USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Springfield > King's handbook of Springfield, Massachusetts : a series of monographs, historical and descriptive > Part 28
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1845-WASON-1872
GAR ANUFACTURING CO
C.R .R.R
AND
1
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KING'S HANDBOOK OF SPRINGFIELD.
city, and, aside from his position with the Wason Company, is treasurer of the Springfield Steam-Power Company, and also president of the Spring-
Mill-River Dams.
field Club, the Agawam National Bank, and the City Hospital. He is also treasurer of the Spring- field Electric Light Company, vice- president of the Hampden Savings Bank, secretary of the Riverside Paper Company, besides holding other offices of less importance. The secretary of the company is Louis C. Hyde, and the superintendent of works is Henry Pearsons.
To give an idea of the magnitude of the works, it may be said that when
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they are running to their fullest capacity, 35,000 feet of lumber is used per day, 700 workmen have been employed at one time at the manufactory, and $1,500,000 worth of cars a year have been turned out. It is easy to see that a large amount of room, as well as a vast deal of material, and a great quan- tity of machinery, must be brought into use at the Wason works. The buildings, constructed of wood and brick, are commodious, and complete in every particular. They are said to be the best arranged of any of the sort in the United States, if not in the world. The offices are by themselves, in a neat wooden building but a few rods north of the Brightwood railroad- station, on the line of the Connecticut-river Railroad. The railroad-supply rooms are in the same building with the offices. Back of these are the workshops and lumber-yards. Here every part of the car is made. The workshops are arranged in two parallel structures, extending the entire depth of the grounds, each side of a wide-gauge railway. This forty-feet gauge track is traversed by a steam-engine and carriage. By this arrange- ment the cars, when completed, are transferred from the shops to the tracks, and thence, by the means of switches, to the tracks of the Connecticut- river Railroad. The dimensions and capacity of the shops are as follows : Foundery, 170 by 62 feet, with a daily capacity of 100 car-wheels, and Io tons of other castings ; machine-shop, 96 by 45 feet; smith-shop, 150 by 45 feet ; passenger-car shop, 117 by 75 feet; wood-working and cabinet shop, 200 by 62 feet ; lumber-shed, 420 by 40 feet ; passenger-car paint-shop, 500 by 75 feet ; freight-car erecting-shop, 250 by 60 feet; freight-car paint-shop, 250 by 45 feet; tire-and-bolt-cutting shop, 50 by 40 feet: this, with the build- ing where the upholstering, seat-trimming, and varnishing is carried on, is of two stories. The truck-constructing room is 60 by 45 feet; engine-house, 50 by 20 feet, the upper floors being used for veneering rooms. There is one double dry-house 42 by 35 feet, together with one having four compart- ments furnished with the Foss Patent Exhaust method of drying lumber. This makes an aggregate of nearly 150,000 square feet, and over 6 acres of flooring. The lumber-yards cover 12 acres of space, and during the busiest times 4,000,000 feet of lumber are kept in stock. The arrangement of detail in all the various departments of the manufactory seems to be as near per- fection as present times will admit.
Smith & Wesson represent one of the greatest, most important, and widely known of the diversified interests which characterize the industries of Springfield ; and none deserve more prominent mention, or have been more closely identified with the growth and prosperity of the city during the past quarter of a century.
The firm under its present style began to manufacture revolvers in 1857, the partners at that time being Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson.
WORKS OF SMITH & WESSON, MANUFACTURERS OF REVOLVERS.
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In 1874 Mr. Smith retired from the business ; and Mr. Wesson continued alone until Jan. 1, 1882, when he associated with himself his son Walter H. Wesson as a partner, the original style, however, always remaining unchanged. From a small beginning in 1856, when no more than 75 men were employed, and the annual production amounted to only a few thou- - sand revolvers, the enterprise has grown to be the largest of its kind on the globe, employing from 400 to 500 men, and producing yearly from 80,000 to 90,000 of these arms.
The plant of the firm is one of the most extensive in the city, and is remarkably complete in every department. The main factory, which fronts on Stockbridge Street, is a four-story brick building 150 by 40 feet, with an L 100 by 40 feet; and besides a two-story blacksmith-shop 150 by 45 feet, there are a number of smaller buildings. The works are equipped with about $250,000 worth of machinery, a large part of which was invented by this house for its own special work ; and it is all operated by a 135-horse- power engine.
This remarkable industry seems to owe its development to inventive and executive ability of high order. Previous to 1856, there was no fire-arm in which any form of metallic cartridge was fired other than the "Flobert," a French cartridge, which consisted of a small copper shell containing ful- minate, and a small ball, used only in the so-called " Saloon " pistol, a single-barrelled arm made in France. On the 8th of August, 1854, Smith & Wesson patented a rim-fire metallic cartridge; and a little later they conceived the idea of constructing a revolver that should use some such style of cartridge. On such an arm they obtained patents in July, 1859, and December, 1860.
At first two styles of arm were made, but some 40 or 50 models have since been formed. At present seven models only are made. The revolver produced here for military purposes is a superior article. To make this improved arm, the firm purchased certain patents of other inventors, which gave them the automatic cartridge-shell extractor; thus obviating the neces- sity of the detachment of the cylinder, either for this purpose or for loading. A recent new model is a navy revolver. The automatic extractor applies to all models. No revolver yet invented consists of comparatively so few parts, and accomplishes so much; its operations are largely automatic. The proprietors claim that it is "unequalled in excellence of material and workmanship, force, accuracy of firing, safety, simplicity of construction, and convenience in loading." As evidence of the superiority of the Smith and Wesson military revolver, it may be stated that it was recommended for adoption by the United-States troops, by the commission of which General Schofield was president, and has been extensively adopted by the Russian and other governments. About the time our war of the Rebellion closed,
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the firm were producing nearly 60,000 revolvers annually. The demand for them in the United States was such, that, up to 1867, Smith & Wesson made no effort to sell them abroad. At the Paris Exposition in that year, a case of their various models was exhibited, which at once attracted attention, and created a foreign demand which has constantly increased, resulting in large shipments to Japan, China, England, Russia, France, Spain, Peru, Chili, Brazil, Cuba, and, in fact, to almost every nation on the globe. They made for the Russian government alone, 150,000 of this arm. They received the highest awards at the International Expositions held at Paris in. 1867, at Moscow in 1872, at Vienna in 1873, at Philadelphia in 1876, and at Australia in 1880. Agencies are established in all important parts of the globe, the most noteworthy being Birmingham, England; Paris, France; Germany ; Havana, Cuba; Mexico City, Mexico; Buenos Ayres, Argentine Republic; Shanghai, China ; Tokio, Japan ; St. Petersburg, Russia ; Toronto, Canada ; Turkey, India, and Australia.
Nearly all the Smith & Wesson improvements have been patented both in this country and in Europe, and are owned by the firm. For the purpose of securing a perfect interchangeability of all parts of every arm made at this establishment, a system of inspection has been adopted of the most rigid character. Only the very best wrought steel is used, and great atten- tion is paid to the smallest details. The system of inspection adopted is such that the least imperfection in material or workmanship is detected, and causes the piece to be condemned. The very best skilled labor is em- ployed, and almost every department is let out under contract to old and long-experienced workmen who are the heads or superintendents. When it is known that no fires or serious accidents have ever occurred on these premises, the care and precaution of the firm will be understood. 'An explo- sion took place, however, at one time when they made cartridges, and sev- eral men were injured. But this department was abandoned when the centre-fire cartridge was adopted. One secret of the success of the firm, and the popularity of their revolvers, lies in the fact that they have never been slow to take advantage of all new inventions and suggestions : they have kept pace with the demand for an increased perfection in small fire- arms.
The Powers Paper Company, ever since its business was begun, has had a steady growth, until to-day it stands in the foremost rank among houses of the sort in this country. Lewis J. Powers, its founder as well as pro- prietor and active manager, has devoted the whole of his business life to the paper-trade. Beginning as a newspaper-carrier in 1845, when but eight years of age, in the employ of L. B. Brockett, then in business on Sanford Street, in this city, young Powers, by integrity and strict attention to busi-
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POWERS PAPER COMPANY.
MANUFACTURERS .** )
IMPORTERS & JOBBERS
THE POWERS PAPER COMPANY. On Lyman Street.
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ness, became a partner in the newspaper-house of Marshall Bessey & Co., who had succeeded to the business of Brockett. This was in 1857. In 1861 Mr. Powers, with his twin brother Lucius H. Powers, bought Mr. Bessey's interest in the concern; the firm then adopting the style of L. J. Powers & Brother. Mr. Powers was born in this city, Jan. 15, 1837, and is one of its most popular and public-spirited citizens. He has often held, and continues to hold, many positions of trust among the money-making, public, and charitable institutions of the city. During the years 1862, 1867, and 1869, he was a member of the common council, and in 1874 and 1875 he was an alderman. In 1878 he was elected mayor of Springfield, an office which he held two terms. He was the youngest executive officer ever elected in the city. Mr. Powers was one of the prime movers in organizing the Hampden-park Association ; and as a mark of appreciation of his successful management, he was presented with a magnificent timepiece, which was made to order at a cost of $1,000. He still retains his interest in fine horses, and is now treasurer of the National Trotting Association. He is also a director of the Agawam National Bank, the Hampden Savings Bank, the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, the Springfield Tele- phone and Electric-light companies, the Wason Car Manufacturing Company, and various other enterprises. His residence, on Pearl Street, is one of the most artistic and well-appointed homes in the city. Mr. Powers's first extensive business speculation came in 1862, when he put into his store, under the Massasoit House, a magnificent line of holiday goods. It was a daring move ; and no local dealer had ever undertaken to carry such a stock of costly books, engravings, and the like. He sold $50,000 as the result of his venture. In 1863, finding the Massasoit-house store too small, he fitted up a large store in Goodrich Block. As in the past, he continued to prosper financially ; but too close attention to business caused a general breaking- down in health. At the advice of his physicians, he secured a farm at Northfield, and remained there during the summer. Again returning to business, he saw that an avenue for speculation and trade was opening in the sale of photograph-albums. These goods were manufactured by Samuel Bowles & Co., and the books of that house show that in 1864 Mr. Powers bought over $90,000 worth of albums. This same year the firm became the selling-agents for the Glasgow Paper Company; their annual sales amounting to over three-quarters of a million of dollars. In 1872 they again moved, this time to the Agawam Bank Building, and again, in 1875, to the building erected for them on Lyman Street. This establishment is extensive and complete. It is a splendidly built business structure, four stories high above a fine basement. It is of brick, with granite trimmings. Here all kinds of business papers, papeteries, envelopes, blank-books, and miscellaneous stationery are prepared for the market. Here the firm have
GILES DEL.
BOOK
AND
THE POWERS PAPER COMPANY. Blank-book Manufacturing and Paper-finishing Departments.
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KING'S HANDBOOK OF SPRINGFIELD.
one of the largest envelope-manufactories in this country, and the numerous machines are constantly rolling off millions of envelopes of all varieties. The United-States Pencil Company, of which Mr. Powers also has control, have headquarters on the fourth floor of the building, and the book-bindery and notion department are very extensive. Mr. Powers's private offices, on the first floor, are exquisite in design and finish, and perhaps as costly as any private office in the country. The newspaper and periodical business is still carried on by the firm in the basement of the Massasoit House, and
PRIVATE OFFICE
Hon. Lewis J Powers's Private Office.
this branch by itself reaches the sum of $100,000 a year. The Powers Company have offices and agencies in New York, San Francisco, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Chicago, and have men travelling throughout the United States.
The Morgan Envelope Company is another of those great local corpora- tions with national reputations. It is a striking example of what one man can accomplish when he has ability combined with ambition. Twenty years ago Elisha Morgan gave up his position as general freight agent of the Con- necticut-river Railroad, and came to Springfield, and in a small way began to manufacture envelopes in the building on Hillman Street now occupied by the National Papeterie Company. Later, the business was moved to Taylor Street; and from time to time portions of other buildings were added, until the factory included a group of structures extending from Taylor to .
THE MORGAN ENVELOPE COMPANY.
On Harrison Street.
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Worthington Street, with the offices on the Worthington-street side in the rooms now occupied by " The Springfield Daily Union." In the latter part of 1883 a removal was made from this jumble of buildings to what is the equal of the finest manufacturing establishment in any industry in America. The new building is on the north side of Harrison Avenue, east of Main Street. It is a solid brick structure, 230 feet long by 55 feet wide, with six floors including the basement. The front is ornamented with cut brick and terra-cotta work. Up just a few easy steps, one enters, through the main door of the building, one of the lightest and pleasantest counting-rooms in this country. To the left are the offices of the president and treasurer ; and everybody is at once impressed with the fact that these men realize, that, as they spend the greater part of their wakeful hours in their places of busi- ness, it is philosophical and sensible to make these places as comfortable and cheerful as possible. Here is where the money is earned, and here may wisely be spent a portion of it. But in going through the factory, one may also at a glance perceive that these employers are mindful of their employees as well as of themselves, and have provided for them workrooms that cannot be surpassed for ventilation, light, warmth, and all reasonable conveniences ; and when it is remembered that employment is given con- stantly to from 225 to 275 hands, it will be seen that this establishment is entitled to considerable praise. The building was put up by this company expressly for its use. The basement is used for packing, clippings, storage, and workshops. The main floor contains the counting-room, the sample- rooms, the general wareroom for finished stock and shipping-rooms; and in the rear part the 200-horse-power engine, to the right of which, on a lower floor, are the two immense boilers made in Springfield by R. F. Hawkins. The second floor is chiefly the box-shop, where boxes of all conceivable kinds are made. The third floor presents a lively appearance when its long lines of envelope making and printing machines are in operation : here, when running to their full capacity, one and a half millions of envelopes a day can be made. The two upper floors are used for the storage of flat and finished papers, boxes and envelopes, and materials. Besides these prem- ises, the company still retain for woodwork some of the shops in their former buildings.
To utilize all this property requires an enormous business. This the company has enjoyed for many years, and it is constantly increasing. It is generally known that the Morgan Envelope Company had the original con- tract for making the postal cards, and at that time finished and delivered fifty-one millions in three months. The envelopes and papeteries made here are shipped to all parts of this country, and are sold to stationers, printers, jobbers, and consumers of large quantities. Of its papeteries, several brands are known everywhere in the trade ; particularly the " American Artistic
NEWELL BRO'S. MF'G. CO. HOWARD ST.
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Stationery," " Colonial," " Crown Linen," and " Pyramid." It may be said that E. Morgan & Co. were the originators of the papeterie business, and by introducing acceptable novelties every season they have always kept in the lead. In printing and designing for envelopes, the company have shown unusual skill and taste. Another specialty made by the company is "Mor- gan's Mucilage," which has long been a standard article.
For many years to come, the citizens of Springfield will, of necessity, always call attention to this new establishment as one of the most note- worthy in the city. The company is incorporated under Massachusetts laws, and has a paid-in cash capital of $100,000. Until 1884 Emerson Wight was its president; when he was succeeded by Elisha Morgan, who until then had been the treasurer. Robert W. Day is treasurer, and Wil- liam O. Day is the secretary.
Newell Brothers' Manufacturing Company, manufacturers of covered and ivory buttons, have for years ranked among the leading business-houses of the city. The buildings are at the foot of Howard Street, near the line of the New-York, New-Haven, and Hartford Railroad; and, aside from having the advantage of being central in location, are well lighted and appointed in every department. The business was established at Long- meadow in 1848. The founders of the business were Nelson C. Newell and Samuel R. Newell; and it is by reason of their constant and thorough application and good management that the business was so successfully developed. The former attended to the factory, and the latter to the count- ing-room. In 1879, upon the death of S. R. Newell, a corporation was es- tablished under the name of the Newell Brothers' Manufacturing Company. The officers are as follows: President and treasurer, Nelson C. Newell ; secretary, William C. Newell. A second son, Howard N. Newell, is asso- ciated with his father and brother in the Springfield manufactory ; and a third son, Albert W. Newell, has charge of the company's general sales- rooms, 25 Mercer Street, New York. In 1864 the works were removed from Longmeadow to the present location, the first building being 30 by 100 feet, with a working force of about 50. Now the buildings cover over an acre of ground, and 400 persons are kept regularly employed. The main works, a commodious brick building, three stories in height, and cov- ering 30 by 100 feet of ground, was erected in 1864; and two new build- ings were afterward added. The works grew so rapidly, that, during 1883, an additional wing 20 by 70 feet was built. Each department is systemat- ically laid out and conducted. The first floor of the main building is used for the sawing and turning of the vegetable ivory, and also the cutting of shells for the covered buttons. The second floor is devoted to the manu- facture of all varieties of covered buttons, the finer grades of which are
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made a specialty. Here the finest line of covered buttons in the country are manufactured. The coverings of soutache, velvet, lasting, mohair, are imported, and pure dye sewing-silk braid is of American manufacture. The third floor of the main building is used for drilling and finishing the vegetable-ivory buttons. The second building, which is directly across the street, and reached by a bridge from the main building, has the same excellent arrangement. The first floor is devoted to the dyeing of vege- table-ivory buttons; the second floor, to the ornamenting and chemical departments ; the third, to carding, and to the packing of the buttons; and the fourth, to the manufacture of boxes. The average amount of work turned out by the company is 3,000 gross a day.
The W. G. Medlicott Company, manufacturers of full-fashioned knit goods, have their mills on Morris Street. Since the business was estab- lished in this city, the company have prospered and grown so that to-day
The W G. Medlicott Co.'s Mills, on Morris Street.
they stand among the leading industries of the valley. They are now the only mills in Springfield where textile goods are manufactured ; and, while there are many in the country that are larger, there are none better equipped or appointed. The machinery is all of the most approved patterns, and the goods which these mills put upon the market are acknowledged of superior make and finish. The products of the mills are men's, women's, and chil- dren's underwear, all grades of Shetland Scotch wool, white merino, white Scotch wool, scarlet wool; fancy colored merino goods also being made. The market is supplied through the company's selling-agents, - Brown, Wood, & Kingman, who have houses at New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Chicago. The W. G. Medlicott Company was established in 1881, by
Milton Bradley & Cn 47 10 69 Willow St.
Taylor & Tapley MED.Cu- Springfield . Mass .
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William G. Medlicott, a pioneer of woollen manufacture in this country, and a gentleman whose sterling integrity and fair dealing, together with his admirable business qualities, placed him in the foremost rank of knit- goods manufacturers. His kind heart and many social qualities made him hosts of friends among both rich and poor. A stock-company with a capital of $100,000I was formed, and the founder became president and manager. This position he held until the time of his death in 1883, when his son, William B. Medlicott, was chosen as his successor. The other officers of the company are : William B. Wood, treasurer ; H. M. Morgan, secretary ; and W. Tansley, superintendent. The mills are pleasantly and centrally located, the original building having been added to from time to time as the business increased, until now they extend from Morris to Central Street, with a frontage of 250 and a depth of 120 feet. The buildings are five in number, four stories in height, two being built of brick, and three of wood. The mills are divided into four general departments, they being devoted to the scouring and dyeing, the carding and spinning, the knitting, and the making and finishing rooms. The machinery of the mills, which is driven by an 80-horse-power engine, includes at present four sets 48-inch cards, 42 divisions of wrought knitting-frames, 40 heads of circular knitting-machines, and four spinning-mules. About 150 operatives are regularly employed.
The Taylor & Tapley Manufacturing Company, although incorporated in the early part of 1884, is practically the consolidation of several old and well-known establishments; and the owners and chief officers are among the most respected and successful business-men of this city. The com- pany started in 1882 under its present name, but without being incorpo- rated. It succeeded to the business of Brigham & Co., founded in 1863; Ray & Taylor, in 1865; George W. Tapley, in 1866; The Ray & Taylor Manufacturing Co., in 1874. By these several consolidations, this company has become the owners of many of the most valuable patents, dies, moulds, trade-marks, and patterns in the paper collar and cuff industry. It has brought together several of the leading and most experienced manufac- turers, and has secured many of the most skilful workmen in this line. It has also made this establishment, if not the foremost, certainly the equal of any in this industry in this country. The factory is a substantial five-story brick building, as shown in the accompanying illustration. It is owned by the president of this company, and is occupied in part by the Milton Bradley Company. It is situated on the east side of Willow Street, and was built only a few years ago, especially for its present uses. It is equipped with the most modern machinery in its line, the patents on much of which are owned by this company. The business comprises, not merely the mak- ing of paper, or, rather, cloth-faced, collars and cuffs, but also the making
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