Historical and biographical annals of Berks County, Pennsylvania, embracing a concise history of the county and a genealogical and biographical record of representative families, Volume I, Part 45

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846; J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago : J. H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1018

USA > Pennsylvania > Berks County > Historical and biographical annals of Berks County, Pennsylvania, embracing a concise history of the county and a genealogical and biographical record of representative families, Volume I > Part 45

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The success of the Reading Iron Company is largely due to a few men. George F. Baer, pres- ident from 1889 to 1901 (now president of the P. & R. Ry. Co.), with the assistance of F. C. Smink, formerly treasurer and general manager, now president, financed the company in a most con- servative manner. With a small capital at their command, by careful, judicious and economical business management, judgment and acumen, there have been created extensive plants and valuable as- sets with an aggregate value manifold in excess of the nominal capital upon which the company was founded. The rebuilding and reconstruction of the old plants and erection and creation of new ones, as well as the physical management of the various departments, have been and still remain under the personal and efficient direction of Mr. Schuhmann.

George F. Baer is chairman of the board; F. C. Smink, president; George Schuhmann, vice-presi- dent and general manager ; Frederick Butler, treas- urer ; George W. Delany, secretary.

AUTOMOBILES .-- The first automobile as a means of improved locomotion in the United States by the use of gasoline was made at Springfield, Mass., by Charles E. Duryea in 1891. In February, 1900, he located at Reading, in Berks county, and es- tablished a plant on River Road at the foot of Elm street, for the purpose of building automobiles driven by gasoline. He organized a company and carried on the business for about seven years, in which time the company built 300 cars. They were named "Duryea" and disposed of successfully, but the capitalists associated with him having de- clined to advance the necessary money to carry on the plant more extensively in order to meet in- creasing competition, the further operation of this new enterprise at Reading under the management of Mr. Duryea was suspended. He was then suc- ceeded by the Middleby Auto Company, which had started a similar enterprise and manufactured an automobile which was named the "Middleby." The plant has been made very successful, turning out weekly a number of popular cars and affording employment to upward of 70 men.

About or shortly before this time, James L. Eck (who was engaged in manufacturing knitting ma- chines) began the manufacture of automobiles driven by steam, in a limited manner, and disposed of several cars.

Soon afterward, James C. Reber also engaged in the enterprise (having previously for some years

ture of bicycles) by organizing the Acme Motor Car Company, and he produced a popular car, called the "Acme." He carried on the plant until 1904; then it passed through several ownerships until 1907, when it was purchased by H. M. Stern- bergh and he has been at the head of the company since, giving the car great popularity throughout the country. The plant employs from 125 to 150 hands and produces annually about one hundred 'large and powerful cars, driven by gasoline.

The Relay Bicycle Company was also changed by Henry C. England into the Relay Motor Company for the manufacture of automobiles, and the plant was carried on several years.

Arthur H. Yocum and his father, George Y. Yocum, started manufacturing the "Speed-well" au- tomobile and motor engines in 1904. Since then they have enlarged their plant and formed a com- pany with Isaac Hollenbach and J. S. Hornberger as partners, trading as A. H. Yocum & Co. They employ upward of 20 hands.

The following parties manufacture parts relat- ing to the automobile:

Parish Manufacturing Company, steel frames. Biehl's Carriage Works, metal bodies.

Keystone's Wagon Works, bodies (aluminum, steel, and wood).

American Die & Tool Works, transmission and gear.

A. H. Yocum & Co., motor engines.

AUTOMOBILE FRAMES .- N. E. Parish organized the Parish Manufacturing Company for the man- ufacture of pressed steel automobile frames and chrome nickel steel specialties, and established a plant at Reading in June, 1906, in the P. & R. R. Co.'s machine shops at Seventh and Chestnut streets, where the company has since carried on the business very successfully, employing 150 hands. Special expensive machinery is used for the pur- pose. Its production, numbering many thousand frames, is shipped to all the leading manufacturers of automobiles in the United States. The officers of . the company are: R. E. Jennings, president; N. E. Parish and J. E. Sullivan, vice-presidents ; W. B. Kunhardt, treasurer ; and E. J. Jennings, secre- tary.

BICYCLES .-- The manufacture of bicycles was a large and well-conducted business at Reading for about ten years from 1890 to 1900, and thousands of bicycles were shipped to all parts of the world, which gave Reading a reputation in this line of business equal to any other place; then it began to decline gradually until now there is only one estab- lishment actively engaged in the business, the Read- ing Standard Manufacturing Company, of which the active spirit since 1896 has been William F. Remppis. Several parties who are engaged in re- pairing bicycles also manufacture them in limited quantities : Rhode Brothers, John G. Nuebling, and James Mayo (who had been in the business at Potts-

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town for seventeen years and became the successor as a branch of a large New York enterprise for of Charles T. Heckler after his decease in 1908).

BOILER WORKS .- West Reading Boiler Works was started in 1870 by Enos M. Reazor, and he was succeeded in 1878 by Sterling, Weidner & Co .; in 1894 by Thomas K. Dalzell, and in 1901 by Jacob S. Peipher (Reading Scale & Machine Com- pany). In this department of the works 25 men are employed.

Penn Boiler Works was started in 1883, and is now carried on by Hiram P. Yeager with 10 men and upward.

Orr & Sembower, who started in business in 1884 and moved to Millmont in 1891, are also engaged in the manufacture of boilers in connection with engines, employing upward of 100 hands.

BOLT AND NUT WORKS .- J. H. Sternbergh located at Reading in 1865 and established a large bolt and nut works which he carried on in a very suc- cessful manner until 1899, employing upward of pany became the owner and has since operated the plant in a very successful manner with James Lord as president and J. L. Swayze as the local manager, employing from 600 to 800 hands. The principal- office of this company is situated at Lebanon, where "a similar large plant is operated.

CAR WHEELS .- In 1897, the Reading Car Wheel Company was organized and incorporated by cer- 'tain persons from Buffalo, N. Y., for the manu- facture at Reading of chilled iron wheels for street and steam railway cars, and the plant has been op- erated successfully until now. H. H. Hewitt has been the president from the beginning, and the plant employs from 50 to 75 men, and turns out daily upward of 200 wheels.

CHAIN BLOCK WORKS .- Herman P. Roeper es- tablished a hoist works at Reading in 1896, and in 1904 sold the department relating to the manu- facture of chain blocks to F. H. Howard, of New York, who then incorporated a company for this special branch of business, and it has been carried on since in a successful manner, employing from 25 to 40 hands.

J. G. Speidel has also been engaged in the manu- facture of chain blocks since 1896, in connection with other specialties, such as cranes, tramways, elevators, dumb-waiters, etc., and in his establish- ment employs from 20 to 40 hands.

COAL BUCKETS .- George Focht began the manu- facture of iron coal buckets or tubs for the loading and unloading of coal on and from canal-boats, and he was succeeded by Warren & Addison and from 1893 to 1908 by Robert D. Seidel, who then sold the factory to B. Franklin Biehl; and Biehl has operated it since, employing from 6 to 10 hands.

COKE OVENS .- The American Coke and Gas Construction Company was incorporated in 1903

the manufacture of by-product coke ovens, accord- ing to the "United-Otto-Coke-System," and has since operated a plant at Reading employing from 35 to 40 hands, on Court street, below Second.

CRANE AND HOIST WORKS .- In 1888, John G. Speidel began the manufacture of hoisting machin- ery and has continued in the business until the present time, excepting for two years, from 1894 to 1896, when Herman P. Roeper was a partner. In his iron works he also manufactures tramways, elevators, chain-blocks, etc., which are sent to all parts of the country. He employs from 20 to 40 hands.

Herman P. Roeper, under the name of Reading Crane & Hoist Works, since 1896 has been en- gaged in the manufacture of overhead tramways, elevators, hoisting machinery, etc., which he has forwarded to all parts of this country and foreign countries. He employs from 20 to 50 hands.

DIE WORKS .- The American Die & Tool Com- 700 men; then the American Iron & Steel Com- pany was organized at Wilmington, Del., in 1894, for

the manufacture of tools, dies and special machin- ery, and removed to Reading in 1901; incorporated under the laws of Pennsylvania in 1906, with a capital of $60,000, and employs upward of 80 men. C. S. Dundore is the secretary, treasurer and gen- eral manager of the company, and the others as- sociated with him are J. H. Sternbergh and H. M. Sternbergh. Their product is shipped to all parts of the country. This is an important industry at Reading for its exceptional productions.

ELEVATORS .- John G. Speidel and Herman P. Roeper have been engaged separately in the manu- facture of elevators since 1896; also Adam W. Haag (under the name of A. W. Haag & Co.) in connection with the manufacture of milling machin- ery, and he employs 15 hands.

ENGINE AND BOILER WORKS .- In 1884, W. Harry Orr and Clarence H. Sembower, trading as Orr & Sembower, began the manufacture of vertical, hor- izontal and hoisting engines, and vertical and hor- izontal boilers at Second and Pine streets, but their business developed so rapidly that by the year 1891 they were obliged to remove into larger quarters, which they established at Millmont, in Cumru township. Since then they have been very successful, their productions being sent to all parts of the world. A corporation was formed in 1890 with a capital of $150,000. The employes number 250. W. Harry Orr has been the treasurer and general manager from the beginning, and Mr. Sembower the president.

The Reading Oil & Gas Engine Company, A. H. Yocom & Company and John G. Xander are also engaged in manufacturing engines.

EXPANSION STEAM JOINTS .- William King em- barked in the business of manufacturing expansion steam joints and has been successfully engaged un- til the present time, employing 40 to 60 hands.

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FENCES .- The first to engage in the business of

Reading Hardware Works .- In 1851, William manufacturing plain and ornamental iron fences at Harbster established a blacksmith shop at the foot Reading was Louis Nendoerffer, who began before of Sixth street for general blacksmith work, and 1860 and continued until his decease in 1884, when in 1852 his brothers Matthan and John became as- he was succeeded by his son Frederick, and Fred- erick carried on the business for twenty years. William L. Remppis has also carried on this branch of business in his large establishment since 1896; and William L. Kiefer, in his works since 1895.

FIRE ESCAPES .- William F. Remppis began man- ufacturing ornamental iron work at Reading in 1885, in a small frame building and by the year 1892 his trade had developed to such an extent that he was obliged to erect a large brick building and he has continued actively engaged in the business until the present time. He employs from 40 to 70 hands. Besides carrying on the manufacture of fire escapes extensively, he supplies plain and orna- mental iron work, stairways, elevator inclosures, railings, window guards, grill work, etc.

William L. Kiefer has been engaged in a similar business in a successful manner at Reading since 1895, and employs from 15 to 30 hands.

FOUNDRIES .-- A number of iron foundries at Reading are carried on in connection with estab- lished works of various kinds, such as the Reading. Iron Company, the P. & R. R. Company, the Hard- ware Works and the Stove Works, but are used en- tirely in carrying on their own business. There are three foundries which take in outside work as a regular business : the Gray Iron Foundry Company (A. L. Frame), which employs 15 to 25 molders for all kinds of small castings; the Reading Scale & Machine Company (Jacob S. Peipher), which em- ploys 15 to 20 molders for heavy and light castings of all kinds ; and Mohn & Kershner (W. H. Mohn & E. L. Kershner), who embarked in the general foundry business in 1908 (in the plant of the National Brass Works), and manufacture all kinds of small castings for the trade here and elsewhere, employing from 50 to 75 hands.

FURNACES .- Two large iron furnaces have been very prominent industries at Reading for many years : the Henry Clay, erected by the Eckerts in in arrangement and equipment, making it one of 1844, and latterly owned and operated by the Em- pire Iron & Steel Company (but not in operation for two years) ; and the Keystone, erected by the Bushongs in 1869, which has become a part of the extensive works of the Reading Iron Company.

HARDWARE .- Hardware of all kinds, for build- ing and other purposes, has been produced at Read- ing for upward of fifty years, and the works have been very prominently identified with the welfare and development of Reading. Three large plants are carried on, the Reading Hardware Company ( founded by the Harbsters and their brother-in-law, William M. Griscom), the Penn Hardware Com- pany ( founded by the Heizmann Brothers), and the Chantrell Tool Company ; and they together employ about 2,500 hands.

sociated with him, under the name of Harbster Brothers, for the manufacture of builders' hard- ware, such as locks, bolts, fasteners, latches, etc., when they erected a foundry. Shortly afterward their brother-in-law, William M. Griscom, became associated with them as a partner, and they then traded as Harbster Brothers & Co. until 1872, when the name was changed to Reading Hardware Company. As their business increased their plant was gradually enlarged until 1895 and by that time the establishment covered five acres of ground, all substantial buildings, three and four stories high, with their employes numbering nearly 1,000 and the annual wages paid exceeding $100,000. Their productions included all kinds and styles of hard- ware, both plain and ornamental, and these came to be shipped to all parts of the world. Their trade was largely increased by making a specialty of fur- nishing all the necessary hardware in the construc- tion of large hotels and office buildings at New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco and other large cities in this country and foreign coun- tries, their unique and artistic designs in fine bronze obtaining the preference with the most prominent architects and builders, and in this behalf they es- tablished branch offices in the cities named. Their volume of business for some years has exceeded a million dollars, the number of employes 1,500, and the annual wages $500,000, which truly evi- dences the wonderful development of this great industrial establishment from an ordinary black- smith shop, and its importance and influence in the history of Reading during the past fifty years. Its productions have been displayed at all the great expositions in the United States and Europe, and their superiority was recognized by the awarding of medals and diplomas.

The business was incorporated in 1886. In 1887, the greater part of the plant was destroyed by fire, but it was immediately rebuilt and much improved the finest industrial plants in the United States.

The officers of the corporation are: Matthan Harbster, president; William M. Griscom, vice- president; S. Y. Reigner, treasurer (since 1903 and also secretary since 1907) ; and John E. Harb- ster has been the manager for upward of twenty years.

Penn Hardware Works .- In 1877, C. Raymond Heizmann and his brother Albert A. Heizmann be- gan the manufacture of builders' hardware and specialties of all kinds, at the foot of Spruce street, between the canal and river and, like the forego- ing, grew in size and importance until their plant came to cover several acres of ground, their em- ployes to number 1,000 and their annual wages to exceed a quarter of a million dollars. Their goods

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likewise have found a market all over the world. ufacture of specialties in the line of machinery and A nail department was added in 1898.

The business was incorporated under the name of Penn Hardware Company in 1896. The officers of the company are: C. Raymond Heizmann, presi- dent; Theodore I. Heizmann, vice-president; W. A. Heizmann, treasurer; and I. S. Ermentrout, secretary.

The Reading Saddle Manufacturing Company also manufactures large quantities of hardware specialties, cast-hammers, hatchets, ice-picks, shears, pincers, pulleys, can openers, glue pots, vises, clamps, tongs, etc. A specialty is made of nickel- plating. The plant is at Nos. 316-320 Maple street. The company employs 60 hands. It was incor- porated in 1900.

Chantrell Hardware and Tool Company (Inc.) was organized in 1888 (being named after John Chantrell, an Englishman, who designed certain improved tools) and the business was conducted successfully on Seventh street near Chestnut for several years, when the plant was removed to Mill- mont, where large brick buildings were erected to meet the demands of increasing trade. The company manufactures screw drivers, nail pullers, and some hardware specialties, but its principal line is build- ers' hardware, consisting of locks and design goods. It has a large domestic and foreign trade. Hands employed, 165. Harry C. Shaaber has been man- ager since 1903.

KNITTING MACHINERY .- James L. Eck located in Reading in 1891 and engaged in the manufacture of knitting machines after a pattern with improve- ments designed and patented by himself, being a "new improved 15-16 automatic and plain seamless machine," and known as the "Boss"; and in 1898 PIPES AND TUBES .- A large and principal depart- he established a factory at Reed and Elm streets. ment of the extensive Reading Iron Works is the He has continued in a successful manner until the manufacture of large quantities of wrought-iron present time, employing from 30 to 50 hands, and pipes and tubes, of various sizes; which is men- tioned in connection with the description of the turning out about 600 machines annually. In 1898 he built the first steam automobile in Reading and Reading Iron Company. operated it successfully.

Windsor Knitting Machine Works .- The Wind- sor Machine Company was incorporated in 1903 with a capital of $100,000 for the manufacture of full-automatic split-foot knitting machines and full- automatic striping machines, as a specialty, and a large trade has been developed, the machines being sent to all parts of this country, and from 70 to 80 hands are employed. John B. Hipwell is president of the company; George D. Horst, secretary-treas- urer ; and William W. Hout, manager.

LAWN-MOWERS .- The manufacture of lawn-mow- ers is included with the hardware specialties of the Reading Hardware Works.

The American Die & Tool Company is also en- gaged in their manufacture.

MACHINE SPECIALTIES .- A number of shops and factories are carried on constantly for the man-

they employ from several to a dozen hands :

Jacob S. Peipher King Machine Works

A. W. Haag & Company Samuel Davis

G. W. Francis

W. D. Mohn

Greth Machine Company

MOTOR CYCLES .- In 1896, William F. Remppis organized the Reading Standard Manufacturing Company for the manufacture of the "Reading Standard" bicycles, and this company has since carried on the business very extensively, shipping thousands of its bicycles to all parts of the coun- try and the world. In 1903, the company began the manufacture of motor cycles, with the same name, and this branch has also become very suc- cessful. In 1908, the company produced 2,700 of them, and for the year 1909 has arranged to pro- duce from 4,000 to 4,500. Over 6,000 bicycles were manufactured in 1908. From 300 to 400 hands are employed. B. Frank Royer, of Phila- delphia, is president of the company and Mr. Remp- pis is general manager.

MOTOR ENGINES .- Arthur H. Yocum designed a special engine for automobiles which has become very popular, and since 1904 he has been manufac- turing many of them, having formed a company with his father, George Y. Yocum, and traded un- der the name of A. H. Yocum & Co.

NAILS .- The Penn Hardware Co. manufactures great quantities of nails in connection with general builders' hardware. This was one of the iron pro- ducts of Seyfert, McManus & Co. and their suc- cessors, the Reading Iron Company, for many years.

PLUMBERS' SUPPLIES .- J. W. Van Meter began making plumbers' supplies at Reading in 1907, and after a year was succeeded by W. S. Cooper, of Philadelphia, who has carried it on in connection with similar works at Philadelphia. He employs from 45 to 50 hands, his plant being established in the old Johnson Foundry at Eighth and Chest- nut streets.

RADIATOR WORKS .- In 1883, Daniel L. Adams be- gan the manufacture of steam and hot water radia- tors and boilers at No. 212 South Eighth street, Reading, and continued the business at that place until 1892, when the plant was removed to a larger and much improved building along the Lebanon Valley railroad at Front street, and there it has con- tinned until the present time with increasing suc- cess. In 1896 he organized and incorporated a"com- pany under the name of Reading Radiator Com-

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pany. Its radiators and boilers are shipped to all are employed. The company also produces scythes parts of the country. The employes number 110. for cutting grain, grass and bushes. The officers Mr. Adams has been the manager of the works are: John J. Kutz, president; Cyrus G. Derr, treas- from the beginning, and Grant Nagle has been urer; and Philip Bushong, secretary. the secretary. and treasurer since 1897.

RAZORS .- Frederick H. Arnold of Reading de- signed and patented a fountain-pen safety-raz- or, and then organized a company for its extensive manufacture. The company was incorporated in 1907, and capitalized at $200,000; and it has been successful in shipping its razors to all parts of the world. It employs 25 hands, and is located at Third and Buttonwood streets. The officers are: Edward C. Nolan, president; John H. Keppelman, secretary and treasurer; Robert B. Lance, man- ager.

ROTARY METERS .- The Rotary Meter Co. of New York City established a plant at Reading in 1906 for the manufacture of rotary meters, intended for large gas consumers who wish to measure their consumption. It is the only industry of the kind in the United States, and its product is shipped to all parts of North and South America. These meters weigh from seventy-five pounds to five tons. Hands employed, from 6 to 8. Charles T. Mayers has been the superintendent here. It is located at Seventh and Franklin streets in a portion of the P. & R. R. Co. machine shop.

SCALES .- In 1845, Levi K. Mohr and Andrew De- hart began manufacturing large scales, establishing a factory at the corner of Cherry and Carpenter streets. Dehart retired in 1850 and Mohr carried on the business until 1872. Different parties oc- cupied the plant in the production of scales with turbine water-wheels and general machinery until 1887, when the Reading Scale & Machine Company was organized by Jacob S. Peipher, Levi M. Fran- cis and J. L. Balloch, and this company continued their manufacture in connection with engines and boilers. The plant was removed to the foot of Chestnut street in 1903 and Peipher became the sole proprietor. He has continued the manufacture of scales, engines, boilers, etc., in large quantities until the present time, under the same name, em- ploying from 50 to 75 hands.

Levi M. Francis, who was connected with this company for a number of years, is also engaged in the manufacture of large scales on orders.

The Keiser Manufacturing Company (David H. Keiser) produces shears, besides metal fixtures, he having been connected with the Wilkinson Shear Company for a number of years. His plant is sit- uated in West Reading.

D. P. Harris and Samuel Monroe of New York City, and W. M. Sillhart and Melot Deam, of Read- ing, associated together and established the Penn Shear Works at Reading in 1904, for the manufac- ture of shears of all kinds, and since then have produced large quantities which have been shipped to all parts of the country. They employ 5 hands.

SHEET IRON is made in great quantities by the Reading Iron Company in its sheet-mill, which is situated along the Schuylkill river between Chest- nut and Spruce streets. This mill became the prop- erty of the Reading Iron Works (afterward the Reading Iron Co.) in 1865. It had been put up several years before by Lauth, Berg & Co. as an individual enterprise.

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Historical and biographical annals of Berks County, Pennsylvania, embracing a concise history of the county and a genealogical and biographical record of representative families, Volume I, Part 45

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846; J.H. Beers & Co Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Chicago : J. H. Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1018

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846; J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago : J. H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1018