advance is much greater than can be shown pictorially.
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Rear View of Factory of American Waltham Watch Co., 1905, looking across the Charles river.
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There is a peculiar appropriateness in the publication of this history just at this time, from the fact that fifty years ago this month work was begun on the erection of the orig- inal Waltham Watch factory.
Just at this writing (March 5th) comes the news of the death of Mr. Edward Howard, of whom mention has been made as having been associated with Mr. Dennison in the inaugurating of American watchmaking. (A more ex- tended notice of Mr. Howard will be found in succeeding chapters.)
Having rehearsed some of the prominent facts concern- ing the Waltham factory, it is proper to make brief mention of some of the men who have been more or less prom- inently connected with its establishment, its growth and its development.
CHAPTER III.
Leaving our main subject, the watch factories, let us call your attention to the founder of the "Interchangeable Sys- tem" of making watches in the United States-Aaron L. Dennison, the so-called "Father of American Watchmak- ing."
Born, March 6, 1812, in the small town of Freeport, Maine, the eldest of a shoemaker's eight children, the con- ditions of his childhood and youth were not calculated to develop genius, but the struggle of his parents to feed, clothe and shelter their large family, developed perforce in their eldest son, elements of character which were to serve him well in later years.
We find the little lad combining duties of gentle nurse to his younger brothers and sisters with those of efficient gen- eral aid to his overworked mother, and when only ten years of age, sawing and chopping the wood used by the family, and carrying the mason's hod for his father, who was build- ing with his own hands, a much needed new chimney for their small house in the village of Topsham.
From this place, the family removed to the town of Brunswick, in the year 1824, where the boy's capable and. willing services were so much in demand that, at the age of thirteen, he no longer depended upon his father for sup- port. He worked also with his father at shoemaking. This combat with poverty, however, seriously interfered with his schooling. He was ambitious to know as much as the boys of his own age, who could attend school the year round, so,
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Aaron L. Dennison.
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with untiring energy, he made up the deficiency by study in the long winter evenings. He soon showed such a passion- ate love for all mechanical industries, and such a distaste for shoemaking, that his father, in 1830, decided to appren- tice him to James Carey, a watchmaker in the town, with whom he remained three years. It was during this time that young Dennison first thought of making watches by machinery. With absolutely no practical knowledge of ma- chines excepting that gained at his master's bench with a watchmaker's lathe, he saw possibilities which only the brain of a mechanical genius could conceive. There are still in existence I believe, some of the working models in wood, executed roughly by him at this time with penknife and a few tools, the first outcome of those conceptions which were destined to accomplish such wonders a few years later.
In 1833 he went to Boston, to perfect himself as journey- man watchmaker, entering the employ of Currier & Trot, and later, we find him with Jones, Low & Ball. While at work with the latter firm he had the benefit of the friend- ship and advice of Tubal Hone, one of the finest watch- makers then in the country. Here also, while repairing the best hand-made watches, he noticed their often faulty con- struction and workmanship.
In a letter written in 1835 he said: "Within a year I have examined watches made by a man whose reputation at this moment is far above that of any other watchmaker in London, and have found in them such workmanship as I should blush to have it supposed had passed from my hands in our lower grade of work. Of course I do not mean to say that there is not work in these watches of the highest grade possible to carry the finisher's art, but, errors will creep in and escape the scrutiny of competent examiners."
In 1839 he started in business in Boston for himself, do- ing repairing for the trade and carrying a line of tools and
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materials. This shortly developed into a thriving business with a full line of watches and jewelry, and at about this time he invented and brought on the market the "Dennison Standard Gauge." His business being now on a firm foot- ing, Mr. Dennison, with the unselfish zeal to benefit others, which was one of his chief characteristics, turned his thoughts toward bettering the condition of his parents by finding an easier and more lucrative occupation than shoe- making by hand for his father, who was getting on in years.
While importing a line of cards, small tags and jewelry boxes from France for the trade, it had often occurred to him that these supplies could be manufactured in the United States with simple machinery and be supplied to the trade at far less cost than the imported article. Why would not this be just the thing for his father, as the son could find a market for all he could make? The outlay for material would be slight-all that was required was a few labor sav- ing devices to cheapen manufacture. His active brain soon invented a machine for cutting the cardboard and paper to standard sizes and contrived simple devices to facilitate fin- ishing. With roll of material in hand, he started for Bruns- wick to propose and arrange the new business for his father, which proved such a success that in fifteen years' time the old gentleman retired, selling out to his son, E. W. Dennison, the able founder of the "Dennison Mfg. Co.," of which this was the modest beginning.
Mr. Dennison now began to turn his thoughts in earnest toward the dream of his youth, the manufacture of watches on what is now known as the "Interchangeable System," and here it may be as well to state that, among the objects which spurred Mr. Dennison on was the need of the masses, and especially of the American artisan, to be supplied with a reliable timekeeper at a price within his means. The foreign cheap grade watch which he could afford to buy being wholly unreliable; and, further, he desired to estab-
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lish a fine mechanical industry in our country which would tend to raise the standard of skilled labor and give employ- ment to talented mechanics. Pecuniary success was always a minor consideration with him, and, as is generally the case with inventors, he never became a rich man.
We will here use Mr. Dennison's own words : "The principal thinking up of the matter was done when Iwas in business at the corner of Bromfield and Washington streets in Boston. Many a night after I had done a good day's work at the store, and a good evening's work at home, repairing watches for personal friends, I used to stroll out upon the "Common" and give my mind full play upon this project, and, as far as I can recollect what my plans then were as to system and methods to be employed, they are identical with those in existence at the principal watch factories at the present time."
In 1846 Mr. Dennison predicted that within twenty years' time watches would be manufactured with the same ex- pedition and with the same system and perfection with which firearms were then made in the Springfield armory. He often visited this armory and took great interest in ex- amining the various processes of finishing firearms.
In 1849 his good friend, Edward Howard, had a long talk with him in regard to the manufacture of steam fire engines. He did not agree with Mr. Howard in his ideas about their manufacture, and soon convinced him that the manufacture of watches on the interchangeable plan would prove a far more profitable undertaking. Mr. Howard soon became as enthusiastic over the idea as Mr. Dennison and, together, they went in search of a capitalist who was willing to risk some money in the experiment. This gentleman , was found in the person of Samuel Curtis of Boston, who furnished $20,000 for the purpose. Mr. Howard's partner in the clock and scale business, D. P. Davis, became also interested, and the three projectors met at an early date to
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make arrangements for starting a factory and buying neces- sary material. To quote again Mr. Dennison's own words : "I suggested that the first money spent in the undertaking should be for a tour of observation in the watchmaking dis- tricts in England with a view to ascertaining whether the trade of watchmaking was carried on there on the system represented to me by English workmen whom I had em- ployed from time to time on repairing. Another object I had in view was to find out the best sources of supply for necessary materials, such as enamel for dials, jewels, etc." He went to England, and after thoroughly looking over the ground, writes: "I found that the matter had been correctly represented, but (in carrying out their system) half the truth had not been told. How that the party setting himself up as a manufacturer of watches bought his Lancashire movements, a conglomeration of rough ma- terials, and gave them out to A, B and C to have them finished, and how A, B and C gave out the job of pivoting certain wheels of the train to E, certain other parts to F and the fuzee-cutting to G. Dial making, jeweling, gilding, motioning, etc., to others, down almost the entire length of the alphabet. And how that, taking these various pieces of work to outside work-people, who, if sober enough to be at their places, were likely to be engaged on someone's work who had been ahead of them, and how, under such circumstances they would take the occasion to drop into a 'Pub' to drink and gossip and perhaps unfit themselves for work for the remainder of the day! Finding things in this condition, as a matter of course, my theory of Amer- icans not finding any difficulty in competing with the Eng- lish may be accepted as reasonable, especially if the inter- changeable system and manufacturing in large quantities is adopted."
While Mr. Dennison was in England, Mr. Howard was engaged in erecting, on the former's plans, the first Amer- ican watch factory, which was situated in Roxbury, and
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on the return of Mr. Dennison the work of installing ma- chinery was immediately commenced. As this factory has been described in the previous chapter, we will confine our- selves to a sketch of Mr. Dennison's career as manufacturer. Suffice it to say, everything was in running order and the new factory started in 1851. The first watches were put upon the market in 1853. The site of the first building being found unsuitable, the second factory was erected in Waltham, of which the present buildings occupy the same site. The undertaking up to 1857 was not a financial suc- cess, and in that year they were obliged to make an assign- ment. The new owners retained Mr. Dennison as general superintendent, which position he held until 1861.
In the summer of 1863 he went abroad with his family, and we find him soon after established in Zürich, Switzer- land, in the employ of friends in the trade, who had his welfare at heart.
It is not necessary to dwell on the trials and vicissitudes of the next fifteen years. Mr. Dennison had staunch friends in the trade, who had im- plicit confidence in his ability to start another factory, but capitalists hesitated to risk the large amount which experience had taught Mr. Dennison was necessary to in- sure success, particularly in view of the strong competitor already in the field. Persuaded, however, against his own clearer judgment by friends more sanguine than himself, he made several unsuccessful attempts, but finally gave up the idea of manufacturing watches altogether, and set him- self to the work of establishing a business requiring less outlay for plant and material, which would support him in old age.
In 1870 he removed to Handsworth, a suburb of the town of Birmingham, England. In the next few years he invented some valuable improvements in the manufacture of watch cases, and in the year 1874 or there- about he associated himself with Mr. Alfred Wigley of
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Birmingham, under the firm title of Dennison, Wigley & Co., and commenced their manufacture with such good re- sults that the firm were soon able to compete successfully with manufacturers both in this country and Switzerland, with such ample means at its command with which to overcome all errors and obstacles.
Mr. Dennison was the active and efficient head of the firm until Nov. 30th, 1894, when he was taken ill and died on the 9th of January, 1895, in his 83d year. He retained full possession of his inventive faculties to the last. In fact, the drawing on which he was engaged a few weeks before his death proved to be a most important improve- ment to one of the machines then in use and was at once adopted.
Mr. Dennison left a wife, two sons and two daughters. The eldest son was for many years one of the principal men in the London office of the Waltham Company. The young- est son was in the case business with his father from the start, and now takes his place in the firm.
It may be interesting for his countrymen to know that Mr. Dennison is buried in the churchyard of the old church in Handsworth, where rest the remains of the celebrated James Watt. Having finished this brief sketch of his busi- ness career it only remains to enumerate some of the salient points of his character that you may form a picture for yourselves of the man. He possessed the refined instincts of a true gentleman. Modest and retiring in manner. frugal and temperate in all his habits of life, cheerful and resigned to the dispensations of Providence, with high moral courage and hatred of injustice, which caused him to take the part of the weak and oppressed. He had a keen sense of humor and a strong love of the beautiful in nature and art, an exceptionally sound judgment and clear insight into future conditions in business. His treatment of all who came in contact with him was marked with up- right dealing and sympathetic consideration and care fc:
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their welfare. In a word, the "Golden Rule" seemed to be the guiding principle of a long life of strenuous toil of brain and hands. The portrait at the head of this chapter is taken from a photograph made by his youngest son about ten years before Mr. Dennison's death, and is considered to be the best one ever taken of him. It gives but a hint of the fine head poised above the slightly stooping shoulders, the clear, grey eyes with often a humorous twinkle in them peering from under the bushy eyebrows, and the kindly smile so rarely absent, which those who knew him remem- ber so well.
Royal Elisha Robbins.
CHAPTER IV.
Royal Elisha Robbins, who for forty-five years was treas- urer of the American Waltham Watch Company and senior member of the firm of Robbins & Appleton, distribut- ing agents for the company, died July 22, 1902, at his coun- try home at Pride's Crossing, Beverly, Mass., aged 78 years.
He was a man of sterling worth and merit, who never forgot the interest of the humblest employe in the big fac- tory. The needy never sought in vain his help. A vigor- ous specimen of manhood, he continued business until his final sickness overtook him. Many will recall his kindly acts to employes in distress, his advice to young men strug- gling into business life, and his general kindly and sympa- thetic character. His policy was unlike that of many men of the day, inasmuch as he never discharged an employe because he had outgrown his usefulness. He believed that an employe who had grown old in the harness was entitled to share with him the results of his labor. He gloried in the fact that the company had never had a strike.
He was essentially one of the fathers of American watch- making, and the people of Waltham recognize that to him more than to any one man the success of the city is at- tributable. His portrait hangs in the city hall at Waltham, being presented to the city by the company and being paid for by contributions of the stockholders and employes of the company in twenty-five and fifty-cent pieces. The ac- companying likeness of Mr. Robbins was made from this portrait. A park and a school in the city were named in his honor, and he was held in the greatest respect by every citizen of the busy manufacturing city.
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Mr. Robbins was born in Kensington, a parish of Berlin, Conn., on March 10, 1824, and attended a private school until twelve years of age. His father, the Rev. Royal Rob- bins, was a graduate of Yale College and a minister of the orthodox Congregational Church.
At the age of twelve he went to the Worthington acad- emy, where he remained three years, when he secured a sit- uation as a clerk in a store at Hartford. In the fall of 1841 he received an invitation from his uncle, Chauncey Robbins (who was an American merchant and member of the firm of Robbins & Martin, Birminghanı), to visit him. In No- vember he set sail for Liverpool on the packet ship Patrick Henry. The firm of Robbins & Martin were engaged in the purchase of goods of English manufacture for the Amer- ican market, and handled quite a quantity of English watches. The young man was offered a position by his uncle, which he accepted, and finally the full charge of the watch department was placed in his hands. For five years he continued with this house and upon its dissolution in 1846 he returned to New York and started in business for him- self in Cedar street as an importer of English watches, hav- ing gained a thorough knowledge of the business while with his uncle's firm. After two years he took as a partner in the business his brother, Henry A. Robbins, and the busi- ness was removed to larger quarters in John street, the firm being known as Robbins & Bro. A year or two later Daniel F. Appleton became a partner in the business and the firm name was changed to Robbins Bros. & Co.
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