History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 119

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts, Peck & Richards
Number of Pages: 1418

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HENRY CLAY FURNACES, located near the Schuylkill. south of South Street, were built in 1840 by Isaac and George M. Eckert, as the firm of Eckert & Bro. In 1872 Henry S. and George B. Eckert, as Eckert & Bro., became the owners and are now operating them. The fur- nace property includes an area of twelve acres. Two large stacks are erected and the capacity of the furnaces is twenty-five thousand tons of pig- iron annually.

One hundred workmen are regularly em- ployed in the production of iron at the furnaces and two hundred men in the various ore-mines operated by this firm. The mines are located in Berks and Lebanon Counties. These furnaces are among the important manufacturing indus- tries of the city of Reading.

THE READING STOVE-WORKS .- The large enterprise of the firm of Orr, Painter & Co., proprietors of the Reading Stove-Works, has greatly assisted in giving prestige and character to the manufacturing industries of the city of Reading. The firm was organized in 1866 by Jesse Orr, John R. Painter, William Grauder, Peter W. Nagle, William H. Shick, Henry C. Posey, Jasper Sheeler, Elijah Bull and Charles

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Egolf. Of this number, Jasper Sheeler died in 1877, William Grauder in 1881 and John R. Painter in 1883. Charles Egolf sold his interest in the business to William Stauffer in 1869, and the latter retired from the firm in 1880. Cyrus Shick purchased the interest of William Grauder in 1881, and Enoch T. Pain- ter the interest of John R. Painter in 1883. The present firm is composed of Jesse Orr, Peter W. Nagle, William H. Shick, Henry C. Posey, Elijah Bull, Cyrus Shick and Enoch T. Painter.

From the time the works were started to the present this firm has met with great prosperity. Beginning on a small scale, the business grew rapidly, and the facilities for manufacturing were gradually increased and greatly improved. Fourteen moulders were employed at first ; now as many as one hundred and five are at work in the foundry, and the entire number of employees is about three hundred. The capital invested is four hundred thousand dollars. Immense quantities of stoves are annually made and sold. The product of the past year (1885) was thirty thousand stoves of three hundred styles and sizes, which were disposed of in various States of the Union. They are favorably known for their usefulness and durability. Heating fur- naces, heaters and hollow-ware are also manu- factured at these works. The same firm have a branch establishment at 64 North Second Street, Philadelphia, under the management of William Thompson, and one also in Chicago, superintended by Charles T. Boal.

These stove-works are located on Canal Street, below Chestnut. They cover a large area on both sides of this street. The western side of the works extend an entire square in length, from Chestnut to Spruce Street, and from Canal Street to the Reading and Schuylkill Canal. On the eastern side they extend half a square below Chestnut Street. Superior facil- ities for shipping the manufactured articles are afforded by the three lines of railroads which intersect the works. Seven distinct buildings are occupied. There are two large five-story foundries, with additional buildings for moulding, casting, cleaning, grinding and polishing, nickle- plating, finishing and mounting. There are also shipping departments and offices. A large

five-story building on the east side of Canal Street has seven rooms, each one hundred and fourteen feet in length, used as pattern and storage-rooms, near an adjoining shipping de- partment. The motive-power to run the works is furnished by three engines with three duplex boilers combining one hundred and thirty-five horse-power.

READING BOLT AND NUT-WORKS .- In 1865 J. H. Sternbergh came to Reading from the State of New York and began the manufacture of iron nuts. At that time there were but few establishments in the country engaged in the manufacture of iron nuts by machinery, and although Mr. Sternbergh never had experience in auy mechanical industry, yet by patient labor and close application he succeeded in inventing and constructing machinery well adapted for the purpose intended, and at the end of the second year was so far encouraged as to consid- er his enterprise quite hopeful. He erected temporary buildings at the foot of Pine Street in the autumn of 1865, and having leased power from an adjoining establishment, carried on his work during the next three years at that place with a force of eight or ten men, and there laid the foundation of his subsequent op- erations.

In January, 1869, he moved to North Third Street, above Buttonwood, where, in 1868, he had erected permanent buildings adapted to meet the requirements of his increasing business. Since that date the works have been in con- stant and successful operation, having been en- larged at three different times, until now the establishment consists of several large buildings, the principal one of which is about two hun- dred and fifteen feet long by one hundred and thirty-five feet wide, and is supplied with the best modern machinery for the production not only of nuts of all sizes, but also for the manu- facture of every variety of bolts, washers, rivets, as well as many other articles made of wrought iron.

In addition to the main building above men- tioned, the works include a rolling-mill build- ing one hundred and ninety feet long by seven- ty-two feet wide, in which there are three trains of rolls and three large heating furnaces, three

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upright steam-engines, besides steam-shears, lathes, pumps and other machinery usually found in a rolling-mill. The capacity of this mill is about ten thousand tons of rolled iron annually, embracing all the various sizes of merchant iron commonly used, rounds, squares, flats, bands, hoops, etc. Most of the product of this mill is consumed in the works in the pro- duction of bolts, nuts, washers, rivets and rods for bridges, buildings, etc., and the surplus product is sold to merchants and consumers of refined bar and band-iron. In 1880 a large warehouse, about one hundred feet by fifty feet, four stories high, was built, in which is stored the stock of goods manufactured, all packed in boxes and kegs ready for immediate ship- ment. So large is the consumption of goods of this character that many hundred tons of fin- ished goods are constantly kept in stock ready for the prompt filling of orders.

The grounds upon which these works are situated embrace about eight acres between Third and Fourth Streets, and between the Lebanon Valley Railroad and Buttonwood Street. Three different railroad tracks run into the works,-one for the delivery of coal, an- other for the delivery of crude iron in various forms, and the third for the shipment of the products of the factory and the mill, altogether affording very convenient facilities for the prompt handling of materials. About two hundred and fifty men have been employed in this establishment, but during the past year or two only about one hundred and seventy-five or two hundred men have been employed. This decrease in the number was owing to the gener- al depression in business.

Twenty-five years ago bolts and nuts were made by hand, and were generally clumsy as well as expensive articles. Such works as these illustrate the rapid progress in the devel- opement of machinery and methods for the pro- duction of useful articles in new lines with remarkable precision, and with great economy, and while they contribute to the general ad- vancement of the mechanic arts, they are also of great importance in contributing to the wealth and population of the town or city where they are located.

READING HARDWARE COMPANY .- The pro- prietors of this extensive business are William M. Griscom, Matthan Harbster, William Harb- ster and Henry C. England. This is one of the leading manufacturing establishments in the State of Pennsylvania. Their works are located in the southern part of the city, adjoin- ing the Wilmington and Northern, West Read- ing and Pennsylvania Schuylkill Valley Rail- roads. The Reading Hardware Company has grown to its present importance from a com- paratively small beginning. In the year 1851, William Harbster laid the foundation of it in a small blacksmith-shop at the foot of South Sixth Street. In 1852 his brothers Matthan and John became associated with him, under the firm- name of Harbster Brothers. The goods pro- duced soon became favorably known to dealers, and the increased demand for them necessitated the securing of better appliances, the enlarge- ment of their works and the investment of more capital. In 1858 William M. Griscom became associated with the Harbster Brothers, and the name of the firm was changed to Harbster Brothers & Co., under which title it worked until 1862, when it received its present name. By steady yearly increases the business of the firm has grown to large proportions. The members are practical mechanics as well as good business men, have paid strict attention to the demands of the trade and have constantly introduced new designs in the various articles in builders' hardware. They have maintained a strict personal supervision of the business in all its branches and have continuously produced goods of a very superior quality. The magni- tude of the buildings indicates the extent of the business done. They cover an area of five acres. The buildings are substantial brick structures, three and four stories high, and are specially adapted to the work carried on in them. They contain large and commodious warehouses for the storage of finished goods ; finishing-shops equipped with the most ap- proved modern machinery for aiding in the work and manned by skilled artisans; japan building in which are the baking ovens (this building has been highly commended by insur- ance companies as a model of neatness and

COMPANY.

READING HARDWARE

OFFIC

BUTT WORKS

KEYSTONE WORKS

READING HARDWARE COMPANY.

William Harbiter

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READING.

safety ; lock and register buildings ; machine- shop ; shops for drilling, plating, bronzing and finishing; brass and iron foundries ; butt and brace-factories -- all of which are furnished with the best mechanical appliances. Every building is carefully protected in case of fire.

In connection with their own works, thus described, the firm, in 1878, leased and operated the extensive factory at Teuth and Spruce Streets (formerly Keystone Hardware Company), and in 1885 became the purchasers of said property.

When in full operation the Reading Hard- ware Company's force numbers about eight hundred and fifty employees, principally en- gaged in the manufacture of builders' hardware, which includes a full line of locks, latches, knobs and lock furniture and the different styles of butts, both plain and ornamental. Also a complete line of general hardware in Japan, German, American, Persian, Albion, Geneva bronzed, bronze metal, royal bronze and plain bronze finishes ; different sizes and styles of warm air registers and ventilators; and also stationery goods. They have lately added de- partments for the manufacture of jail padlocks and carpenter's bit braces.

For many of the large business buildings erected in New York and other cities within the past few years, special hardware furnishings have been designed. The Reading Hardware Company have unsurpassed facilities for such work ; they will furnish designs or will execute orders from drawings or patterns furnished them.

The company also manufacture apple-parers known as Nos. 72, 76, 78 and Gem, Advance and Champion, which are among the best-known parers made. For the superior excellency of their wares the company were awarded medals at the Centennial and the Paris Exposition ; but a better evidence of the good qualities of their productions is found in the steady and increas- ing demand for them. They have a large trade throughout the Union, an especially large trade in the West. They also have a large and rapidly- growing export trade with Canada, Cuba, the South American States, Europe and other foreign countries.

During the past year H. C. England, who for nearly a score of years so efficiently managed the sales department, was, on Jannary 1, 1885, admitted as a partuer, aud in June of the same year William Harbster, the founder and senior member of the company, died. The members of the company at present are William M. Griscom, Matthan Harbster and Henry C. England. Mr. Griscom resides in Europe and has special charge of the foreign business of the company. Mr. Harbster presides over the manufacturing de- partments and supervises the general business. Mr. England continues to have charge of the selling department.

For the convenience of the trade and to facilitate business, the company have established stores in New York and Philadelphia, where large stocks of their full line are carried. They also employ traveling salesmen, who canvass the States from Maine to California.

WILLIAM HARBSTER is descended from Ger- man ancestry. His grandfather, John Harbster, on his emigration to America, settled in Albany townships, Berks County, Pa. Among his children was Henry Harbster, born in the same township, from whence he removed to Lehigh and later to Montgomery County. He was a blacksmith by trade, but subsequently engaged in the manufacture of coffee-mills, and con- ducted a thriving business in the sale of these articles. He married Mary, daughter of Se- bastian Bucherd, whose children were Matilda (married to Casper Aman), Hannah (married to Jacob Nukerck), Ellen (deceased, married to William M. Griscom), William, Henry, Sam- uel (who died in youth), Matthan and John (deceased).

William Harbster was born October 20, 1823, in Albany township, where his school- days were spent, after which he removed to Boyertown for the purpose of learning the trade of a blacksmith. He remained there seven years, working, on the completion of his apprentice- ship, as a journeyman. Removing at the expi- ration of this period to Reading, he found eni- ployment in a foundry, and, subsequently, en- tered the shops of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad. He next removed to Hamburg, opened a shop and devoted his skill principally

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

to the iron work for carriages. At the end of the second year he returned to Reading and there continued at his trade. In 1851, by the advice and assistance of William M. Griscom, he projected the Reading Hardware-Works, beginning under very humble circumstances, and, at first, manufacturing but few articles. By energy, excellent management and skillful workmanship, the business increased, and Mat- than and John Harbster, his younger brothers, were admitted as partners, under the firm-name of Harbster Brothers. Mr. Harbster was, on the 15th of June, 1848, married to Ellen, daughter of George Matthews, of Lebanon County, the children of this marriage being Emma R. (mar- ried to William Kensel), Cecelia (married to John Mohn), John F., Morris G. (deceased), Anne R. (married to John Goodman), Howard E. and Mary Margaret.

Morris G. Harbster was actively engaged in the Reading Hardware-Works, being chief designer and manager of the chasing depart- ment, where his skill and ability were inval- uable. He was married to Miss Kate E. Seivert, of Reading. William Harbster was also the head of the Reading Nickel-Plating Works. He was formerly officially connected with banks and other business organizations, but in later years retired from these responsibilities. In

politics he is an active Republican. As a Mason, he was a member of Chandler Lodge, No. 227; Reading Chapter, No. 152; Creigh Council, No 16, and De Molay Commandery, No. 9. He was a member of Trinity Evangel- ical Lutheran Church until his death, June 16, 1885, in his sixty-second year.

MATTHAN HARBSTER, brother of William, was born on the 18th of May, 1831, in Lehigh County, and removed with his parents in early youth to Montgomery County, attending the common schools at Pottstown, in that county, and afterward entered the shop of his brother William, in Hamburg, for the purpose of learning the blacksmith's trade. He continued this as journeyman for several years in Pottstown and later in Hamburg, after which he made Reading his residence. In 1852 he became as- sociated with his brother, William, in the Reading Hardware-Works, and is still con-

nected with that establishment as its active and managing partner. Mr. Harbster was married, August 12, 1856, to Susan, daughter of John Bingman, of Reading. Their children are Ida C. (married to Charles E. Shrader), John E. (associated with his father in business), Ellen Kate (married to Howard Boas) and Nellie G. Mr. Harbster is a director of the Farmers' National Bank of Reading, and of the Sixth Street Passenger Railway, and is president of the Reading Land Improvement Company. As a Republican, he has represented his ward in the Common and Select Council and has been a member of the School Board of the city. He is also actively connected with the Masonic fra- ternity. He is a member of Trinity Evangeli- cal Lutheran Church and director of the Young Men's Christian Association.

UNION BOILER-WORKS, at the foot of Ninth Street, including all the departments, cover an area of eight acres. They were established by the firm of Obert & Tippets in 1854, at the same site. In 1862 Francis J. Obert purchased the interest of his partner, Robert Tippets, and has since conducted the business as sole pro- prietor. These works front on Ninth Street, and extend in depth to the Reading Railroad, and consist of a main building, warehouses, store-house and coal-bins. An extensive busi- ness is done here in the manufacture of boilers, smoke-stacks, water and oil-tanks, gas-holders, cupolas, furnace casings, iron bridges, pulp digesters for paper-mills, iron stock cars, iron roofing, etc. The number of men employed has ranged from fifty to one hundred and sixty. The manufactured products of these works have been sold in large quantities since they were originated.

THE READING BUTT-WORKS are located on north Third Street, corner of Buttonwood. The foundry has a frontage on the railroad, and is furnished with two large cupolas, with a capacity of twenty tons of iron daily. Twelve hundred tons of metal of various kinds are used yearly in the production of hardware and butts. The business was begun in 1867 by the pres- ent proprietors, Cyrus, John, Charles, Jr., and James Rick, under the firm-name of Rick Brothers.

My Nailster

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READING.

The large tack works on the opposite side of the railroad are also owned and operated by this company, and are furnished with thirty tack- making machines, which turn out daily one ton of finished tacks of all sizes, the yearly product being three hundred tons. The firm employs in the foundry and tack-works one linndred and seventy-five workmen.

THE MANHATTAN HARDWARE COMPANY, corner of Ninth and Bingaman Streets was or- ganized by gentlemen from New York in 1875, who located this foundry at Reading. On Sep- tember 22, 1885, it was incorporated under the laws of Pennsylvania, with D. H. Fitzgerald, president ; William Kerns, vice-president ; and J. P. Egan, secretary and treasurer. About one hundred thousand dollars are invested in the enterprise, and over five hundred hands employed. The business for the past year has exceeded seven hundred thousand dollars. This company is now (1886) building large and ex- tensive works, covering the entire block on Third Street, between Bern and Richmond Streets, North Reading.

THE PENN HARDWARE COMPANY, corner of Canal and Sprnce Streets, was organized in 1877 by C. Raymond Heizmann and Albert A. Heizmann, who are the present proprietors. Capital in 1885, one hundred thousand dollars. Three hundred and fifty workman are employed ; and in the past year (1885) a business amonnting to three hundred thousand dollars was done. A general line of builders' hardware is made, and their manufactures are sold over the entire United States ; also in Canada, England, Ger- many and Australia. To satisfy the increasing demand for their goods, the company has estab- lished salesrooms in Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore and Chicago.

THE MAIDEN CREEK IRON COMPANY, of Reading, have their works at Blandon, in Maiden Creek township. This industry was formerly known as the Blandon Iron-Works, and were erected in 1867 by Jacob Kanf- man and Charles D. Geiger, and successfully worked in the manufacture of band, hoop and pipe-iron until 1876. The works were then purchased by the present company, which is composed of R. H. Reifsnyder and Z. H.

Maurer, who have at present thirteen furnaces in full blast, which produce four thousand tons of manufactured iron per year. They employ one hundred and forty men. The full capa- city of the works is seven thousand tons per year.

MCILVAINE IRON-WORKS, on Neversink, near Eighth, Reading, were established in 1856 by William McIlvaine, who had for ten years previously been associated with Simon and Henry A. Seyfert in the mannfacture of boiler- plate, at Gibraltar, in this county. On the 9th of July, 1857, the first sheet of boiler-plate was rolled. The works comprised at that time two heating furnaces, one pair of plate-rolls, seventy- two inches long by twenty-two inches in diam- eter, and one Nasmyth hammer. July 1, 1862, Morton C. and William R. McIlvaine, sons of the proprietor, were admitted as partners, the firm taking the name of William McIlvaine & Sons. During the year 1864 two puddling furnaces were built, and subseqently others were added of the same kind, in all making four single and two double puddling furnaces. In 1873 the rolls were enlarged to eighty-one inches long and twenty-five inches in diameter, and the third heating furnace was built. A larger engine was put in and the hammer increased in weight. Atrain of break-down rolls, for rolling puddled bars, was also placed in position, increasing the capacity of the works, which, in 1886, are pro- ducing between five thousand and six thousand tons of plate-iron yearly.

In 1864 the firm purchased two thousand acres of woodland near Duncannon, Pa., and erected a charcoal forge, for the manufacture of charcoal blooms, which were used by the works here in the higher grades of boiler-plates. The capital employed in these two establishments amounts to two hundred thousand dollars. One hundred and fifty workmen are employed.

MOUNT PENN STOVE-WORKS occupy an acre and a quarter of ground in the north western part of Reading, corner of North Third Street and Lebanon Valley Railroad. The company, represented by Samuel H. Kutz as president, J. Allison Orr, superintendent, and M. B. Mc- Knight, treasurer, was incorporated in June, 1882, with a paid-in capital of fifty thousand

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

dollars. The works had been operated in 1881 by Stauffer, Mcknight & Co., who sold out to the present company.

The buildings comprise a large foundry, with cnpola of fifteen tons' capacity, finishing and machine-rooms, pattern and carpenter-shops, engine and boiler-rooms, polishing and nickle- plating rooms, churning-rooms, blacksmith- shops, etc., together with storage and packing- floors of fifty thousand square feet capacity. They employ one hundred hands in the manu- facture of stoves, heaters, ranges, furnaces, etc., in all their various styles, together with hollow- ware and fine light iron castings. During the year 1885 this company made over one thousand tons of stove-plate, representing ten thousand stoves of one hundred and seventy-five different styles and sizes.

MELLERT FOUNDRY AND MACHINE COM- PANY (LIMITED), on Second and Chestnut Streets, is a very important industry, and was originated by John Mellert, the father of Arnold, Magnus and Otto Mellert, in 1848, for the manufacture of stoves. In 1851 he began to make water and gas-pipes and discontinued the making of stoves. In 1853 he built a large machine-shop in connection with the foundry, and commenced to construct machinery for grist and rolling- mills. In 1860 he introduced a new business in the building of passenger-cars and coal-cars for the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, and erected large shops for that purpose. In 1863 the car-shop was changed into a general foundry, and the old foundry was converted into a pipe foundry to make water and gas-pipes twelve feet in length. In 1876 a new pipe foundry was built for the special construction of large pipes from twenty to forty-eight inches in diameter. In 1880 a stock company was formed, the stockholders of which are Peter D. Wanner, Arnold Mellert, Magnus Mellert, Otto Mellert and Albert Mellert. The chair- man is Arnold Mellert ; secretary and treasurer, Peter D. Wanner.

The entire works occupy five hundred and forty feet on Second Street, two hundred and ninety feet on Chestnut Street and two hundred and twenty feet on Grape Street. Four different tracts of land, separated by the streets above

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History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 119

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846 Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts, Peck & Richards Number of Pages: 1418

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts, Peck & Richards
Number of Pages: 1418