The civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the county of Kings and the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., from 1683 to 1884 Volume I, Part 171

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909, ed. cn; Brockett, L. P. (Linus Pierpont), 1820-1893; Proctor, L. B. (Lucien Brock), 1830-1900. 1n
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : W. W. Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1114

USA > New York > Kings County > Brooklyn > The civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the county of Kings and the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., from 1683 to 1884 Volume I > Part 171

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Of all classes of the smaller duplex pumps which we have described, and there are from fifteen to thirty sizes of each, the Worthington Hydraulic Works have turned out many thousands, and they have given such general satisfaction, that they are compelled to keep up a full line of them to supply the constantly increas- ing demand.

They are also manufacturers of the Worthington Water Meter, which twenty-five years of experience has proved the most accurate and best adapted to its purpose of any in the market ; while the sale of more than 30,000, at an average price of about $35, sufficiently demonstrates its superiority. They also manufacture oil meters.

The statistics of this great establishment are as fol- lows :

Founded in 1845. Occupying at first a small shed.

Present area covered by Hydraulic Works: two blocks; over 100,000 square feet.

Amount of capital invested, in round numbers, $1,000,000.

Number of hands employed: greatest number at one time, 760.

Amount of wages paid annually, in round numbers, average of 1880, 1881, and 1882, $450,000.

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THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES.

Annual product, in round numbers, say for either year ending July, 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883, $1,500,000.

Order is the first law in the Worthington Hydraulic Works. In the tool room, each of the myriad tools has its appropriate place ; and if absent, a check with the workman's number, tells who is responsible for it. In the draughting room, every drawing, of any eleva- tion, plan, or separate portion of a machine or engine, is duplicated by a simple photographic process which a boy can manage. A Mutual Benefit Association, ob- taining its funds by a deduction of ten cents a week from every man's wages, and the payment by the firm of a suin equal to the whole amount collected from the men, provides for the sick, the injured, or the families of those deceased, and being managed by the men themselves, prevents all strikes.

The Davidson Steam Pump Company, the only other house in Kings county, which manufactures steam pumping engines, is a comparatively young company, having been in existence, in its present form, only three or four years. They manufacture also many kinds of steam pumps, such as boiler feed pumps, tank pumps, marine pumps, wrecking pumps, fire pumps, brewery pumps, mining pumps, sugar-house pumps, railroad pumps, vacuum pumps, air pumps, circulating pumps, tannery pumps, and hydraulic pumps. Of most of these there are from 13 to 38 regular sizes, though not many of them are kept constantly in stock. Most of these are direct-acting single cylinder pumps, at the steam end, but differ from other direct-acting steam pumps, in having only one valve-a compound slide- valve with cylindrical face-in the steam chest. This valve is said to be very simple in construction, not lia- ble to get out of order, become deranged, or wear out before the rest of the pump. It is oscillated by an ob- lique cam, and does not depend entirely upon the steam admitted to the end of the valve-piston for its action, the cam carrying the valve mechanically when the pump is under a high rate of spced. It is claimed that this valve arrangement admits of its being run at higher speed than any other direct-acting pump, and renders it perfectly noiseless. The water end of these steam pumps is also claimed to be a new and simpler design than that of any other steam pump yet con- structed, and not to be liable to blow out or leak, and to be readily taken apart and put together again. The mining pumps are made with a double plunger, hori- zontal, and the two plungers reciprocating in the same cylinder. The company claim for these a superiority over all other mining pumps.

The water works pumping engines are made on sub- stantially the same patterns, though some of them have duplex cylinders, both stcam and water-but not with reciprocating valves. As yet, their largest pumping engine, in actual use, has a capacity of but three mil- lion gallons a day, and the greater part of them range from two to two and a half million gallons; but, with

enlarged facilities, they can probably increase the ca- pacity to any desired extent, if the engines should prove, after thorough trial, to possess the advantages now claimed for them.

The Niagara Steam Pump Works, which manufac- ture the steam pumps under the patents of Charles B. and John Hardick, are, with a single exception (Worth- ington's), the oldest steam pump manufacturers in Kings county, and among the oldest in the United States. They acquired a high reputation, many years ago, for their Niagara Direct-Acting Pump, the first successful direct-acting steam pump in the United States, and have since increased it by their patent double acting steam pump, steam fire engines, crank pump and engine, direct-acting agitator and steam pump, their improved Niagara vacuum pump, and their direct and double act- ing plunger pump. All their pumps and pumping en- gines are distinguished for the simplicity of their con- struction, which permits their being run by a man of fair intelligence, though he may not have been educated as an engineer; by the perfection of all their parts; the efficiency and steadiness of their action; their ability to be run under water; their economy of fuel, and their moderate price. They have manufactured engines cap- able of pumping more than 2,000,000 gallons of water in 24 hours; but they have generally preferred to make steam pumps for clearing wrecks of water, for railroad tanks, breweries, distilleries, tanneries, purposes of irri- gation, for pumping oil through pipes to long distances in the oil regions, for fire and wrecking steamers, and for plantation duty on sugar and cotton plantations. The firm commenced business in 1862, at 23 Adams street, as Hardick Bros. John Hardick died in 1868, and Charles B. Hardick was sole proprietor till 1874, when he also died; and the business has since been con- ducted, with great energy and success, as the estate of Charles B. Hardick, W. S. Hardick, another brother, being manager. In 1880, desiring a larger amount of room for their works, they purchased and removed to their present locality, 118-122 Plymouth strect. The Niagara steam pumps have been exhibited, and thor- oughly tested, at many Expositions in all parts of the world, and have never failed to receive the highest medals and other awards. They have now 22 medals, and twice that number of diplomas. One niedal and four diplomas of superiority were awarded at the Cen- tennial, and a medal at the Sydney, New South Wales, Exposition of 1880. (See cut on page 684).

There are four or five other manufacturers of steam pumps, but none of them, we believe, confine them- selves to this manufacture exclusively. Norman Hub- bard makes some pumps, but his works are to a con- siderable extent devoted to repairing pumps and steam engines.

Messrs. Guild & Garrison make a specialty of brew- ers and beer pumps, as also pumps for the use of thic sugar refineries.

684

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

William Foster makes a variety of steam pumps, as well as some machinery for hatters, but his specialty is the Excelsior Patent Rotary Pump, for which he has created a considerable market.

James Clayton also makes steam pumps of a very good pattern, but his specialty is " Air Compressors;"machines for compressing air for use as a motor in driving rock drills and water pumps in mines and tunnels.

Mr. Clayton also man- ufactures coal cutting machines, hauling and hoisting engines, mine and other portable loco- motives, etc., etc. His " Compressors " have a very high reputation in all parts of the country.

This subsection (steam pumps, etc.) represents in round numbers the employment of not less C.WRIGHT .SC than 1,200 hands, the payment of annual wages to the amount of about $850,000, and an annual product of about $2,750,000.

seldom holds less than from two hundred to four hun- dred barrels of sugar, is so constructed that the steam which heats the covered pan works an air pump, which cxhausts the air to such an extent that the liquor (the purified sugar solution) boils at about 100° F. The centrifugal machines (Havemeyer & Elder have some sixty-four feet in diameter) by rapid revolution of a brass perforated cylinder inside its periphery, throw out the molasses and syrup, and leave the sugar clean, white, and very nearly dry. The filters are immense flattened iron tubular vessels, so constructed as to filter

THE NIAGARA DIRECT-ACTING PUMP. (See page 683).

SUBSECTION IV .- Large Castings and Finishing, both

in Brass and Iron-as Vacuum Pans, Centrifugal and other Sugar House Machines, Refrigerating Machines, Architectural Castings, etc.

This subsection is very large, and embraces a con- siderable number of our most extensive foundries and machine shops. The manufacture of vacuum pans, centrifugal machines, and other machines for making and refining sugar, is itself a very large business. A single sugar refinery in Brooklyn has invested more than $600,000 in vacuum pans alone, and the investment in centrifugal machines, filters, moulds, etc., etc., is probably twice that amount. The dc- mand for much of this sugar-making and refining machinery from Louisiana and South America and the West Indies is constant, though the vacuum pans, etc., are not of such immense sizes as those used in the great refineries here. The vacuum pan, which here

the dissolved raw sugars through bone-black to purify them.

The Pioneer Iron Works in South Brooklyn has the highest reputation and does the largest business in sugar machinery. They employ in times of active business from 800 to 1,200 men, and turn out more than $2,000,000 worth of castings.

The South Brooklyn Steam Engine Works also do a considerable business in this line; and, we believe, one of the Williamsburgh foundries.

In the construction of Hydraulic Presses of all sorts, and especially for the expression of the oil from cotton seed and linseed, as well as in the building of refrige- rating machines, the Columbian Iron Works, Messrs. William Taylor & Sons, of whose establishment we give an illustration, are easily foremost, and in the latter industry are, we believe, the only manufacturers in the county. Their extensive works, extending on both sides of Adams street, from No. 25 to No. 39, and occupying thirteen full city lots, were started in 1844 by the present senior member of the firm in Gold

William Taylor.

THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES.

685

street, near York, in a very small shop. In 1845 Mr. Taylor purchased a single lot on his present site, and erected a small foundry, to which, in the years that followed, one lot after another, and one building after another, was added, until the great foundry assumed its present proportions. There are in all seven or eight large buildings, the principal ones being three or four stories in height, and having the following dimensions, respectively: 75x52 feet, 25x52, 50x26, and 25x44. The foundry and erccting shop are in the rear, and the cleaning and storage shops on the other side of Adams street. Mr. Taylor commenced business as a founder, by casting stoop railings, fences, columns, and orna- mental work for house use, but very soon began the production of fine machinery fitted and adjusted with great care. Circumstances related in his biography,

breweries, are very expensive ; onc, and that not the largest, erected in a Brooklyn brewery, cost $135,000, but it saved the brewer $20,000 on the cost of ice, and an amount of space sufficient to nearly double the capacity of his brewery. These machines, so far as Brooklyn is concerned, are all made by Messrs. Willianı Taylor and Sons. The firm was William Taylor alone, from 1844 to 1856; Taylor, Campbell & Co., from 1856 to 1861, the Co. being his eldest son, Mr. James A. Taylor; Mr. Campbell went out in 1861, and Mr. Tay- lor's second and third sons, Edwin S. and William J. Taylor, were subsequently admitted as partners. About 250 men are employed in the different shops, and the out-put averages about $1,200,000. We introduce here portraits and biographical sketches of Messrs. William Taylor and James A. Taylor.

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COLUMBIAN IRON WORKS.

COLUMBIAN

COLUMBIAN IRON WORKS

SHOP.

23IRON WORKS 23

PATTERNS & CASTINGS

LLIAN TAYLOR &SONS.

LOR & SONS

WILLIAM TAYLOR & SONS.

COLUMBIAN IRON WORKS.

which we append to this article, led him to go largely into the construction of cotton-seed oil hydraulic presses, and he now supplies these to the numerous oil mills of the South, as well as to the linseed oil mills in the North and West. The strength, precision in working, and admi- rable finish of these presses, leave nothing to be desired.

Within a few years past a demand has sprung up among brewers, distillers, mcat-packers and hotel pro- prietors for refrigerating machines, which, by what is known as the " American process," produce and main- tain a very low degree of cold, and on a large scale, at less than onc-fourth of the average cost of iec, while their compact form enables them to save the great space heretoforc occupied by the ice, and the labor con- nected with the handling of that commodity. These refrigerating machines, when constructed for the large

WILLIAM TAYLOR .- The oldest existing iron manufacturing firm in Brooklyn is the house of William Taylor & Sons, near the foot of Adams street; they are also the largest makers of hydraulic and refrigerating machinery in the city. The present magnitude of their business interests is due to the ability and efforts of the senior member, Mr. William Tay- lor.

It is interesting to trace the career of a man who, begin- ning with no capital save a stout heart and a thorough knowledge of his trade, by dint of his own exertions, builds up a small business into a great industry that gives employ- ment and a livelihood to hundreds, and adds thousands to the country's material wealth. Such a man is a public ben- efactor, his life a lesson, and his example an encouragement.

Mr. Taylor is a native of England, born near Manchester in 1812. In that manufacturing district the boy's mind nat- urally inclined to the mechanical trades, rather than to agri- cultural or commercial pursuits. Accordingly, he was ap- prenticed at an early age to an iron founder.

PATTERN

COLUMBIAN IRON WORKS.

686

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

About six months later, when he was only fourteen, his parents removed to America, leaving him behind in the hands of a master who was harsh at times. For two years the lad worked steadily on, under hard treatment, longing for his kindred across the sea ; then made a bold push for freedom and traversed the Atlantic. After a short visit with his parents at their home in New Jersey, he went to finish his trade as iron moulder, finding employment in Brooklyn, New York and Connecticut. His proficiency as an appren- tice brought him into favorable notice, and soon after he be- came master of his time he was appointed foreman in Birk- beck's foundry in Brooklyn. It is worthy of mention that he worked in New York upon the car wheels for the first locomotive engine that was brought from England to Amer- ica, and used in hauling coal from the mines in Pennsylva- nia. Mr. Taylor next had charge of a foundry in Connecti- cut for a time. But he possessed innate qualities that fitted him to be master as well as man, while ambition spurred him on to establish himself in business independently.

Accordingly, in March, 1844, he started in a small way, locating his foundry in the rear of a dwelling house on Gold street. His venture proved successful; his work, carefully and thoroughly done, was its own recommendation, and brought numerous orders. In the year following, he bought one lot on Adams street, where he now occupies thirteen, and built there a small foundry, which has since grown into a large, complete establishment, with moulding and machine shops attached. His earliest work consisted largely of house- castings, pillars, railings and similar work; but, in its enor- mous growth, has changed character, and he now makes ma- chinery of all kinds, especially hydraulic presses for the manufacture of cotton-seed oil, in which the firm has a large and lucrative trade at the South. Some of their heaviest work was done on the Sectional Dock in 1866, and on large castings for the Navy Yard.

Increase of business brought added cares, so that Mr. Tay- lor in after years availed himself of the help of three sons, James A., Edwin S. and William J., admitting them into partnership with himself, under the firm name, as it now stands, of William Taylor & Sons. He also established the Magnolia Oil Works at Vicksburg, Miss., for the manufac- ture of cotton-seed oil, with his two sons, Hubert G. and Frank W., but the whole establishment, with machinery and stock, was burned in 1873, entailing a loss of over one hun- dred thousand dollars. This misfortune was the means, however, of building up a large Southern trade in oil presses and machinery, so that their losses have been more than made good.

Mr. Taylor has always been devoted to his business, giving it his whole energies and labor ; how much of both is seen by comparing the firm's immense establishment with the small foundry from which it sprung, and the local trade of years ago, with the widely extended business of to-day. His integrity has been unquestioned through a long and active business life, and his commercial lionor is untarnished. He has met every dollar of his obligations, principal and inter- est, under all circumstances; which redounds the more to his credit, and produces well-merited confidence, because assign- ments and compromises are so common among business men of the present day. One so strictly faithful to every engage- ment cannot fail to win, as Mr. Taylor has won, the perfect confidence and utmost esteem of his fellow men. He is to- day one of our most influential and public-spirited citizens, active in all public improvements. His sagacity and experi- ence are sought in important positions of trust. He has been for some years a director of the Lafayette Insurance Com- pany; in June, 1879, he was appointed a trustee of the Brook-

lyn Bridge, and served on the Finance Committee during his term of office. He has never desired or taken, when solicited, an active part in politics, although upholding the principles of the party of his choice, which was formerly the Whig, latterly the Republican. His church preferences are for the Church of England; he is a communicant and vestryman of Christ Church. Mr. Taylor has always been a close observer of men, and a careful reader of the current affairs of the day. This advantage, coupled with excellent business capacity, has made him very successful in his undertakings. The fortune that his enterprise has won is wisely used for the comfort of his family and the happiness of others.

Mr. Taylor has been blessed in his family; of twelve chil- dren born to him, eleven reached maturity, though three have since died. In an elegant home he enjoys, with his family, the reward of his persevering industry. In his social relations he is genial, kind and agreeable, with a large circle of friends sincerely attached to him, on account of his worth as a man and a citizen. He was privileged in April, 1883, to celebrate his golden wedding amid the rejoicings of children and many friends. Mrs. Taylor is one of the Stod- dart family, who are old residents, and well known in Brooklyn.

Many men of fewer years than Mr. Taylor, and smaller fortune, have retired from active business; but his energetic disposition keeps him still in his counting-room, where he bids fair to remain for many years to come.

JAMES A. TAYLOR .- This well-known gentleman-a mem- ber of the firm of William Taylor & Sons, proprietors of the Columbian Iron Works, located on Adams street-is a son of Mr. William Taylor, and the eldest of twelve children. He was born in Hicks street, Brooklyn, March 9, 1834, and edu- cated at the Columbia Institute, long and favorably known in this city.

At the boyish age of sixteen, Mr. Taylor began to assist his father in the office of the works, and so grew into the confidence of his father, that in July, 1856, he was admitted as junior partner into the then newly-formed firm of Taylor, Campbell & Co.

In July, 1861, Mr. Campbell withdrew from the enterprise, and the firm of William Taylor & Sons was formed by the admission of Mr. Edwin S. Taylor ; and later, Mr. William J. Taylor became a partner with his father and brother, the firm at this date consisting of Mr. William Taylor, and Messrs. James A., Edwin S., and William J. Taylor.

Mr. Taylor was married, December 8, 1857, to Isabel, second daughter of the late Hon. John A. Cross, of Brook- lyn, a lady of high musical and artistic attainments, and a devout Christian, well-known for her unostentatious chari- ties. Their married life has been one of the pleasantest, marred only by the death of a young daughter and an only son, a bright and promising boy of fourteen years, in whom, and for whom, they hoped much that Providence had de- creed was never to be realized. Two daughters remain to them, by their presence adding to the comfort and happiness of their home. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor celebrated their "Silver Wedding," December 8, 1882. It was very largely attended by the elite of Brooklyn and New York, and every- thing conspired to render the occasion an unusually brilliant one, and long to be remembered by the many who were participants in it. Among the elegant floral decorations, which were so profuse and so costly as to excite more than a common amount of praise, a new and glistening wedding- cake stood side by side with the original wedding-cake which had been made, and one-half of it eaten, a quarter of a cen- tury before, and which was an object of much pleasant

A.LITTLE

687

THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES.

nterest to every one present. All except the first two years of their married life Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have passed in their present residence, No. 106 Wilson street, which Mr. Taylor erected in 1859.

Mr. Taylor's interest in matters of national and municipal concern is such as every true and intelligent citizen must take in the public weal ; but, though he is an earnest Repub- lican, politically, he is not, in the usual acceptation of the term, a politician, and has never been a seeker of any office at the hands of his fellow citizens. A few years ago, he was chosen a member ofthe Ward Association of the 19th Ward, and, while so serving, was made chairman of the finance committee of that body. Socially, his position is an envia- ble one, and he is very popular with the many who have the pleasure of his acquaintance. He was one of the select few who constituted the " Windsor" Club of Brooklyn, at its or- ganization, and is, at the present time, its President.

In his religious affiliations, Mr. Taylor is an Episcopalian. At one time he was prominent in the vestry of St. Paul's Church, in the Eastern District ; and for all its various interests his solicitude is deep and abiding.

If Mr. Taylor possesses a distinguishing characteristic, it is probity. In business, and in all the relations of life, his conduct is dictated by a profound regard for his own word and the rights of his fellow men, and he is honored and re- spected, alike, by those with whom he mingles, socially and commercially.

Hydraulic presses are made also by the Worthing- ton Hydraulie Works, by James Cornelius of the Puritan Iron Works, and by Samuel Jaques.

Architectural castings oeeupy many of the larger foundries. The first sueeessful builder of iron build- ings was and is a Brooklyn man-Mr. H. D. Badger ; and although well strieken in years, he yet has his offiee with Messrs. Howell & Saxtan. Among his ear- liest large contraets was the rebuilding, in 1853, of Messrs. Harpers' grand establishment on Franklin square and Cliff street, New York.

The term architectural castings includes not only iron columns, pillars and pilasters, girders, sills and lintels, but fire eseapes, sky-lights, posts and east iron fenees, ete., ete. The leading firms in this business are Cheney & Hewlett, the North Brooklyn iron foundry of Messrs. J. S. and F. Simpson ; the Eagle Iron Works of Jacob May; Francis S. Haas; Howell & Saxtan (the senior of this firm was our late Mayor); Daniel Sullivan, of 230 State street, established 1869, at 78 Smith street; Knight Brothers, and perhaps two or three more ; Brown & Patterson, corner of Hope and 8th streets, E. D., are the successors of James Ritchie, who established the business about 1850. They manufacture piano plates, grates, fenders, eorner pieces and ornamental eastings. They employ a capital of $75,000, and an annual produet of $120,000. The number of hands employed in a busy and prosperous season, in this branch of the business, ranges from 1,000 to 1,200, and the annual ont-put varies from $1,200,000.

We append biographieal sketch and portrait of Mr. D.Y. SAXTAN, as belonging to this branch of the foundry and machine shop industry. (See portrait on next page.)

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The civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the county of Kings and the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., from 1683 to 1884 Volume I, Part 171

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909, ed. cn; Brockett, L. P. (Linus Pierpont), 1820-1893; Proctor, L. B. (Lucien Brock), 1830-1900. 1n Publication date: 1884 Publisher: New York : W. W. Munsell & Co. Number of Pages: 1114

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909, ed. cn; Brockett, L. P. (Linus Pierpont), 1820-1893; Proctor, L. B. (Lucien Brock), 1830-1900. 1n
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : W. W. Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1114