USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Dayton > History of the city of Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio, Volume I > Part 66
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THE THRESHER VARNISH COMPANY.
The manufacture of varnishes as an industry in Dayton was begun by the late Ebenezer Thresher. In the organization of the carworks, which in connec- tion with Mr. E. E. Barney he had established in the year 1849, it had been neces- sary to bring the foremen of the several departments from the east. Among them was Mr. Charles F. Tower, who came to take charge of the painting de- partment. Great difficulty was experienced in obtaining varnishes of suitable quality and adaptation for use upon railroad cars. Mr. Tower had some acquaint- ance with the art of varnish making and was encouraged to make such varnishes as were required in the business in connection with his other duties. Upon Mr. Thresher's final retirement from the car business in 1858 the firm of E. Thresher & Company, consisting of Ebenezer Thresher, Charles F. Tower and J. B. Thresher, was established to carry on the manufacture and sale of all kinds of var- nishes and japans, having special reference to the high grade of goods required for use upon railway cars. At this time there were only two other such firms known to exist west of the Alleghany mountains. This line of business though yet in its infancy was already giving promise of the large proportions which it has since assumed. It was the purpose of the firm which has ever since been steadfastly maintained, to furnish goods of the highest standard of quality. The firm began business with the opening of the year 1859, and immediately found demand for its goods from the rapidly multiplying railroads of the west. Several of these roads have since expanded into some of the largest railroad systems of the country and the business relations thus begun have been maintained con- tinuously down to the present time. As the growth of the country has brought new demands in the varnish line it has been the policy to meet such demands with a uniform grade of high standard varnishes adapted to the consumers wants. Soon after the establishment of the business another branch of industry was added in the boiling of linseed oil. Dayton was then the center of the flax-growing district of the country and had taken the lead in the crushing of linseed oil. A demand began to spring up for a boiled linseed oil, which was thus purified and made better adapted for general painting purposes. The linseed oil crushers had not then the facilities for the purpose and as a knowledge of the proper treat- ment of linseed oil is the foundation of the varnishmaker's art, this firm was called upon to supply the demand, which soon assumed and has since maintained large proportions. Although the source of supply for flaxseed has moved up into the northwest carrying the crushing business along with it until but little flaxseed is raised in the district adjacent to Dayton, this city is still known all over the coun- try as a source of supply of the very highest quality of boiled linseed oil to be ob- tained in the land. In 1867 Mr. Tower retired from the firm. In the year 1868 Mr. E. M. Thresher who had been the bookkeeper of the firm from its beginning
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became a partner in the business. In 1871 Mr. Albert Thresher who had come from the east in 1863 to assume a position with the firm was admitted as a part- ner. On January 1, 1874, Mr. E. Thresher retired from the business which was thereafter conducted under the name of Thresher & Company. In 1901 the firm was changed to a joint stock company under the name of the Thresher Varnish Company and Mr. Herbert C. Hopkins, who had been the bookkeeper since 1883, and Mr. John A. Pfanner, who had held a like position since 1890, became stock- holders and together with those previously named became the directors of the company, J. B. Thresher becoming president; E. M. Thresher, vice-president and superintendent ; Albert Thresher, secretary and treasurer, and H. C. Hop- kins, assistant secretary.
THE BROWNELL COMPANY.
The beginnings for the present Brownell Company reach back to 1855 when E. H. Brownell began in a small shop at the corner of Cooper and Foundry streets the manufacture of boilers and sheet-iron work. The members of the firm in 1864 were John R. Brownell, James H. Brownell, E. H. Brownell, George J. Rob- erts and Josiah Lee. In 1867 the firm was reorganized under the name of Brow- nell, Roberts and Company. In 1871 the company was incorporated as the Brow- nell and Kielmeier Manufacturing Company. The company continued until 1878 when on account of the panic of that year it made an assignment. At the sale John R. Brownell bought two-thirds and Martin Schnebel one-third of the prop- erty. In 1884 Mr. Brownell became sole owner. In 1888 the company was in- corporated as Brownell and Company. In that year the business was moved to Findlay street north of First street, where a portion of the boiler plant had been since 1883. Here the buildings of the company now occupy a tract of thir- teen acres.
The present corporation dates its existence to 1903, when the business was re- organized. The capital stock is nine hundred and fifty thousand dollars. A. H. Kemper is president and general manager and A. E. Hartnett, secretary and treasurer.
About three hundred hands are afforded employment. The plant has an an- nual capacity of two thousand five hundred boilers and five hundred engines, and the product is shipped to all parts of the United States, Canada, Mexico and Alaska.
CRAWFORD, MCGREGOR AND CANBY COMPANY.
THE CRAWFORD, MCGREGOR AND CANBY COMPANY, or, as it is more familiarly known, the Dayton Last Works, is the largest and greatest institution of its kind in the world.
The work and grounds cover six acres, and are equipped with all the modern improvements known for last making. Beautiful lawns, trees and flower beds surround the building.
The business was established in Dayton in 1829 and was conducted along strongly conservative lines (commensurate with the times, for modern shoe mak-
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ing is a development of recent years) until about twenty years ago. Previous to that time but six or seven lathes and forty or fifty employees were employed.
The main building is two hundred and thirty-six by sixty feet, with a wing eighty-four by forty feet, all two and a half stories high. Back of and ad- joining the main building, is the former roughing building one hundred by fifty feet and one story in height. Adjoining this building is an iron building used for dry storage and blocks, etc. This building is one hundred by forty feet, two and one-half stories in height. There is another block building one hundred and twenty-six by forty feet, two and a half stories in height. The capacity of the factory at the present time is one hundred pair of finished lasts per day. It employs one hundred hands and works all the year round. It supplies the trade throughout the country and has gained a large foreign trade.
Until a few years ago all of the timber buying and roughing of blocks was done at Dayton, but the demand for timber became so great and the supply so scant in the closely populated states that the company established its block plant at Gaylord, Michigan, where its works cover twelve acres and are as fully equipped as is the Dayton plant. The number of employees at Gaylord is from one hundred and fifty to two hundred.
The company has recently inaugurated a special department whose business it is to originate and design new features, thus demanding that this department keep in close touch with everything pertaining to style in the shoe market.
The officers of the company are: President, W. H. Crawford; First Vice- President, John McGregor; Second Vice-President, H. B. Canby; Secretary- Treasurer, W. H. Blackeney.
THE W. P. CALLAHAN COMPANY.
The works owned at the present time by the W. P. Callahan Company were established in 1841 by C. Thompson on Shawnee street between Wayne and Wyandotte streets. In 1852 Mr. Thompson went into partnership with Thomas McGregor and John Clary, the firm becoming Thompson, McGregor and Com- pany. In 1856 the plant was removed to the present location, on east Third street. In 1857 W. P. Callahan bought the interest of Mr. Clary, the firm name remaining the same for a time. In 1864 the style of the firm was changed to Mc- Gregor and Callahan. In 1868 W. P. Callahan became sole proprietor. In 1876 Thomas DeArmon became co-partner and the firm name was changed to W. P. Callahan and Company. In 1885 W. K. Callahan, a son of W. P. Callahan, was admitted to the firm. On January 17, 1903, the death of W. P. Callahan occurred. May II, 1907, W. K. Callahan died. The firm was incorporated April 15, 1907, under the name of The W. P. Callahan Company.
The company are manufacturers of gas and gasoline engines, one, two and four cylinder. Four to three hundred H. P. machinery for cottonseed and linseed oil mills is also manufactured. The works have a floor space of sixty thousand square feet. The capital of the company is four hundred thousand dollars.
The officers of the company are: President, Thomas DeArmon; Secretary, Dick P. Pickering.
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THE CHARLES A. P. BARRETT COMPANY.
For the past nine years the plant of this company has been located at Troy, Ohio. The company now owns a large tract of land nicely located along the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Railway, fronting on Ray and Daller streets in this city. On this tract a building is now being constructed from which a spur and switch will be laid connecting with the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton track thus giving it the very best receiving and shipping facilities.
The factory building when completed will be one of the most modern paint factories in this part of the country. It will be built of concrete and brick and will be equipped throughout with a fire sprinkler system.
The history of this company and the success it has attained up to date is a record of hard work, honest effort and superior product. Mr. Charles A. P. Bar- rett, president of the company, began business in Dayton in 1879.
The store from which the present business grew was established by Mr. Bar- rett at 134 East Third street, twenty-eight years ago. The business outgrew its quarters and a move was made to 144 East Third street. Five years later the business had again expanded to the extent that it was necessary to move to the present quarters, 118 East Third street, with large warerooms in the rear of 114, 116 and 118 East Third street.
In August, 1902, The Charles A. P. Barrett Company was incorporated with a capital stock of fifty-five thousand dollars. Two years later it was found necessary to increase the capital to one hundred thousand dollars in order to take care of its constantly increasing volume of business, and later to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
The finished product of the Barrett company is well known throughout a large territory. Among the recent inventions of Mr. Barrett are: Re-Nu, a furniture food; Var-ni-shine, a wood finish; and Flatello, a soft, flat, interior wall finish.
THE LOWE BROTHERS COMPANY.
It was September 1, 1872, that two Dayton young men united their modest capital and their business ability in the paint and glass business, and formed the firm of Lowe Brothers, dealers in paint, varnish, oil, glass and painters' supplies, located at No. 134 East Third street.
Messrs. Henry C. and Houston Lowe were the only sons of John G. and Marianna Lowe, and were both born in Dayton. They were graduates of the public schools of the city, and Henry C. afterward graduated at Williams College and Houston at the Sheffield Scientific School at Yale, both in the year 1869.
In the fall of 1869 Mr. Houston Lowe became associated with Stoddard & Company, a well known firm which had been founded in 1862. This firm had been very prominent in the oil and paint business, having conducted a linseed oil, color and putty mill, a varnish factory and a local paint and glass store. The business during the years 1870-71 not having been prosperous, it had been deter- mined to close it out. The two brothers, Henry C. and Houston Lowe, therefore concluded to buy out the local store and to undertake a new venture. The young men at once devoted their best energies to the development of the business and
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met with success from the beginning. Within a few years their local trade had been brought to a profitable and enlarged business; then one salesman was em- ployed to represent them on the road and seek trade in a wholesale way.
At that time "prepared paints" or "ready-mixed paints" had not been in- troduced in the country, the house painter mixing all his colors from a lead basis and supplying the householders with such little lots of mixed paint as they wanted. The coach painter ground his own colors in a small iron mill, and many painters boiled their own oil, made their own varnishes and mulled their own putty. The introduction of prepared paints a few years later showed a promise in that feature of the business that met the attention of the Lowe Brothers.
In 1883 the warehouse in the rear of their store, which had been used for window glass, was converted into a paint mill. For the first few years this part of the business was continued with great discouragement, the brothers having de- termined to maintain a very high class of products which they were told could not be marketed in competition with the cheap products of the day. Nothing daunted, however, the young men continued their policy, winning out in a few years and establishing a reputation for high quality of product as well as for busi- ness methods which has rendered the name of Lowe Brothers an honored one throughout the entire country. (They called their paint "High Standard," and put upon it as an emblem of quality a "Little Blue Flag."
The growth of the business as paint makers was such that in the latter part of the 80's a large warehouse was built at 450-452 East Third street, and a little later an extensive paint factory was erected on Wayne avenue just south of Third. In 1906 a varnish plant was built on Crane street, and later an additional ware- house purchased at the corner of Front and Crane. All these buildings are fully occupied by the company in its steadily increasing business.
In 1893 The Lowe Brothers Company was incorporated by President Henry C. Lowe; Vice-President, Houston Lowe; Secretary, Horace A. Irvin; Robert B. Durain and Thomas R. Newbold. The business continued to grow under the en- larged opportunities of the corporation, and in 1897 the brothers determined to confine themselves exclusively to manufacturing. The city business, including the glass jobbing business, was sold to Mr. Horace A. Irvin. At that time Mr. Thomas R. Newbold succeeded Mr. Irvin as secretary, and Mr. Frank B. Curri- gan was made treasurer. A little later Mr. Charles H. Lowe succeeded Mr. New- bold as secretary of the company.
The business begun in this modest way has grown rapidly, until today The Lowe Brothers Company's factory is one of the largest paint and varnish plants in the country, and the business is recognized as one of the controlling factors in this great industry. Its products include paint, varnish, enamel, stains and metal pre- servatives, requiring more than three thousand active formulas to meet the needs of current business.
One of the special features of the work of this factory is the cordial rela- tion of employer and employe. Many of the employes have been here for from twenty to thirty years. The company seeks to give to its work people the best possible conditions under which to do their work. It provides hot coffee for all employes who take their lunches in the factory at noon; a comfortable lunch and rest room for the young women, and suitable toilet arrangements, particularly for
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the men whose work is largely with white lead, etc. The young women of the factory have a club-the "High Standard" Club-which is a member of the state federation and which is well known for the work accomplished. The club meets at noon, on the company's time, in the young women's rooms in the warehouse.
During recent years the growth of the business has required extensive branches, which have been established in Boston, New York, Chicago and Kansas City.
In July, 1909, the death of President Henry C. Lowe broke an association of thirty-seven years, which had been marked by the utmost harmony and by con- stantly increasing success.
The present officers and directors of the company are: Vice-President, Mr. Houston Lowe; Secretary, Mr. Charles H. Lowe; Treasurer, Mr. Frank B. Cur- rigan ; Assistant Secretary, Mr. John G. Lowe; Director of Advertising and Pro- motion, Mr. E. L. Shuey ; and Sales Manager, Mr. Charles S. Kennedy.
KUHNS BROTHERS FOUNDRY.
G. Frank, William N. and Harry B. Kuhns organized in 1887 the firm of Kuhns Brothers for the purpose of manufacturing cast iron fittings for wrought iron pipe and to do general foundry and machine shop work. They commenced work in rented quarters employing three men. They also began the erection of two buildings into which they moved in 1888.
In 1892, Walter L. Kuhns was admitted to the firm.
The business prospered and continued to grow until the original buildings were too small, and additions and buildings were erected from time to time until they now have twelve buildings with a floor space of almost one hundred thousand square feet and furnish steady work for over one hundred hands. The main buildings are all of brick, well lighted and steam heated and have modern im- provements for the handling of all of their products.
In 1905, the original power plant was replaced with a three hundred and fifty H. P. engine and in 1907. a cupola with a capacity to melt ten to twelve tons of iron per hour was installed.
Special attention was made to develop the cast iron fitting business and they now make over two thousand five hundred different sizes of cast iron fittings.
In 1900, they discontinued the jobbing work and devoted the entire time to the making of cast iron fittings. Their goods are known as the "K" cast iron fittings, there being a letter "K" on all fittings. The "K" fittings are well liked by the users and where quality counts, they are in constant demand and are now recognized as the leading fittings on the market.
THE OHIO RAKE COMPANY.
In connection with this sketch will be given an account of early manufacturers of agricultural machinery.
Forty years ago there were more manufacturers making implements in Day- ton than there are today. For many years after the war, Dayton was famous
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on account of the large industries here making hay harvesting machinery, and it was headquarters for sulky rakes for many years.
The product of the Dayton factories in the agricultural implement line have been shipped to every known civilized country, and the following is a list of firms that were noted in their day, but have gone out of business or diverted their energies to other lines :
Bombarger, Wight & Co., manufacturers of reapers.
A. Pritz & Co., manufacturers of reapers and mowers.
Pritz & Kuhns, manufacturers of reapers.
Woodson, Tenny & Co., manufacturers of threshers.
Pitts Threshing Mach. Co., manufacturers of threshers.
B. C. Taylor Co., manufacturers of sulky rakes. Dayton Mfg. Co., manufacturers of sulky rakes.
Clegg, Wood & Co., manufacturers of sulky rakes.
Marshall, Graves & Co., manufacturers of sulky rakes.
McSherry & Co., manufacturers of grain drills.
Cast Steel Plow Co., manufacturers of plows.
J. Lane Reed & Co., manufacturers of plows.
Dayton Farm Imp. Co., manufacturers of disc harrows.
Farmers Friend Co., manufacturers of corn planters and drills.
Champion Plow Co., manufacturers of plows.
Wright & Eckert, manufacturers of corn planters.
Jno. Dodds & Co., manufacturers of sulky rakes and tedders.
Auchey Plow Co., manufacturers of plows.
Stoddard Mfg. Co., manufacturers of sulky rakes, drills, corn planters and corn cultivators, disc harrows, etc.
It seems remarkable that such a long list of manufacturers should drop out of their chosen field. Aside from the Parrott Manufacturing Company (the Cast Steel Plow Company), the Ohio Rake Company are almost entirely alone in the manufacture of agricultural machinery. It is a matter of record, however, that several fortunes were made in this line of business in Dayton.
It may be observed that all of the above, except one, were manufacturers of specialties. Modern business methods have so changed that a manufacturer of implements must make a diversified line-the implements necessary for the cot- ton fields of Texas, for the potato fields of Vermont, for the hay fields of New York, and for the corn and wheat field of the far west.
Many millions of dollars worth of implements were manufactured in Dayton and sold in all parts of the earth, lightening the laborer's toil, increasing the returns of his lands, and making it possible for one man to do what it formerly required the assistance of three or four men to accomplish.
The Ohio Rake Company, which was organized about twenty-five years ago, is practically the only industry of its kind in the city of Dayton today. It employs about three hundred men.
The officers of the company are: President, Allen E. Thomas; Vice-Presi- dent. J. H. Imus ; Secretary, W. D. Graves ; Salesman, J. B. Lough.
The company started only a small factory, making two styles and four sizes of sulky hay rakes. They now manufacture a diversified line of tillage imple-
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ments, as well as planting and harvesting machinery, making fifty-six different implements, and over three hundred and eighty-five different sizes and styles.
Their export trade includes shipments to Africa, Argentine Republic, Brazil, Japan, Russia, Germany, Italy, France, Norway, England, and Sweden.
It is of interest to state that the men who were very skillful in designing and improving farming implements and patenting the same were E. Fowler Stoddard, Sebastian Ritty, Wm. Norman and LaFayette McMilan.
DAYTON SUPPLY COMPANY.
THE DAYTON SUPPLY COMPANY operates a wholesale department for sup- plying plumbers, gasfitters, steamfitters, water companies, gas companies, and manufacturers with goods used in the conduct of their business. It also operates a factory in which are manufactured plumbing specialties and spraying and white- washing machines.
This company is owned by F. J. McCormick, a resident of Dayton for over fifty years, and was established by him in 1894. In the beginning the business was confined to sales of a general line of supplies to the different classes of trade throughout Ohio and near-by states. Subsequently the manufacture of instantaneous water heaters was begun and to-day these are made in various styles and are adapted to be used with artificial and natural gas, gasoline gas, acetylene gas and gasoline. Later on were added many specialties entering more particularly into plumbing work.
In 1903 the Nixon Nozzle and Machine Company was purchased by the Day- ton Supply Company and this added to the latter's product a line of implements known as the Dayton sprayers and whitewashers. The present company has de- veloped new machines and now manufactures for both hand and horse power implements for destroying insect pests and plant diseases, applying whitewash and water paints, treating poultry and live stock, for the use of cigar manufac- turers and tobacco packers and, in general, for any purposes which demand the application of liquids under pressure in the form of a mist or spray.
In its manufacturing department the trade of the Dayton Supply Company extends throughout this country and nearly all the civilized countries which have adopted modern customs and methods.
The Dayton Supply Company employs from seventy-five to one hundred per- sons, and its salesmen cover this country and a number of the foreign countries. The plant is located at 439-449 East First street, with a frontage of one hundred and sixty feet. This extends back some two hundred feet to the C., C., C. & St. L. freight yards, with the same frontage, and with a private siding.
The company owns and occupies about sixty thousand square feet of floor area, besides yards and sheds for the storage of pipe and other heavy material. The arrangement of its plant and its facilities are said to be unsurpassed by any concern engaged in a similar business.
THE CANBY, ACHI AND CANBY COMPANY.
The business of this company was established by Edward Canby in October,
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1875, with a capital of three thousand dollars. Mr. Ach entered Mr. Canby's employ in February, 1877, Mr. Frank Canby becoming an employee in 1883.
Edward Canby was succeeded by the firm of Canby, Ach and Canby, com- posed of the foregoing individuals, on April 24, 1897, which firm in turn was succeeded by the Canby, Ach & Canby Company. The company was incorpor- ated in November, 1901, with a capital stock of two hundred thousand dollars.
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