USA > Pennsylvania > Berks County > Reading > History of Reading, Pennsylvania, and the anniversary proceedings of the sesqui-centennial, June 5-12, 1898 > Part 14
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was carried on by his son, Adam Johnson, Henry Shaaber and Daniel Shaaber, under the name of Johnson & Son, and from 1882 to 1895 by Henry Johnson. In 1885 he produced 20 tons of castings daily. He employed 70 men, and at times 200. In 1895 Jacob Shaaber and H. John Herb purchased the plant, and they have since carried on the business under the name of John- son Foundry and Machine Co. They manufacture all kinds of castings and general machinery which they ship to New York. Philadelphia, and elsewhere throughout the country. Hands employed from 100 to 125. Investment, $45,000; annual wages, $35,000.
Reading Foundry Co. Limited .- In 1848 John Mellert and his three sons, Arnold, Magnus and Otto, erected a stove foun- dry at Second and Grape streets, for the purpose of extending their trade in stoves, tinware and kindred supplies, which they had been carrying on for some years prior. They soon obtained so much other foundry work that the manufacture of stoves be- came secondary, and it was abandoned. In 1851 they began making cast iron, gas and water pipe, and as their business in- creased they enlarged their works. In 1860 they added a de- partment for building passenger and coal cars, and also boilers. In 1876 they erected a new pipe foundry and called it The Cen- tennial. In 1879 they re-organized the company calling it the Mellert Foundry and Machine Company, Limited, and under this name it was carried on until January 1, 1894, when the per- sonal property was sold and the works were leased to the Read- ing Foundry Co., Limited. This enterprise is largely engaged in manufacturing cast iron pipe, special castings, and all kinds of general foundry and machine work. Its large plant is situ- ated in North Reading along Robeson and Weiser streets. In- vestment, $400,000; employees, 400; annual wages, $100,000; product, $350,000. Officers: P. D. Wanner, chairman; F. A. Knopp, treas .; R. B. Kinsey, sec., and A. H. Mellert, supt.
Reading Scale, & Machine Co .- In 1887 Jacob S. Peifer, Levi M. Francis and J. L. Balloch associated together under the name of Reading Scale & Machine Co., for the manufac- ture of engines, boilers, scales and general machine work. They have conducted the business until now. Employees, 35; invest- ment, $30,000; annual product, $50,000; and wages, $15,000.
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Their plant is at Cherry and Carpenter streets. It was first es- tablished in 1845 by Levi K. Mohr and Andrew DeHart for manufacturing large scales. They carried on the business until 1850, when Mr. Mohr became sole owner and he operated the place himself until 1872. He was succeeded by Roland, Francis & Co. who carried on the place from 1872 to 1878 and manu- factured turbine water wheels in connection with scales; subse- quently by J. H. Cheetham from 1878 to 1880, and by B. W. Grist & Co., from 1880 to 1887, the manufacture of general machinery having been added during that time.
Greth Machine Works .- In 1866 A. C. Greth and J. Len- hart began making engines and furnishing machinists' and man- ufacturers' supplies of all kinds, such as steam pumps, injectors, pulleys, hangers, cocks, valves, packing and belting at 627 Franklin street. In 1870 Mr. Greth became the sole proprie- tor, and he conducted the works until his death in 1885, when J. P. Miller and H. E. Deininger purchased the plant, who have operated it since. Investment, $20,000; hands employed, 8; annual wages, $4,500.
Davies, Printz & Co .- In 1871 Miller, Printz & Co. began an industrial establishment on Ninth below Bingaman, for the manufacture of brass and iron castings and machinists' supplies of all kinds. They carried on the business until 1886, when the firm changed to Davies, Printz & Co., which has continued until now. The members of the firm are Samuel Davies, John Printz, Adam Shaaber, William Schaffer and Howard Hill. The productions are steam engines, ice and refrigerator machin- ery, polishing machines, general machinery and brass and iron castings. Investment, $35,000; employees from 50 to 60; an- nual product, $60,000; wages, $25,000.
Orr &' Sembower .- In 1884 W. Harry Orr and C. H. Sem- bower, trading as Orr & Sembower, began the manufacture of vertical, horizontal and hoisting engines and vertical and hori- zontal boilers at Second and Pine streets. They continued there until 1891, when they removed to Millmont, in Cumru township, and took possession of superior brick buildings which they erected to accommodate their extensive business. Their trade extends to all parts of the world. A corporation was formed in 1890. Capital, $200,000; employees, 160; annual wages,
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$65,000; and product, $200,000. Officers: C. H. Sembower, pres. ; W. Harry Orr, treas. ; and James A. O' Reilly, sec.
Boyer & Bro .- In 1891 W. H. Ermentrout and Frederick J. Boyer associated together as Ermentrout & Boyer for con- ducting a general repair shop at 132 Church street. Soon after- ward they began to make new machinery for hats and grad- ually added others for manufacturing candy, paper boxes, hard- ware, drill presses, emery grinders, gas and gasoline engines, pumps, etc., still repairing machinery of all kinds. In 1897 Mr. Ermentrout was succeeded by William McH. Boyer, the firm then trading as Boyer & Bro. Investment, $8,000; annual product, $20,000, mostly for local trade; men employed, 15; wages, $8,000.
Berks Foundry & Manufacturing Co .- In 1893 William Macket, of Sunbury, Pa., came to Reading, erected a foundry at 1444 Mulberry street, and began the manufacture of small hardware. He employed 10 hands and had an investment of $3,000. The business was carried on by him until 1895, when he sold the plant to Dr. John Ege. The establishment was en- larged in 1897. Investment, $19,000; annual product, $30,000; which is shipped to all parts of the country.
Reading Car Wheel Co .- In 1897 H. H. Hewitt. R. E. Coleman, and several other persons from Buffalo, N. Y., came to Reading and organized a company for the manufacture of chilled iron wheels for street and steam railway cars, and it was incorporated under the name of Reading Car Wheel Co., with a capital of $50,000. They located their plant on Canal street below Spruce, and since then have operated the same very suc- cessfully, employing 50 men, and producing daily 225 wheels which weigh from 350 to 700 pounds each. Officers: H. H. Hewitt, pres .; R. E. Coleman, supt .; C. H. Duback, sec. and treas. They are interested in a similar enterprise at Buffalo, where 1, 000 men are employed.
Reading Stove Works .- In 1866 Jesse Orr, John R. Painter, Peter W. Nagle, William Grander, Henry C. Posey, Elijah Bull, William H. Shick, Jasper Sheeler and Charles Egolf, asso- ciated together under the name of Orr, Painter & Co., for the manufacture of stoves, furnaces and heaters of all kinds. They located their foundry on Canal street between Chestnut and
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THE READING STOVE WORKS-PLANTS AND OFFICES.
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Spruce, employed 14 moulders, and carried on the business in a very successful manner until 1886, when the company was in- corporated under the name of The Reading Stove Works, Orr, Painter & Co., with a capital of $400,000. The management of the business has been kept up in the same manner, with the plant enlarged and its business relations extending. Now the productions are sent all over the world, and the annual sales amount to $550,000. The employees number 500, and the annual wages amount to $200,000. Besides this large and com- plete plant, an additional establishment is carried on at Millmont. The company owns and operates branches for the distribution of its productions at Philadelphia, Boston, Buffalo and Chicago. The United States Post Office Department in July, 1897, awarded the contract to the company for supplying the street letter boxes for four years. Of the original co-partners, Jasper Sheeler died in 1876, William Grander in 1881, John R. Painter in 1883, Henry C. Posey in 1887, and Jesse Orr in 1892. Charles Egolf sold his interest in 1869 to William M. Staufer, who continued with the firm until 1881, when he retired and organized the firm of Staufer, McKnight & Co., trading under the name of Mt. Penn Stove Works; and besides Mr. Staufer, nearly all the practical men in that enterprise learned the busi- ness of manufacturing and selling stoves in the employ of Orr, Painter & Co. Officers: Charles S. Prizer, pres. ; Elijah Bull, treas .; Robert P. Shick, sec. ; and Enoch T. Painter, supt.
Mt. Penn Stove Works .- The plant of the Mt. Penn Stove Works occupies a large lot of ground at the corner of Third street and the Lebanon Valley R. R., extending to Greenwich street. The company was incorporated in 1882 by Samuel H. Kutz, John Hahn, Jacob H. Goodman, John McKnight, M. B. McKnight, Henry Seivard, Silas H. La Rue, Zadok W. Bowen, and J. Allison Orr, with a capital stock of $50,000. The build- ing at that time consisted of a foundry with a capacity for twenty moulders and a large 4-story brick building on North Third street. These buildings were put up by Staufer, McKnight & Co., in 1881, and transferred to the Mt. Penn Stove Works. Employees at that time numbered 65, including all branches. The buildings were enlarged and increased in number from time to time. Employees now number 100; and the annual pay roll
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amounts to $60,000. The annual consumption of pig iron for the last two years was 1, 200 tons, and the annual production of stoves, ranges and cellar furnaces was 11,000, which were sold principally in the United States. For some years past there has been an increasing export trade to South America and South Africa. The company has a branch store at Philadelphia, with
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YTRENA STOVE WORKS
MT. PENN STOVE WORKS.
distributing agencies at New York and Chicago. Investment, $200,000. Officers: John Hahn, pres. ; M. B. McKnight, sec. and treas .; J. Allison Orr, gen. supt.
Reading Bolt and Nut Works .- J. H. Sternbergh came from Saratoga, New York, to Reading in 1865, and began the manufacture of iron nuts. He erected an establishment at the foot of Pine street in the fall of that year, and carried on busi- ness with ten men. During the succeeding three years, he erected permanent buildings on North Third street beyond But- tonwood to meet the requirements of his increasing business, and in January, 1869, removed his establishment to that place. During the following twenty-two years, he increased his plant largely. In 1891 the buildings were destroyed by fire, and he immediately rebuilt them. The plant now comprises forging and threading departments, machine shop, ware house, two rolling mills, keg factory, offices, stables and other buildings, covering altogether an area of seven acres of land which lies between
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READING BOLT AND NUT WORKS-J. H. STERNBERGH & SON.
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Third and Fourth streets and extends from Buttonwood street to the Lebanon Valley railroad. The works are equipped with the most improved modern machinery for the manufacture of all kinds of bolts, nuts, washers, lag-screws, Harvey-Grip railroad track bolts, boiler and structural rivets, and merchant bar iron and steel. The rolling mills are equipped with five trains of three-high rolls, with six heating furnaces, whose annual capac- ity is 35,000 tons of rolled iron and steel, embracing all sizes of rounds and squares. The forge is equipped with power ham- mers, upsetting, punching, drilling, bending and forming ma- · chines to manufacture iron for bridges, buildings, cars and agri- cultural implements. The products have been awarded first prizes at different exhibitions for superior excellence of material and workmanship; and they are supplied to all parts of the coun- try. At present the works give steady employment to over seven hundred and fifty men. The business is carried on under the name of J. H. Sternbergh & Son.
National Bolt and Nut Works .- This enterprise was incor- porated in 1890 to manufacture bolts, nuts, rivets and rods for bridges and buildings. The trade extends throughout the United States and to foreign countries. The plant is in North Reading, and includes fifteen acres of land. Hands employed, 300; capital, $300,000. Officers: C. W. Wilhelm, pres .; W. S. Davis, treas .; H. J. Hayden, manager.
Auburn Bolt & Nut Works .- In 1887 a bolt and nut works was established at Auburn, Schuylkill county, by an incorporated company for the manufacture of car-links, pins, boilers, rivets and bar-iron, and operated by Daniel J. Driscoll, of Reading, from that time until October, 1896. He employed 80 hands, and produced annually 2,000 tons which was shipped to all parts of the United States. Investment, $30,000. Then a company was organized, the plant extended, the capital increased to $75,000, and the machinery changed for the manufacture of hollow billets. These billets are converted into cold-drawn seamless steel tubing for boilers, bicycles, etc., and shipped to all parts of the world. Employees, 100. This enterprise must be included with the Reading industries, because it is controlled by Reading parties and capital. Officers: H. C. England, pres .; John R. Morrison, sec'y .; and Daniel J. Driscoll, treas. and manager.
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West Reading Boiler Works .- In 1870 Enos M. Reazor be- gan the manufacture of boilers on Canal street below Pine, and carried on the business until 1873, when Harry McCoy became a partner, and they traded under the name of Reazor & McCoy. The establishment was then removed to the foot of Chestnut street. They employed from 30 to 40 hands, and their annual product amounted to $60,000. The firm continued until 1878, when it was re-organized by the withdrawal of Mr. McCoy and the introduction of Wilson J. Sterling, Daniel Weidner and. Winfield S. Reazor as partners, who traded under the name of Sterling, Weidner & Co. This firm existed for ten years, em- ploying the same number of hands, and doing the same volume of business. Then Daniel Weidner, David H. Fox and Thomas K. Dalzell carried on the business until 1894, when Mr. Dalzell became the sole proprietor, and he has carried on the establish- ment until the present time. Investment, $30,000; employees, 40; annual product, $60,000.
Penn Boiler Works .- In 1883 George C. Wilson and Hiram P. Yeager established the Penn Boiler Works at Front and Pine streets, for the manufacture of steam boilers, tanks, oil stills, pipes for brass furnaces, stacks, etc., and they have carried on the same until now. They employ 20 men and their trade ex- tends throughout the country. Investment, $8, 500.
Carpenter Steel Co .- This company was incorporated in 1889, under the laws of New Jersey, for the manufacture of armor- piercing projectiles at Reading chiefly for the United States gov- ernment, and the principal parties of this great enterprise were Dr. John C. Barren, George B. Newton, R. W. Hawkesworth, H. M. Hawkesworth, and James H. Carpenter. They pur- chased the Union Foundry property at the foot of Exeter street along the Pennsylvania Railroad (which had been carried on at that place from 1872 to 1885), and they then built a superior establishment to answer the demands of their undertaking. The company acquired in that year the American rights to manufacture shells after the then most approved European methods, and from that time they have been experimenting. The Carpenter projectile now stands at the head of the list for unsurpassed record in the penetration of the finest nickel-steel face-hardened armor that has yet been pro- duced. In 1890 they began supplying experimental orders and
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since then they have delivered to the United States government many thousands of projectiles, ranging in diameter from 4 inches to 13 inches and weighing from a few pounds to half a ton.
Though the manufacture of shells has been the most important business, the company has been developing a constantly increas- ing market for tool and die steels, especially adapted for severe work and great endurance. Their principal office is in New York city. They have sales offices and ware-houses in New York city, Boston, Chicago, Toledo, and St. Louis. This great establishment has contributed a great deal towards popularizing Reading as an industrial centre all over the world. Over 500 hands are employed, whose annual wages exceed $200,000. Officers: John C. Barren, pres .; H. M. Hawkesworth, vice pres ; Lewis Gregory, sec. and treas.
Diamond Steel Co .- Walter Steel, of Sheffield, England, came to Reading in 1891. After having been connected with the Carpenter Steel Co. until 1893, he associated with Cornelius K. Rothenberger for the purpose of manufacturing steel, and they together erected a plant on Bern street, adjoining the Schuylkill and Lehigh R. R. They had an investment of $16,000, employed 16 hands, and produced crucible steel which was shipped to the New England states. Edwin Sassaman be- coming a partner, they then traded under the name of Dia- mond Steel Works; enlarged the plant to an investment of $50,000; employed from 40 to 50 hands, and carried on the es- tablishment until 1895, when they incorported a company under the name of Diamond Steel Co., with a capital of $100,000. They doubled the capacity of the plant, employed 120 hands, and their monthly sales amounted to $13.000. They suspended operations in 1896. The plant is now operated by the Carpen- ter Steel Co.
Schmehl Mill- Wright Shop .- In 1870 Elias B. Schmehl be- gan manufacturing mill stones and flour mill machinery. He carried on the business until 1895, when he transferred it to his son Heber. The factory has been at. 154 Court street since I882. The mill stones have been supplied from Bowmansville, Lancaster county. He employs from 6 to 9 hands. His trade is mostly local. Annual product, $7,000; investment, $5,000.
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Chantrell Tool Co .- This company was organized in 1888, (being named after John Chantrell, an Englishman, who de- signed certain improved tools) and the business was conducted successfully on Seventh street near Chestnut for several years, when the plant was removed to Millmont where a large brick building was erected to meet the demands of increasing trade. The company manufactures bit braces, screw drivers, bicycle chains, nail pullers, and specialties. Employees, 200; capital, $100,000. The productions are shipped to all parts of the world. George S. Pomeroy is pres .; Josiah Dives, sec. and treas .; M. J. Poindexter, gen. manager.
Wilkinson Shear Co .- In 1895 the Wilkinson Shear Co. was incorporated by Cyrus G. Derr, John M. Archer, Charles S. Prizer, J. H. Cheetham, Henry Eppihimer and others, with a capital of $20,000, for the manufacture of sheep, horse, grass and hedge shears and they have continued the business success- fully at Ninth and Bingaman streets until now. They employ from 15 to 20 hands and ship their products to all parts of the United States. Officers: D. P Harris, pres. ; John M. Archer, treas .; J. W. Wilkinson, supt.
Boss Knitting Machine Works .- J. L. Eck began making cotton hosiery with machinery at Kutztown in 1880. While so engaged he added various improvements, the first in 1889, and five afterwards, for which patents were issued. In 1891 he re- moved to Reading and directed his attention to the making of knitting machines. The business was carried on by Jairus Kutz and Ellen Diefenderfer under the name of the Boss Knitting Machine Works at Seventh and Walnut streets until 1898 when they removed into a three-story brick factory at Elm and Reed streets. They manufacture "The new improved 15-16 Auto- matic and Plain Seamless" machines; employ 35 men, and turn out from 15 to 20 machines a week, which are sent to all parts of the United States. Investment, $10,000.
Textile Machine Works .- In 1892 Ferdinand Thun and Henry Janssen came from New York to Reading and started the manufacture of textile machinery at 224 Cedar street for making braids and dress trimmings and also electric wires and cables. In 1896 they removed their plant to a brick building at Wyo- missing along the Lebanon Valley R. R., which they erected to
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meet the increasing demands of their trade. They employ 55 hands and their production amounts to $50,000 annually which is shipped to all parts of the country. Investment, $35,000; annual wages, $15,000. This is the only firm in the United States that makes this class of machinery a specialty.
Remppis Iron Works .- In 1885 William F. Remppis began manufacturing ornamental iron ,work near the Lancaster Bridge on River street in a small frame building, and the business was increased to such an extent by 1892, that a large brick building was erected. The plant burned down in 1896, but it was im- mediately rebuilt, much enlarged and improved. He turns out all kinds of builders', plain and ornamental iron work, fire es- capes, stairs, elevator enclosures, railings, crestings, window- guards, grill work, etc. He employs from 35 to 50 men. In- vestment, $30,000; annual wages, $20,000. His trade extends throughout Eastern Pennsylvania. (See page 109.)
Speidel Iron Works .- In 1883 David Greth started a ma- chine shop at Bingaman and Orange streets. In 1884 he sold the business to Frederick Gerhart and Mahlon Shaaber, who carried on the same until 1888. They then transferred the plant to J. G. Speidel who immediately enlarged the place and ex- tended the business to the manufacture of tramways, elevators and hoisting machinery. He continued there until 1892, when he removed to 809 Cherry street, to increase his facilities for turning out orders. For two years H. P. Roeper was a partner. In 1896 they dissolved and he established a works at 233 South Eighth street, which he equipped with new machinery for making the articles named and also traveling cranes and fire escapes. He fills orders from all parts of the United States and some from foreign countries. Investment, $15,000; employees, 12 to 15; annual product, $25,000.
Reading Crane & Hoist Works .- After Speidel & Roeper dissolved partnership in 1896, H. P. Roeper remained at 809 Cherry street for one year, then transferred his establishment to Tenth and Bern streets, and took the name given. He man- ufactures traveling cranes, overhead tramways and chain tack- ling blocks, and ships his productions to all parts of the world. Investment, $16,000; employees, 20; wages, $8,000; product, $25,000.
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Kiefer Iron Works .- In 1895 William L. Kiefer started man- ufacturing ornamental wrought iron work of all kinds, such as fencing, railing, gates, grates, guards, gratings, fire escapes and iron stairs. His shop is at Fourth and Cherry streets, and he employs from 5 to 10 hands. His work is forwarded to differ- ent parts of Eastern Pennsylvania.
File Cutting .- The first factory at Reading for the manufac- ture of files and rasps of all kinds and sizes was established by Charles Stephen and his son Charles in 1866 at Eleventh and Buttonwood streets. They carried on the business until 1873, when the son died and another son Frederick succeeded him. The factory was conducted by them until 1882, when the son retired and the father operated it alone until 1889. He was a native of Baden, Germany, and came to Reading from Chi- cago in 1866. The product of the factory amounted to $10,000 a year, and afforded in busy times employment to 10 and 12 hands. The firm made all the files used by the P. & R. R. Co., sending to the company a wagon load at a time.
File-making was a very early industry in Cumru and Robeson townships, but no factory for the production of files was carried on at Reading until 1866.
Frees Factory .- John E. Frees removed from near Mohns- ville to Reading in 1885, and then began manufacturing all kinds of files and rasps. He employs 2 hands, and his annual production amounts to $1,500. His trade is mostly local for supplying the shops, though he fills orders from distant places in Pennsylvania. His factory is on Bingaman street above Eighth. It is the only one of the kind at Reading.
Lock-Making .- The making of wrought iron door locks was one of the early industries of Reading. At first they were made by blacksmiths, who were expert workmen and capable of fashioning iron into almost any shape, and continued to be for many years. The most prominent and distinctive locksmith at Reading from 1825 to 1873 was John Miller, having been en- gaged during that long period at 932 Penn street. He came from Lancaster where he learned the trade. He was a superior mechanic and his locks were in great demand. Before 1860 he employed from 6 to 10 men, and when he had manufactured a large stock on hand, the men would carry them in bags on foot
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JEWELRY.
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