History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 65

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1104

USA > Ohio > Summit County > History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio > Part 65

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There are two creditable upholstering estab- lishments in Akron, where are manufactured everything in the line of upholstered stock. es- specially lounges and mattresses. The first is the house of Klinger & Dodge, originally Klinger & Gintz. Their place of business is at 126 Howard street. The other manufactory is that of K. Gintz, 114 Mill street, which was opened in 1880. The work at both these estab- lishments is done in the best manner, and sold at reasonable prices.

Edam & Johnson. manufacturers of commer- cial fertilizers and best quality of Kelly Island White Lime, have their works at the corner of Cedar and William streets. George Edam be- gan the business in 1877, and Charles N. John- son purchased an interest in January, 1880. Their establishment is a large one ; they burn about forty tons of lime in twenty-four hours, and grind twenty tons of fertilizers in the same length of time. Their new buildings are 40x60 feet ; the old ones nearly the same dimensions. Their engine room is 25 feet square. They furnish ground limestone, land-plaster, pure bonedust, white lime, plastering hair, calcined plaster and cement.

The Akron Straw Board Company are located in the Sixth Ward, Middlebury. Their works were established in 1873, by the present pro- prietors, J. F. Seiberling and M. Seiberling. Since that time their business has steadily in- creased, until it has now reached the handsome aggregate of $75,000 to $100,000 per annum. The works consist of three two-story buildings. one being 30x100 feet in size, one 40x85 feet. and one 40x60. These buildings are supplied with the most approved styles of machinery manufactured expressly for this line of business, and on which numerous improvements have been made by the members of the firm. The

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mills are in every respect thoroughly equipped, and for general appointments and capacity will compare favorably with any similar establish- ment in the United States. The products of these works, which consist principally of a superior quality of steam-dried straw board, in numbers ranging from thirty-five to one hun- dred and fifty. are used for a variety of pur- poses, and meet with a ready sale in the Phila- delphia, New York and Boston markets, where this trade is principally located. The capacity of the mills is at present from eight to ten tons of finished board per day, the demand for which is fully equal to the supply.

The firm of May & Fieberger are successors to Cramer & May in the manufacture of gal- vanized iron cornice, window caps and other work. They are located at 114 North Howard street, and do a large and successful busi- ness.

Caoutchouc, or, as it is commonly called, India rubber, has within the last twenty-five or thirty years become a very important article of com- merce and industry. It is procured from the creamy exudations of several plants, and is found in abundance in a number of tropical countries, the principal sources of supply being Para, Java, Penang, Singapore, Assam and Central America. The best quality of rubber comes from Para, though much of the Central American product is in quality nearly equal to it.

The India rubber tree is a beautiful specimen of the vegetable kingdom, being very tall and straight, with smooth bark, and measuring in many cases eighteen inches through at the base. In these trees small longitudinal gashes are cut, from which flows a white sap, of about the con- sisteney of cream, which is conveyed through an earthen spout to a trough placed beneath. The curing process is performed by means of a fire made from the nuts of the Urucury palm, the smoke of which has the peculiar property of solidifying and curing the rubber in a very thorough manner. The workman dips a wood- en paddle in the creamy fluid, turing it quickly in order to separate the sap as much as possi- ble, then passes it repeatedly through the smoke, until the substance assumes a grayish yellow color and becomes solidified. After the rubber has accumulated to a thickness of about two inches on each side of the paddle, it is cut open on one side, peeled from the tool, and

hung up to dry out the water that accumulates between the layers.

The color of the cured rubber is a light yellow, but it gradually changes until with age it takes on the dark brown so familiar in the rubber of commerce.

An effort is being made, aided by the Brazil- ian Government, to systematize the cultivation of India rubber, and this, if successful, must largely increase the production beyond the re- quirements of manufacturers, thus decreasing the cost of the raw material, as also of the finished product.

The chemical properties of India rubber are somewhat remarkable, inasmuch as, unlike all other solid vegetable products, it contains no oxygen, the constituents, according to Dr. Ures' analysis, being 90 per cent carbon and 10 per cent hydrogen. It is quite insoluble in alcohol, but in ether, derived from alcohol by washing with water, it readily dissolves and affords a col- orless solution. When the ether is evaporated, the rubber becomes again solid. When treated with hot naptha distilled from native petrole- um, or from coal tar, it swells to thirty times its former bulk, and if triturated with a pestle and pressed through a sieve it affords a varnish.

The present skilled stage in the manufacture of India rubber has only been reached after years of patient labor. To get two pieces of clean rubber to unite firmly together, at their recently cut surface ; to obtain facile adhesion by the use of hot water ; to cut the rubber by the use of a wet blade ; to collect the refuse pieces, make them up into blocks, and then cut the blocks into slices, required years of time, the greatest patience and ingenious machinery to effect. Mackintosh, Hancock and Goodyear alike record the simple manipulations they first employed, and the impression produced at last when they compare their individual efforts with the gigantic and complex machinery now used to secure the same result.

Of all the wonderful changes affected by chance, observation or chemical experiment of late years, few have been so important as the change in India rubber by the process called vulcanizing, which was discovered and patented by Charles Goodyear, of New York. The union of sulphur with rubber, to give new properties so valuable that it may be said the prior well- known quality of elasticity is now rendered so variable that almost every range, from the most

A. C. Norio

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delicate tenuity to the hardness of metals, is obtained at will by the manufacturer.

India rubber, until the time of Goodyear's invention, had been greatly restricted in use owing to the fact of its being entirely unfitted for many purposes ; but now, with extraor- dinary impetus, the ingenuity of manufactur- ers was employed in producing an immense variety of articles, which were constantly de- manded by the ever augmenting utility of vulcanized rubber in the arts and in mechan- ical construction. This invention, judged by its great usefulness to society, deserves to rank among the leading discoveries of the nine- teenth century.

There are three different and distinct classes of manufacturers of rubber goods, viz., those manufacturing belting, hose, packing, springs, wringer rolls, tubing-in short, goods used for mechanical purposes ; those making boots and shoes and clothing, and those producing the thousand and one small articles of utility and ornament which are ever increasing in variety.

There is but one factory in Akron of rubber goods, but this one produces all articles made of caoutchouc adapted to mechanical purposes. This is the Akron Rubber Works, located at 111 Factory street. These works were estab- lished in 1869. The resources and trade of this concern have more than kept pace with the general prosperity of Akron. The capital employed is $75,000, and the annual trade reaches $300,000. The buildings occupied by these works consist of a main building, 120x60 feet (three stories), an additional back building of 80 feet in length, and a stock-room of 50 feet in length, all built of brick. The parties composing the firm are B. F. Goodrich, H. F. Wheeler and B. T. Morgan. The trade of these works extends over various States be- sides our own, and their products, among which may be found belting from 2-inch to 24- inch in width, 2 3 and 4 ply, steam packing for making steam-tight joints, standard hose of all kinds and for all purposes, which are unsurpassed, many of the processes used being of their own invention and the result of many years' experience. Hose for fire department service, springs, grain drill tubes, wringer rolls, billiard-table cushions, and, in fact, all articles made of rubber adapted to mechanical pur- poses.

The Akron Paper Company, the proprietors

of which are Thomas Phillips & Co., have a fine brick mill, 100 feet square, with two floors, containing a full equipment of improved machinery, which is propelled by two steam- engines of respectively 80 and 18 horse power. They make a specialty of manilla flour-sack paper, turning out, on the average, 2 tons every 24 hours, and consuming 3} tons of old rope per diem. The number of hands em- ployed is 70 ; annual product, between 600 and 700 tons of paper, worth in the neighborhood of $160,000.

Besides a very large local demand by the millers of this city, the Akron Paper Company have considerable trade with the millers west to Chicago and St. Louis, and some Southern custom ; the aggregate demand being fully equal to the full producing capacity of their mill.

The business was inaugurated in 1872 by Thomas Phillips (deceased in 1878), and it was through his efforts that the enterprise was made a success.

Merrill & Ewart manufacture, on Brook street, Merrill's patent vitrified diamond roof- ing tile. This firm commenced the manu- facture of this tile in Akron in 1875. The works consist of a two-story brick, 64x32 feet in size, with a wing 24x48, and were erected by the firm at a cost of $10,000. One 40- horse-power engine is used in driving the machinery, which consists in the main of a clay mill, clay packer and tile presser. The trade extends through Ohio, Pennsylvania and the Eastern States generally. The house has an agency in New York City, Boston and Phil- adelphia. The sizes of tile made by this con- cern are 14x8 inches and 6x10 inches, and require 250 and 500 respectively to the square. This firm also manufacture a superior quality of drain tile.

The business of D. A. James, designer and manufacturer of fine wood work, was inaugu- rated by him in 1875, on Main street, between Market & Mill, and was removed to the present location, 218 West Market street, in 1876. W. P. DeLand was admitted to partnership May 1, 1879, when the firm assumed the above title. The partnership continued one year, when Mr. DeLand retired. Mr. James makes fine office and church furniture from architects' or their own designs. All their work in this line is executed in a highly artistic and workmanlike

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manner, from the best selected materials. He makes a specialty of ornate picture and mirror frames and room cornices, from unique and original designs, with the most elaborate and artistic finish. He produces special designs to order, which are never duplicated except by permission. This superb art work is executed in precious natural woods, some of them very rare, including Hungarian ash, English oak, burr oak, chestnut, white holly, ebony, African amboine, bird's-eye maple, silver-gray maple, thuya and tulip woods. Making a constant study of this special line of manufacture, and exercising cultured taste and skill in its perfect development, these gentlemen have met with marked success in their sedulous efforts to please their numerous patrons. He likewise pays special attention to wood decorations for dwellings, such as window and door casings. etc., in natural woods susceptible of rich carv- ing and high finish.

The Akron Varnish Works, of which Kubler & Beck are the proprietors, were established in Akron by E. G. Kubler, who, after many years of practical scientific experience in some of the largest manufactories of varnishes and japans in the East, concluded to "go West." He found Akron to be an advantageous point for manufacturing and shipping, and the de- cision to locate here proved to be a wise one.

Mr. Kubler is a thoroughly skilled chemist, possessing intimate knowledge of all its de- tails, and enjoys the prestige of careful busi- ness training, ripe experience and uprightness in all his dealings. With this ample fortifica- tion, he has constituted it his strong point to manufacture none but the purest and best goods. After patient experimenting, he has brought the production of black baking japan to such perfection that even his competitors acknowledge the fact that it is unsurpassed in quality and durability.

Owing to the constant growth of the busi- ness thus established on a firm foundation, it was found necessary to enlarge the facilities for manufacturing, and a copartnership was formed under the style of the Akron Varnish Works, Kubler & Beck, proprietors. Mr. Beck is also a gentleman of fine business ability, and has acquired a practical knowledge of producing processes in this line. Their goods are sold all over the United States to the largest manufact- urers of every description who have occasion

to use varnishes. Their old works are located on Bowery street; their new works on South Main street.

Lager beer, in its use among Americans, is fast superseding whisky. The perfection to which its manufacture is brought in Akron is due in a great measure to F. Horix, who carries on a brewery on North Forge street. Mr. Horix came to Akron in 1868, and, soon after his arrival here, entered upon the brewery business, and has continued in it to the present time. His first start was in a small building which he erected on Exchange street. The buildings which he now occupies consist of the brewery proper, a three-story structure of stone and brick, 68x92 feet, a warehouse of brick, 14x

14 feet, and an ice-house 30x80 feet. The cellar used for cooling purposes is beneath the brewery, inclosed by stone, and is 68x90 feet. The arrangement of these buildings is most per- fectly adapted to the business. These build- ings were erected in 1873 by F. Overholtz. The premises, with all improvements, were pur- chased by Mr. Horix March 1, 1879, and imme- diately taken possession of by him. The capacity of this establishment is 20,000 barrels per annum. Excellent lager beer is also manu- factured by the Wolf Ledge Ale and Lager Beer Brewery, at 154 Sherman street, by Will- iam Burkhardt, proprietor.

At 210 Cherry street, west of the Brick Mill, are manufactured the " Celebrated Cahow Pumps," by H. J. Cahow. He makes deep- well pumps a speciality. His work includes a great variety of force, suction and chain pumps. He also manufactures water pipe. Mr. Cahow does an extensive business in his line.

The city of Akron is not only famous far and wide for the superiority of the sewer pipe and stoneware made within her limits, but like- wise for the excellence of the fire brick here produced.

For a series of years J. Park Alexander, proprietor of the Diamond Fire Brick Works, made a careful, erudite study of the subject of making first-class fire brick, expending many thousands of dollars in his laudable endeavors to bring about the consummation he so desired to achieve, and being ultimately rewarded with signal success.

Mr. Alexander commenced the manufacture of fire brick in 1866-the first one to start in this business in Northern Ohio, if not in the

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entire State. His previous large experience in the production of stoneware from the chemi- cally peculiar clays of this region, with very satisfactory results, led him to experiment therewith in the making of fire or furnace brick. It was soon demonstrated, however, that only a low-grade brick, suitable for ordi- nary heating apparatus, could be made from it. In no wise disheartened at the comparative failure, he subsequently made a thorough test of the best elays from New Jersey, Pennsylva- nia and elsewhere, laying under contribution, as it were, the divers aluminous deposits of the whole country, but still without the successful outcome aimed at. Though baffled, he contin- ued to persevere in his research after the cov- eted secret, ever keeping in view the adage that " persistency wins the day " at last.

In 1870, or thereabouts, Mr. Alexander inau- gurated a series of experiments with the sili- eeous pebbles found in abundance in the con- glomerate rock formation near the western cor- poration line of Akron, feeling assured that therein he had the material for the production of an infusible and non-shrinkable brick. After long and patient study and experimenting with silica and alumina, and a large pecuniary out- lay, he succeeded in discovering a process whereby fire brick of unequaled quality and durability could be made from silica alone. He made application for letters-patent on his new process, which were duly granted.

The material alluded to was analyzed by Prof. Cassell, and found to contain 98.75 per cent of pure silica-an extraordinary propor- tion-and affording an advantage not enjoyed by other localities. Mr. Alexander has availed himself of this, and for about three years past has made the silica fire brick, known as the " Diamond" brand.

The manufactory of Allison & Hart is on Bank street, Sixth Ward. This firm mannfact- ures fire briek also on a large seale ; they also make stove and furnace linings, and ground fire clay for laying fire brick.

The uncommonly fine plastie clays of Summit County, rich in alumina, and practically inex- haustible in extent of deposit, formed the basis for the early inception of pottery mannfacture in Akron. It was started here on a somewhat extensive seale, when the town had but a few hundred inhabitants, it being the first mechan- ical industry of importance established here.

From the date of its introduction, about 1830, it gradually grew in volume up to the year 1852, the surrounding country being supplied with brown, yellow and stone ware from this point. Up to the period mentioned, the means of transportation were restricted to wagon con- veyance and the Ohio Canal, and, consequently, the commercially tributary area was limited.

In 1852, however, when the Atlantic & Great Western Railway was opened to Akron, the business gained a fresh impetus, and has steadily increased in volume ever since.

The fame of Akron stoneware has extended pretty much all over the country, and it may be qualifiedly affirmed that it is the only real stone- ware made on the continent. The peculiar fire qualities of the clay found here are such that the ware made therefrom is capable of standing any degree of heat to which it may be sub- jected ; neither fire nor hot water will affect it injuriously. Hence, it may be used the same as iron vessels for culinary purposes. On the contrary. the so-called stoneware made in New Jersey and elsewhere, from the friable clay of other sections, must be " handled with care," and ean only be preserved from fracture by keep- ing it at a safe distance from calorie influence.

By reason of this fact, Akron stoneware has justly achieved a wide reputation, and the de- mand therefor is rapidly extending. It is now being shipped largely to all parts of the West and Northwest (Chicago being one of the prin- cipal distributing points), to the South, to the interior of Pennsylvania, and latterly, consider- able orders for this excellent ware have come from Philadelphia, New York, Boston and other Eastern cities.

The business of Whitmore, Robinsons & Co., was established in a comparatively small way, in 1857, by a number of practical potters, under the style of Johnson, Whitmore & Co. They commeneed with one kiln, and their whole area for working consisted of about a quarter of an aere of land, situate on the south side of Market street, Middlebury, now the Sixth Ward of Akron, where they set to work making yellow- ware, then a new manufacture in this section. For- tune favored them, and their business prospered.

In January, 1862, Mr. Johnson retired, and in the following April. James B. Manton be- came a member of the firm, whereupon the style changed to Whitmore, Robinsons & Co .. con- sisting of Richard Whitmore, Thomas Robinson,

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William Robinson and James B. Manton. In 1866, Henry Robinson was taken into the co- partnership. From time to time, commodious additions were made to their works, thus in- creasing their producing capacity, until they had the satisfaction of knowing that theirs was the most extensive and complete stoneware pottery in the world. They run six mills, oper- ated by three steam engines, with a total of 175- horse-power.

While this company make stoneware their principal manufacture, they also produce all kinds of yellow and Rockingham ware. In this department, they have two up-draft kilns, which are run to their full capacity.

The buildings of this immense concern have the following dimensions : Main building, of brick (stoneware department), 177x50 feet, three stories ; kiln sheds and engine houses attached, 177x50 feet, one story ; yellow ware warehouse, of brick, 80x34 feet, three stories, with wing 20x30 feet ; yellow and Rockingham ware fac- tory, of stone, 70x36 feet, three stories ; stone- ware factory, of stone, 180x36 feet, two stories ; slipware shop, of brick, 50x40 feet, two stories ; dipping-house and green-house, frame, 100x30 feet, two stories ; other small buildings for va- rious uses, about half an acre of area. The aggregate floor surface of these works is 97.660 square feet, or about two and a quarter acres.

They ship their goods principally to the West, and Southwest as far as Texas, while they also have a growing Eastern trade.

The Akron Pottery, owned and carried on by E. H. Merrill & Co., was established in 1861. They do a large and prosperous business in the manufacture of beer and ink bottles, pump cylinders and all styles of stone tobacco pipes. They manufacture a variety of novelties in stone- ware, which are the invention of the proprietors, and they have also made many improvements in machinery, especially applicable to this branch of business, among which we may men- tion a bottle machine and a pipe machine, con- structed on new and improved principles. They have also invented an improvement in clay mills, which greatly facilitates the manufacture of their specialties. The buildings occupied by this firm consist of one three-story structure, 30x60 feet in size, and one-story building, 70x100 feet, equipped with all the necessary machinery and implements required in this branch of industry, with an engine and boiler

40-horse-power. Their place of business is at 404 South Main street.

Meyres & Hall manufacture Ohio stoneware, having their office and warehouse near the depot of the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio Railroad. Their works, although located in another town, may appropriately be classed among the indus- tries of Akron. The business was established in 1864, by S. L. Stall & Co., at Mogadore, and passed into the hands of the present proprietors in 1873. They manufacture a superior grade of goods, widely known as " Ohio Stoneware," consisting in part of churns, butter, pickle and snuff-jars, milk pans, jugs, water fountains, fruit, preserve and cream-jars, bean pots, stove tubes, etc. The office and warerooms of the firm are located near the union depot, Akron, and the potteries at Mogadore. These consist of one building, 60x40 feet, with an L-shaped addition, 40x50 feet ; another building, 40x50 feet, and numerous smaller structures, sheds, etc. These are supplied with all the necessary machinery and appliances, operated by one 20-horse-power engine and boiler, which serves to turn the lathes and to heat the buildings. All the ma- chinery is of the most perfect construction, es- pecially adapted to this line of business.

Stoneware is manufactured by F. J. Knapp, wholesale dealer, east of Fountain street. He and his father began business at that point many years ago. The present buildings were erected by them. Mr. Knapp purchases his clay in Springfield. He has two kilns. His works have a capacity of 14,000 gallons a week. His motive power is furnished by a steam en- gine of thirty-horse-power.

At 115, 117 and 119 Fountain street, are the pottery works of Whitsel, Gibbs & Co., man- ufacturers and wholesale dealers in Ohio stone- ware. Their buildings were erected over twenty years ago by F. J. Knapp and his father, who afterward sold to Beecher & Lantz. The latter ran the works one year and sold them to Peter Bodenbohl, who disposed of them to Shenkle Brothers & Mann. This firm conducted the business until last year, when the works were purchased by the present proprietors. The capacity of the establishment is 15,000 gal- lous a week. There are three kilns. Their trade goes West, largely.

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History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 65

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848- Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey Number of Pages: 1104

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1104