USA > Ohio > Shelby County > History of Shelby County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 21
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The kettle and flask store room is to the north of the foundry. It is two stories in height and sized 32 x 80. On the ground floor the heavy sugar kettles are stored and in the second story the flasks are placed for the use of the moulders.
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A fire proof building, 36 x 18, sets a good distance from the rest of the shop in which the patterns are stored when not in use. The originals are all kept here. The patterns are most valuable, many of them being patented.
Fire protection for this factory is furnished by plugs and fire hose located in convenient places about the shop. Plenty of hose and several stand pipes have been provided and are supplied with water from a six-inch main sur- rounding the shop completely and drawing water from the city supply.
The water for use in the factory is supplied by an artesian well near the engine room from which a special pump draws twenty thousand gallons per day for factory use. This well is two hundred and thirty-nine feet deep.
When running at its full capacity the shop will employ three hundred men. The time record of these men is kept by two automatic registering clocks.
At every place possible the superintendent has introduced modern methods to save in the costs of production by reclaiming waste products. The cinder mill is a great factory in itself. There all the aluminum buffings are col- lected and sold to a firm where a special process is used to reclaim aluminum from them. It is understood that later a new machine and process will be installed to do this work at the plant. All the waste paper of the factory is baled and sold. Wherever a dollar can be saved in costs the proper utensils have been introduced to aid in this work. This is one of the greatest proofs that the Wagner Manufacturing plant is an up-to-date factory. A complete telephone system connecting the various parts of the factory with the general offices and the superintendent's office will soon be installed and will doubtless prove a great time and step saver.
The Wagner brothers have surely been progressive and have built a factory which is a great credit to Sidney and an honor to their enterprise and ability. Those who have the direct management of the firm in charge are W. H. Wagner, Milton Wagner, B. P. Wagner, Louis R. Wagner and L. Cable Wagner. As superintendent of the plant R. O. Bingham served since the founding of the company and has piloted the manufacturing end through all these years.
THE JOHN WAGNER SONS' BREWING COMPANY
The John Wagner Sons' Brewing Company was incorporated in 1896 and is managed by the three sons of the founder, Henry, Edward and Louis. The company consists of the family only and is organized with the mother, Mrs. Mary Wagner, president ; Henry, vice-president ; Edward, secretary and treas- urer, and these with the five daughters, directors. The brothers are members of the Ohio Brewers Association, and the United States Brewers Association, and are intimately connected with many other business enterprises.
Their present plant covers an acre of ground, is equipped with the latest and best cooling machinery, with storage cellars that have a capacity of 28,000 barrels. Their annual output exceeds 24,000 barrels of the Golden Pilsener Lager and the bottled Pale American Export.
John Wagner, the founder of the present company, came to Sidney when a
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little boy from Columbiana county, Ohio, where he was born in 1834. He rented a brewery from his brother Joseph, which he operated for one year, pur- chased an interest in the plant which he retained until 1876, when he became the sole owner of the business which he managed up to his death May 1, 1881. An extremely genial man he was very popular and had a wide acquaintance- ship in the county. He was one of five Wagner brothers, Joseph, George, Peter, Mathias, who settled in this county in its early history and whose names are interwoven with much of its development.
THE R. GIVEN AND SONS COMPANY
In pioneer days when the fabrics of the family were fashioned under the domestic roof of the calf-skins and cowhides were tanned for home use, and shoemakers made their rounds and shod the household. To meet the local demand vats for tanning were found in almost every township. Oak bark was plenty and years were given to tanning the product, consequently a pair of boots and shoes had the element of durability and a person was known by the tracks he made. These tanneries have long had their day. Such a thing as a farmer having a side of leather is not now known and a traveling shoe- maker would be a novelty; in short like the dodo, he is an extinct species.
Way back in the fifties a tannery stood on a very small portion of the ground now occupied by the main building and in a very small way tanning was done. When Robert Given, the originator of the present firm, came to Sidney in 1854, the business was flourishing in its small way. Mr. Given, the elder, did not enter into the firm until 1868 when with S. Alex Leckey he purchased the plant and business and made the beginning of the present business. At that time the plant consisted of one small building in front which can even now be distinguished from the additions by the ancient color of the brick. Here the business was started and at that time it was a huge industry and one of the very few in Sidney.
Mr. Leckey died in 1881 and the business was taken over by Mr. Given. Later when he died his sons, John and Charles, and J. C. Royon continued the business. Several additions have been made from time to time. The first to be made were in 1880, when the north building, the engine rooms and the first part of the yard were added. In 1901 the new tannery section was com- pleted and the last addition to the old plant was made in 1909 when the office section to the south was built.
In 1901 the company was incorporated under the laws of Ohio as the R. Given and Sons Company and under that firm name it has done business since on an ever increasing scale.
The main building of the tannery covers the lot 165 x 165 in extent. It is three stories and basement all over and a part four stories, thus making the floor space now occupied by the main building alone 108,000 square feet. The Givens believe in condensation and the utilization of every square foot of space, so the plant now covers every inch of the property included between the two alleys and Lane and Ohio streets.
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In addition to the main plant, a complete machine shop is maintained in a building across the street where the company employs three expert machin- ists to do the repairing to the machinery in the shop and plan and build new machines for use.
The store rooms and tan yard of the company have been located several squares from the main factory. This has been done because of lack of room. On East avenue the old Yenney factory and yards have been utilized for this purpose and tons of material are unloaded and stored here. The building is two stories and basement 150 x 75 in size.
Extensive as the present plant is the company is cramped for room and must build to accommodate their business soon. This year a part of the product has been withheld from further sales as they were sold up to the capacity of the plant in that department.
It will be remembered that some time ago the company started to make additions and asked the city council for the vacation of Lane street, which they claimed was practically unused. The street was not vacated and the additions of the company necessarily stopped through litigation. The matter remains as yet unsettled. However the tannery company has purchased the property formerly known as the Milholland home and all the section bounded by Lane street, Main avenue and the Big Four railway, and now only awaits the decision in regard to the vacation of the street to erect improvements which will more than double the extent of the plant and enlarge their business in enormous proportions. The plans and specifications for the new section are now being prepared by the Chas. H. Stehling Company of Milwaukee. As planned the new addition will be three story brick triangular in form. Leases have been secured from the state and from the New York Central lines granting the company use of the territory next the railroad and on the canal bank when the new building is erected. The buildings will be extended to the track for shipping purposes.
It is estimated that the new building alone will cost $90,000 and furnish employment for at least one hundred more men in addition to the one hun- dred and fifty now employed. Should this improvement be made the increase in the pay roll will amount to about $50,000 per year.
Wherever collars are used for horses the R. Given and Sons tannery is known. The business is particularly well established throughout the great Northwest. in Texas and the central states. However throughout America Given products are shipped. The leather goods are even used in Europe.
Starting from the office a trip through the factory was made and the proc- esses explained. The hides which are used by this tannery to be converted into the finished leather products are secured from Chicago, Cincinnati and other points where hide merchants job them to tanners. These hides come from the great packing houses of the country such as Armour, Swift and the like. The hide reaches the tanner in a salted condition ready for the first processes of tanning.
From the storage the salted or green hide is taken to the beam house where it is soaked and washed. It next goes through 'a machine which scrapes the
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hide and removes all particles of flesh which may be hanging on the hide. This is called green fleshing. After this process the hide is thrown into large lime vats where the hair of the hide is loosened so that it may be easily scraped off. It is next worked out on a beam and put through the process by which the lime and dirt is worked out and the hide thoroughly cleaned by being washed in a wash wheel. It is next bated making the leather soft and pliable.
The hide is now ready for the coloring or tanning. In large tanks which form the floor of a room over which are placed boards so that passage may be made are hung the hides for the soaking process.in the tan bark liquor which colors them. The liquor is changed every few days until the process of coloring is completed. After the coloring the hide is cured by being placed in a layaway between layers of tan bark.
After the hide has been cured it is taken to the shaving room, where by machinery all loose flesh is removed, the hide scoured by another machine which takes all the liquor and dirt out, then hung up to dry. It is then stuffed, set out by machine, then by hand, hung up to dry then reset.
The harness leather is next buffed black by staining, black set, greased off, bleached on the flesh side, trimmed, finished and brushed after which it is assorted and rolled ready for use or shipment.
The process in finishing the collar and fly net leather is somewhat different. From the tanning room it is taken to another part of the factory where it is pressed. Next through a splitting machine which splits the hide to any desired thickness from one and one-half to ten ounces weight. After splitting it is retanned, washed, brushed, stuffed and set. It is next tacked on a frame where it is left to dry and to stretch smooth. The complete hide is tacked on this frame. It is next trimmed, glassed, which gives it a smooth surface and glossed by machinery.
Perhaps the most wonderful machine in the Given factory is the measuring machine in which the leather hide is measured before converting it into the finished product. The machine is about twelve feet wide with numerous teeth set at regular intervals which do the gauging. A large dial on which is marked feet and inches is on top. The hide is started through this machine and when it comes out the dial registers the area in square feet and inches exactly. Every hole in the hide is missed and every indentation taken cog- nizance of. The hide which was measured to demonstrate the machine was 4934 square feet in area.
From the tannery where the hide is made ready for use the trip was made to the collar factory one part in the manufacture of the leather into the numerous products. In the cutting room the hide is cut over patterns by hand for the manufacture into horse collars of the ninety different varieties which the firm manufactures. Each collar part is cut by hand. The several parts are then assembled and sewed temporarily. On the tacking table the rim is tacked on and finally the parts are sewed permanently either with leather thong or thread as the collar specification calls for.
Next the stuffing and shaping room was visited where the collar is stuffed and shaped. Specially built machines do this work under the care of a man
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for each machine. The straw with which some brands of the collars are stuffed is prepared on the floor above where one or two men cut it into proper length and fill the chutes with it.
The first part to be stuffed is the rim that holds the hame to the collar. This is stuffed with long straw by means of a long steel tubular needle operated by power under the control of the workman. This long straw is dove tailed in rim which makes a continuous wad through the rim.
Next the collar is faced with curled hair by another man after which still another fills it out with short straw. It is finally backed out with straw cut in twelve inch lengths.
The forming or blocking process in which the collar is made to take the shape it is intended to, comes next. Four huge pressure forming machines do this work. The collar is placed in its shapeless form in this machine, clamped in place and the power turned on which forces it to the pattern shape. After shaping the buckles are riveted on and after the dyeing process on the basement floor the collar is ready for market.
All the work in the net factory is done by machinery except the lacing. Women are mostly employed here to do the work. First the leather is taken and cut into strips one inch in width. These are afterwards cut by machines into various widths made to suit the various lashes. The bars are punched by machinery. The lacing is all done by hand.
In connection with the net factory is operated a harness factory in which harness of all kinds is made much in the same way and with the same machinery as is used in the old trade way. The leather is cut by hand to suit the pattern of the harness piece to be made. It is then assembled and sewed and finished into the harness set. All kinds of strap work is also done here.
Two large boilers furnish steam for the three hundred horse power Ham- ilton Corliss engine which runs the plant. A great economy practiced by this factory is the use of the spent tan bark for fuel. This makes a very hot fire and is good for firing purposes. In addition to the regular steam equip- ment the engine room contains a large air composer, and a light plant which is able to generate power for 1,000 lights.
Another new feature is the complete water works system operated by the plant. In a specially built cellar is located huge steam pumps which force water all over the building. Later a large storage tank will be built with the capacity of 100,000 gallons. A sprinkler system furnishes fire protection.
The shipping department of the firm is located on the ground floor in the old section. Here all the goods are prepared for shipment and sent out under the direction of able shipping clerks. The office is on the first floor of the new south building and is large and commodious.
The direct management of the company is in the charge of the brothers Charles and John Given. J. C. Royon also assumes direct responsibility. Others about the city own stock in the enterprise.
A progressive and increasing business, a credit to Sidney and an honor to its builders and owners, the R. Given & Sons tannery stands as one of the largest and best among the manufacturing enterprises of Sidney.
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THE AMERICAN STEEL SCRAPER COMPANY
The American Steel Scraper Company, operating one of the most impor- tant manufacturing enterprises of Sidney, O., was organized in 1876 by B. Slusser, inventor of the first steel drag scraper known to the trade, and W. S. Magill. Soon after the establishment of the factory it passed into the hands of W. H. C. Goode, who is now president of the company. W. E. Kilborn is treasurer and general manager. The plant, located at the corner of Court street and Wilkinson avenue, is a large and up-to-date concern, well equipped with improved machinery and all modern facilities, and the business is a large and prosperous one. The concern manufactures various styles of steel drag scrapers, plows, wheelbarrows, etc., and its products are shipped all over the world.
SLUSSER MCLEAN SCRAPER COMPANY
The Slusser-McLean Scraper Company was established as a partnership in 1880, by Benjamin Slusser, inventor of the first steel drag scraper known to the trade, and William T. McLean. A number of years previously Mr. Slusser and William H. C. Goode had established the American Steel Scraper Company, the partnership being continued until Mr. Goode bought out Mr. Slusser in the year above mentioned. Mr. Slusser died in 1899, but the business has since been continued under the guiding hand of Mr. McLean. The concern is engaged in the manufacture of steel drag scrapers, wheeled scrapers, also line road-grading plows, and rooters, the product being shipped all over the United States and Canada and exports being made to foreign countries. The plant located at East avenue and Shelby street, is an up-to-date one in every respect and is the only water-power plant in Sidney.
THE SIDNEY STEEL SCRAPER COMPANY
The Sidney Steel Scraper Company, whose plant is located at Poplar and Walnut avenues, was founded about 1880 by William Haslup and J. H. Doering, as a partnership concern, and was thus conducted until 1892, when it was incorporated, May 15th, with William Haslup, president and J. D. Barnes, secretary. Mr. Haslup died in April. 1912, and was succeeded as president by W. A. Perry, with N. L. Synder, secretary. they being the only local officers. The company is doing a prosperous business in the manufacture of steel scrapers (Haslup's Scraper), wheelbarrows, contractors' grading plows, road graders and general road machinery, the product being shipped all over the world.
THE BIMEL BUGGY COMPANY
The Bimel Buggy Company, manufacturers of the famous Bimel buggies and carriages, was founded in Sidney, O., about 1849.' Five or six years later he moved the business to St. Mary's, O., where it was continued subsequently for many years. The company was reorganized in 1896 and the plant moved
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to Sidney, where it has since remained. The concern has acquired a notable reputation for the excellence of its product, which has a wide sale. The officers of the company (1912) are: A. C. Nobes, president; I. C. Minnich, vice-president; T. E. Miller, secretary ; S. V. Wilcutts, assistant treasurer ; T. M. Miller, treasurer and general manager.
THE SIDNEY MANUFACTURING COMPANY
The Sidney Manufacturing Company, engaged in the manufacture of metal buggy seats, was incorporated in 1907 with a capital stock of $75,000, by A. J. Hess, L. M. Studevant, Herbert Sheets, I. H. Thedieck and P. P. Dyke. The above mentioned, with the addition of A. A. Gerlach and E. J. Griffis, constitute the board of directors. On its organization the company took possession of the old Maxwell mill, which was purchased by Mr. Thedieck for $17,000, and which, with a few necessary improvements and equipment makes an admirable plant for the business. The concern, of which Mr. I. H. Thedieck is president, is among the more important business enterprises of Sidney.
THE MONARCH MANUFACTURING COMPANY
The Monarch Manufacturing Company originated about twenty years ago and was conducted for some time by Sebastian & May at the present site of the Sidney Tool Works. The old concern was not very successful and the plant was finally purchased by A. P. Wagner, who after some legal difficulties in regard to patents, removed it, with machinery, to Detroit, Mich., in 1896. Its career there was handicapped by financial difficulties, but it existed there until August, 1909, when it was purchased by I. H. Thedieck, of Sidney, O., and brought to this city. Mr. Thedieck is now president of the company, with W. E. Whip, manager. The directors are I. H. Thedieck, L. M. Studevant. W. H. Wagner, A. J. Hess, and E. J. Griffis.
SIDNEY ELEVATOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY
Sidney Elevator Manufacturing Company was established in 1902 by the present proprietor, W. R. Blake, and is engaged in the manufacture of ele- vators, dumb waiters, box hoists and concrete mixing machines. The concern has an up-to-date plant in the northeast part of the town, near the Big Four tracts. Mr. Blake was formerly proprietor also of the Superior Broom Com- pany, which he operated in connection with his present plant, but which went out of existence about two years ago.
THE BUCKEYE CHURN COMPANY
The business controlled by this company was transferred to Sidney from Carey, Wyandot county, O., in 1891. It was then operated as a partnership concern by James Anderson and Wilson Carothers, and under the same name. The present plant. at Park street and the C. H. & D. railroad, was built at that time. In 1904 the concern incorporated with a capital stock of
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$100,000, with James Anderson, president; Lawrence B. Anderson, vice- president, and Wilson Carothers, secretary and treasurer. The stock was increased in 1911 to $150,000, and at present the officers are : James Ander- son, president; Robert Anderson, vice-president; Thomas Anderson, secre- tary and L. B. Anderson, treasurer. The directors include the above mentioned officers, with the addition of Wilson Carothers. The company, which is doing a fine business, manufactures churns, washing-machines, buckets, heavy horse pails, colonial columns for residences, bank furniture and finish for houses, besides doing a general wholesale and retail lumber business, an up-to-date sawmill forming part of the plant. The company are agents also for B. A. Hjorth & Co., of Stockholm, Sweden, controlling the United States and Canadian trade for the Primus cream separators, some of the parts of which are made at the Sidney plant.
THE FOLDING MACHINE COMPANY
The enterprise known as The Eclipse Folding Machine Company was started in 1884, by A. T. Boscom and L. M. Studevant. As a partnership under the name of Boscom Folder Company, the product being a newspaper folding machine, the invention of Mr. A. T. Boscom. Being the first suc- cessful medium-priced newspaper folding machine built, it met with success from the start. After about three years Mr. John- W. Skillen purchased an interest in the firm and Mr. Boscom retired. New designs were brought out from time to time and some years later the name was changed to Boscom- Eclipse Folder Company, and finally the "Boscom" was dropped and the present name of The Eclipse Folding Machine Company was adopted.
The partnership between Studevant & Skillen continued without inter- ruption until April, 1906, when Mr. Skillen desiring to retire from business sold his interest to Mr. Studevant, who became the sole owner.
Being engaged in many other enterprises and having to entrust much of the management of the business Mr. Studevant thought it prudent to convert the business into corporate form which he immediately proceeded to do under the laws of Ohio with a full pail up capital stock of $50,000.
Mr. Studevant is the present president and principal owner of the com- pany. Mr. W. C. Horr has been associated with him as secretary and general manager since January, 1912, and the business is in a highly prosperous condition.
The company's products are sold in all parts of the civilized world and probably one-half of all the medium-priced newspaper folding machines in use at this time bear the name plate of The Eclipse Folding Machine Company.
MENTGES FOLDER COMPANY
Mentges Folder Company, manufacturers of newspaper and job folding machines, with plant at the corner of Oak and Poplar avenues, Sidney, was established by George Mentges about 1897. The original factory was a small building on South Main avenue. In 1906 the present factory building
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-a fine modern brick structure-was erected and the business transferred to this location. Since then improvements have been made and the floor space more than doubled. About fifteen men-mostly skilled mechanics- are now employed and the output of the concern is shipped all over the United States and Canada and to foreign countries. Mr. George Mentges is still proprietor of the business.
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