USA > Rhode Island > Biographical history of the manufacturers and business men of Rhode Island, at the opening of the twentieth century > Part 10
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name of Potter & Symonds in the manufacture of jewelry. After three years Mr. Symonds sold his interest to John W. Buffinton, and the firm name has since been Potter & Buffinton. Mr. Potter was born in Scituate, R. I., August 27, 1833; in 1875 and 1876 he was a member of the Rhode Island General Assembly.
Providence Aluminum Co .- Manufacturers of all kinds of aluminum castings. Established in 1895. Foundry at 460 Eddy street, Providence. Joseph H. Lee, Treasurer and Manager.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
Heimberger & Lind. The business of this company was established by Charles J. Heim- berger, who was born in Goto, Saxony, Aug-
Charles J. Heimberger.
ust 6, 1844. Came to America in 1870 with Cassius M. Clay, United States Minister to Russia, whose headquarters were at St. Petersburg. Mr. Clay had received permission from the Russian Government to introduce electro-depositing of iron for printing plates to take the place of electro-plates, etc., and Mr. Heimberger was chosen as the subject to accompany Mr. Clay to America for the pur- pose of introducing the new art in this country. The bank note companies were evidently so slow in accepting this new process, Mr. Clay felt the necessity of abandoning his enterprise before it was brought to completion here as in Russia.
When this most commendable under- taking was given up, Mr. Heimberger began to work at tool making and die sinking, which he had learned in Russia ; and gradually devel. oped a business of his own. In 1882 he began business for himself in Providence, and in 1885 began the manufacture of jewelers' findings. His business gradually increased, and in Feb- ruary, 1896, a copartnership was formed with Peter Lind, who enjoyed a long experience in
the same line of business. The company manufactures all kinds of jewelers' findings, including gold and sterling silver settings, trimmings, galleries, cane and umbrella orna- ments, pin stems, etc .; Mr Heimberger is a member of Lassing Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Bridgeport, Conn. Factory of the company is located at 158 Pine street.
Peter Lind, of the firm of Heimberger & Lind, was born in Montrose, Scotland, June 19, 1849. He came to America in 1852 and learned the trade of a machinist, serving his time at the Taunton Locomotive Works, in Massachusetts. Locating in Providence he entered the employ of Thomas W. Lind, who succeeded to the oldest established jewelry findings plant in the city, serving as foreman of this shop for a term of fourteen years. In 1896, being desirous of doing business for himself, he entered into copartnership with Charles J. Heimberger, to carry on the same line of business that the latter gentleman had been doing for a number of years in jewelers' findings. Mr. Lind possesses thorough knowledge of the business ; is one of the expert tool makers and machinists of the
Peter Lind.
city. Member of the New England Jewelers and Silversmiths Association ; Redwood Lodge, A. F. and A. M.
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AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
Cory & Reynolds Company .- Manufacturers of gold plated jewelry. Claim to be the largest manufacturers of scarf pins in America, which is their specialty. Business established in 1872 by Johnson & Cory. In 1876 business owned by J. P. Cory, who built the new factory at 25 Congress Ave., Providence. In 1893 the firm was Cory & Reynolds, and in 1899 it was incor- porated under the name of Cory & Reynolds Company; capital $30,000; employ 110 hands. Officers: Joseph P. Cory, President; Alexander H. Cory, Vice President; Thomas B. Cory, Sec- retary; Frank B. Reynolds, Treas. and Gen'l Manager. Mr. Reynolds, the General Manager, was born in South Royalton, Vt., Nov. 17, 1858. Was bookkeeper in the famous Oak hall of Bos- ton for six years, and for five years with a whole- sale jewelry house of Boston. In 1885 was one of the members of the Reynolds Jewelry Co. of Providence, whose plant was destroyed by fire in 1893. The same year he entered into co- partnership with J. P. Cory. Member of the Ex. Committee West Side Club.
Crossin & Co .- Manufacture a general line of jewelry for ladies. Business established by Mr. Crossin and L. Schwarz in 1888. Peter Crossin, the present owner, was born in Provi- dence, April 20, 1848. Works at 129 Eddy street.
S. A. Bennett. - Manufacturer of solid gold front and plated ladies' and gents' jewelry. Busi- ness established by Foster & Bennett. Samuel A. Bennett, the present proprietor, has had an extensive experience in the jewelry manufactur- ing business. Works at 95 Pine street, Provi- dence.
Simmons & Paye Mfg. Co .- Manufacturers of silver novelties, including toilet ware, manicure goods, souvenir spoons, match boxes, etc. Busi- ness established in 1896 by Simmons & Paye. Works at 129 Eddy street, Providence. Employ 25 hands. Officers: Charles T. Paye, President; Frank L. Baker, Treasurer.
Dewey F. Adams .- Manufacturer of jet or mourning jewelry. Born in Unionville, Conn., Aug. II, 1842. Was originally a manufacturer of paper bags in Connecticut, later in Provi- dence in the same business from 1867; four years a tin manufacturer, and in 1881 began the manufacture of jewelry. Works at 129 Eddy street, Providence.
Union Jewelry Co .- Manufacturers of cheap jewelry and novelties in brass. Business estab- lished in 1898 by William D. Stone of Provi- dence. Works located at 409 Pine street, Provi- dence.
James R. Feeley & Co .- Manufacturers of Catholic society emblems in sterling silver and plated goods. Works at 95 Pine street. J. R. Feeley and F. P. Boland constitute the present company.
Geo. N. Babington .- Manufacturer of rolled plate rings; works at 129 Eddy street; employs 28 hands. Mr. Babington began the jewelry business in Providence in 1886. Born in Provi- dence, Dec. 4, 1862.
Charles H. Field. - Manufacturer of watch case engraving machinery. Business establish- ed in 1879. Works located at 113 Point street, Providence. Employ 30 hands. Mr. Field was born in Providence, February 16, 1855.
Bacon Mfg. Jewelry Co .- Manufacturers of gold, sterling silver and brass novelties in jew- elry. Established in 1898 by Richard Bacon, who was born in Providence, Nov. 17, 1863. Has worked in the leading jewelry shops of Providence for twenty-two years prior to begin- ning manufacturing for himself. Works at 95 Pine street. Employ 27 hands,
H. F. Carpenter & Son .- Gold and silver refiners and manufacturing chemists (blue vit- riol, nitrate silver, C. P. gold 1000-1000 fine.) Business established by H. F. Carpenter about 1860. He was born in Pawtucket in 1842. Works located at 58 and 60 Page street. Do an extensive business among the jewelry manu- facturers and silver smiths of the city and in other sections of the country.
Excelsior Nickel Plating Works .- Do all kinds of nickel plating, brass finishing, iron polishing, etc., their work being mostly on stoves, bicycles, plumbers' goods, and , do a general jobbing line of business, plating with nickel any kind of metal except aluminum, the latter of which is not permanent. Business established about 1875 by William A. Campbell. Charles F. Harris is the present owner, who was born in Barrington, R. I., September 23, 1856. Works located at 397, 399, 403 Richmond street, Provi- dence. Mr. Harris was one year a member of the East Providence Town Council.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
Horace Remington & Son Co .- Refiners of gold and silver, assayers and sweep smelters. Busi- ness established by Remington & Barber in
Horace Remington.
1879. Incorporated March 5, 1901. Capital- ized for $50,000. Employ 10 hands. Office located at 91 Friendship street ; Works 37, 39, 41 Garnet street, Providence. (Cut of the plant shown upon the opposite page.)
This is one of the oldest refining and smelting concerns in the city of Providence. Originated more than twenty years ago, and has been continuously in the field since that time. Horace Remington, the President of the company, who was born in Cranston, R. I., in 1841, began the refining business as an apprentice under Austin & Carpenter in 1862 Upon the dissolution of the firm a few years later he became a partner of the late john Austin, the firm then being known as John Austin & Co. Retiring from that firm in 1879, he united with Charles Barber and formed the firm of Remington & Barber, which continued for two years when the copartnership was dissolved. From that time until 1888, when his oldest son, Albert A., was admitted as a partner, Mr. Remington continued the business alone in his own name. At the latter date, the firm name was changed to Horace Remington & Son, which has constantly devel-
oped its business and become widely known not only for the refining and assaying business, but for the sale of certain adjuncts to jewelry manu- facturing. The firm has enjoyed an excellent reputation among jewelry manufacturers. Besides the refining business, the company sells fine gold and silver, platinum in sheet and wire, copper, for alloy, also gold alloyed anodes which have been generally adopted by the jewelers ; they also handle acids, chemicals, crucibles, etc.
The officers of the company are Horace Rem- ington, President ; Albert A. Remington, Treas- urer; Horace E. Remington, Secretary.
Albert A. Remington was born in River Point, R. I., in the year 1863. Entered the employ of his father in 1881, and was admitted to the firm in 1888; has been a Director of the National Bank of North America since 1896. Mr. Horace Remington, senior, was a member of the Board of Aldermen of the city of Provi- dence for the years 1898 and 1899, representing the Seventh Ward.
The city of Providence being one of the largest centres for the manufacture of sterling silverware, gold, silver and composition jewelry in
Albert A. Remington.
the world, the refining and assaying business is very important. This company alone furnish to manufacturers of sterling silver goods nearly a
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AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
99
million ounces of silver annually, which shows the enormous amount used. No plant in the country is better equipped for doing this class of work than that of the Horace Remington & Son Co., for in addition to the regular equip- ment of machinery they have many special machines of their own invention that enable them to do superior work. The sweepings from the
experience in the refining business recognized the importance of some improvements in machinery and methods, and he accordingly set to work to procure them, the result being that to-day he has some special machinery and appli- ances that are superior to any others now in use. The common way of mixing the sweepings so as to produce an even quality of metal, was to
REMINGTON BUILDING
THE REMINGTON BUILDING. No. 91 Friendship street, Providence, R. I.
different manufactories of the city amount to thousands of dollar every month, all of which are brought back to a commercial value for manu- facturing purposes by the refining and smelting process. The manufacturers of findings performa very important service for the manufacturers of jewelry, but they fill no more of an important position than the refiners and assayers of our city.
shovel them back and forth for many hours, requiring the services of two men. Mr. Rem- ington has invented a system that mixes from 4000 to 6000 pounds of dirt or sweepings in two hours time, by an automatic arrangement, per- forming the labor that would require two men to do in ten hours, and doing it much better than by hand. Another device saves all of the dust that rises during the process, thereby
Mr. Remington during his many years of making a great saving to the manufacturer.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
Thomas W. Lind .- Manufacturer of jewelers' findings and general metal ornaments, at the corner of Eddy and Friendship streets, Prov-
Thomas W. Lind.
idence. The business was established in this city by his brother, Alexander Lind, in 1867, and was the first jewelry findings manufactory to be started in the city of Providence. He began in a small way, and the goods produced at that time, while fully up to the requirements of the period, would be considered somewhat primitive if compared with the more artistic productions of this first year of the new cen- tury. After the death of the founder of the business in 1880, Mr. T. W. Lind, who had been in the employ of his brother, took up the business and carried it along, improving the methods of manufacture, putting in more modern machinery, and inventing many auto- matic machines that simplified and made more perfect work, until he now possesses one of the most perfect machinery plants in the country for the manufacture of all kinds of jewelers' findings, including gold and sterling silver, as well as goods for cheap jewelry. Mr. Lind has made several trips to Europe for the purpose of getting all of the new ideas that he could glean so as to enable him to add them to the American designs, thereby providing a
much larger variety of designs for his cus- tomers. Mr. Lind was born in Montrose, Scot- land, March 2, 1845. Came to America in 1854. Member of Redwood lodge A. F. & A. M.
The Edwin Lowe Gold Plate Co .- Manu- facturers of rolled gold plate and all kinds of fancy wires. Factory at 82 Clifford street, Providence. Established in 1849 by Thomas H. Lowe, who was the original founder of the rolled plate business in this country. His son Edwin Lowe became a partner in the business in 1857, and upon the death of his father in 1888 he became the sole proprietor. Incorporated in 1893 under the present name. Edwin Lowe was born in Birmingham, Eng., Sept. 25, 1842. Came to America in 1848.
Streeter & Co .- Manufacturers of a large line of cheap jewelry. Enjoy quite a trade in Europe and South America. Business estab- lished by W. B. Streeter in 1898. Works now located at 38 Friendship street, Providence. William B. Streeter was born in Providence, R. I., June 22, 1869. Learned the jewelers' trade and all the branches of the business, of Joseph P. Cory, and in 1898 began to manu- facture on his own account, as already des- cribed. Mr. Streeter was formerly proprietor and editor of the Rhode Island Pendulum, a weekly newspaper published in East Green- wich, R. I., and for two years he proved him- self a successful newspaper man, after which he sold the paper and printing office.
Bennett & Bradford .- Manufacturers of solid gold and sterling silver jewelry ; make a general line, including brooches, scarf pins, cuff buttons, etc. Business established by E. A. Bennett & Co. in 1892 ; was carried on under the name of Bennett, Melcher & Co., for six years, and in 1898 the firm name became Bennett & Bradford. Edgar A Bennett was born in Lincoln, R. I., May 14, 1851. Learned the trade of a jeweler, and also designing. Was foreman in several prominent jewelry establishments prior to beginning business for himself. The factory of the company is located at No. 4 Blount street, Providence. Frank Bradford was born in Birmingham, England, March 10, 1851. Came to America 1873. As he had learned the trade of a tool maker, he began that line of work in Newark, N. J; located in Providence in 1880; was employed by Foster & Bailey for a time, and for two years was in Attleboro. Became a partner with Mr. Bennett, and now carrying on business as Bennett & Bradford.
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AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
Ostby & Barton Co .- Manufacturers of gold rings of all descriptions. Business estab- lished by Engelhart C. Ostby and Nathan B. Barton July 1, 1879. Incorporated August 5, 1893. Employ 400 hands. Factory located at 118 Richmond street, cor. Clifford, Providence. Officers, Engelhart C .Ostby, President ; Nathan
always carried in stock, which makes it almost possible to ship an order as soon as received. The company makes every conceivable kind of a gold ring, from a small baby ring to the most expensive ring set with valuable gems. The company do all of their own refining .¿ All of the sweepings, clippings and polishings are
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OSTBY & BARTON CO. BUILDING. Cor. Richmond and Clifford Streets, Providence.
B. Barton, Treasurer ; Frederick D. Carr, Secretary ; Aurther O. Ostby, Superintendent. This is said to be the largest ring factory in the world. The large six story building that is shown herewith is devoted wholly to their extensive business. The business of the com- pany is so systematized that, after the tools are completed for any production it is only a matter of a few hours before rings of that particular kind, fully completed, can be made, all ready for shipment. A large number of designs are
refined in the building and melted over to again enter into stock for the manufacture of rings. The building is supplied with a modern power plant, and the machinery of the plant is all of the most up-to-date patterns, which enables the company to do all of their work after the most approved methods. The company employ a number of expert tool makers, and several de- signers are kept busy in creating new designs. Their products not only sell extensively in this country, but they enjoy considerable trade in foreign countries as well.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
George W. Dover .- Manufacturer of jewelers' findings of every description, in all metals. Works at 80 Clifford street, one of the largest brick buildings in the midst of the jewelry manufacturing section of the city of Providence. Employs 120 hands. Business established in 1890, when he was engaged on contract work for a number of manufacturers, and in 1892 a copartnership was formed with George W. Pritchard, under the name of Dover & Pritchard. In 1896, Mr. Dover purchased his partner's interest, at which time he became sole owner. The former location of the works on Eddy street were very soon found to be inadequate to the increasing de- mands of the business, new machinery being added to the plant nearly every month until every available space was filled. Con- sequently in 1900 the entire plant was moved to the five-story brick building on Clifford street, a cut of which is shown on the op- posite page.
With the new machinery that has been added to the plant in the new factory, this is now the largest in the world devoted wholly to the manu- facture of jewelers' findings. Mr. Dover's originality as to the production of patterns that should meet the popular demand, and his wide experience with machinery, was the mainspring of his success as a manufacturer, and these are still the dominating features of his business. His plant consists of all the modern machines for the production of the various designs, many of them being automatic and others made specially for the bringing out of original patterns. Mr. Dover was born in Ancaster, Canada, April 14, 1865. Received his education in Hartford, Conn. His first business in life was that of a newsboy in the city of Hartford, by which he earned money
George W. Dover.
enough to enable him to take a course of mechanical studies prior to entering the employ of the Pratt & Whitney Co. Completing his trade as a machinist and tool maker, he was employed for a number of years by various concerns throughout the country, among them being Lieb & Co., E. E. Garvin, and the S. S. White Co. of New York, the American Sewing Machine Co. of Philadelphia, and the Lefever Arms Co. of Syracuse, N. Y. This wide ex- perience undoubtedly had much to do with laying the foundations of his business as a manufacturer, which has proven so suc- cessful from the beginning.
There are a number of milling machines, lathes, etc., which en- able his corps of tool- makers to produce the various designs that his trade calls for with great rapidity and ac- curacy, and these tool- makers are kept busy by a force of designers that are constantly planning new patterns for every branch of the business, so as to en- able the house to keep fully abreast of the times in bringing out the very latest produc- tions that the trade is looking for, and which have given Mr. Dover a leading reputation in the line of specialties. There are a number of power presses, and every conceivable kind of a machine that the findings manufacturer requires, and many special ma- chines of his own make that enables this factory to turn out the most strikingly artistic designs that have ever been used in the jewelry manu- facturing business. A plant of this size con- sumes an immense amount of stock in the course of a year, the greater amount being divided be- tween silver and brass. In the year 1900 this factory consumed upwards of 100 tons of brass alone. The consumption of brass for their first year was between 1 and 2 tons, which shows to what enormous proportions this industry has grown.
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AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
GEO.W.DOVER.
MAKER OF ME
AL ORNAMENTS
JEWEL SETTINGS
AND JEWEL Y COMPONENTS
George W. Dover's Plant, Clifford Street, Providence.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
Thurston Mfg. Co .- Manufacturers of special milling machines patented by Horace Thurston for milling cutter plates, and pronounced the most economical machine ever put into a jewelry shop. Also manufacture saws, cutters, etc., and do all kinds of jobbing. Business estab- lished by Horace Thurston October 1, 1883, who was born in Norwich, Conn., June 17, 1852. Works located in the Simmons Building, 419 Eddy street, Providence. Employs 25 hands. One of the most complete machine shops in the city. Horace Thurston, Treasurer of the com- pany, has had an exten- sive experience as a machinist, and this com- bined with his natural ability has given him the reputation as one of the most expert mechan- ics of the state, his in- ventive genius having much to do with this reputation. He served an apprenticeship for the Corliss Steam En- gine Co. from 1869 to 1873 : was employed by the Providence Tool Co. on gun tools when they were carrying out their contract with the Turk- ish Empire. He was foreman for the Brown and Sharpe Mfg. Co. for five years, master me- chanic for the Cummer Engine Co. of Cleveland, Ohio, for two years. After his two years' ex- perience in Cleveland he returned to Providence and established his present business under the name of the Thurston Mfg. Co. For eighteen years this firm has done a large business not only in this country but in foreign countries as well, and their machinery and tools are consid- ered as fine as any made by any of our American manufacturers. The tools made by this com- pany are used extensively by the jewelry manu- facturers in this and other jewelry manufactur- ing centres.
Burns Mfg. Co .- Business originally estab- lished in Providence by Thurber & Burns ;
succeeded by A. B. Day & Co; the latter bought out by Geo. E. Burns, a native of Black- stone, Mass., in 1897 ; incorporated under pre- sent name 1898 ; capitalized for $5,000 : 26 hands employed ; manufacture solid gold and silver rings. John M. Miller, President ; Geo. E. Burns, Sec. and Treas. Factory 94 Point street, Simmons Building, in the centre of the city of Providence.
Arnold & Steere .- Manufacturers of solid gold rings at 94 Point street, Simmons Building, Providence. Establish- ed by Thos. F. Arnold in 1866, who was born in Providence, Nov. 12, 1831. For some 17 years the business was carried on under the name of Arnold & Webster. Up- on the death of Mr. Webster in 1885, Mr. Arnold continued the business in his own name until 1890, when Horace W. Steere became a part- ner,and the present name adopted. Mr. Steere was born in Gloucester, Rhode Island, Novem- ber 1, 1854.
Horace Thurston.
The A. A. Greene Co. Manufacturers of gold plated chain for ladies' and gents'. Business established about 1892. Works located in the Simmons Building, 94 Point street, Providence. Augustus A. Greene is the senior member of the firm.
W. M. Ryder .-- Manufacturer of electroplated jewelry, in both ladies' and gents' goods. Busi- ness established 1897. Capacity of plant about 250 hands. Works located in the Simmons Building, 94 Point street, Providence. William M. Ryder was born in Dennis, Mass., October 3, 1862.
O'Donnell Jewelry Co .- Manufacturers of a general line of ladies' and gents' electroplated jewelry. Established in 1900. Their works are located at 357 Eddy street, Providence. Employ 7 hands.
AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
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Simmons Building .- Located on Point, Eddy and Richmond street, Providence. Devoted principally to manufacturing jewelers, although the first floor is occupied by the Thurston Mfg. Co. Part of the estate of Ebben Simmons, Joseph Davol, executor ; George A. Turner, agent. The Simmons Building was erected in
Flint, Blood & Co .- Manufacturers of solid gold rings, also shell gold filled rings, 10-kt. shell gold, rolled gold plate, solid sterling silver, and shell sterling silver rings in numer- ous designs. Extensive foreign trade. Busi- ness was established in 1869 by William W. Flint, Joseph F. Blood, B. A. Holbrook, and James A. Young. Mr. Holbrook retiring in
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