USA > Rhode Island > Biographical history of the manufacturers and business men of Rhode Island, at the opening of the twentieth century > Part 29
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The company is at present making a spe- cialty of white glazed papers for boxmakers, and has the reputation of producing the finest goods in this line. Although a comparatively new concern, it has already gained an im- portant standing in the commercial world and bids fair to become one of Pawtucket's most successful enterprises.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
J. O. Draper & Co .- Manufacturers of olive oil and English fig soap for washing wool, woolen, worsted and silk goods, white
James 0. Draper.
chipped soap for straw, print works and steam laundries, palm oil, bleaching, full- ing and scouring soaps for all factory uses. Also family soaps of all kinds and a large line of toilet soaps. Business established in 1861 by James O. Draper and Abner Atwood, the business being carried on under the firm name of Draper & Atwood until 1867. when Augustus W. Crowell was admitted as a member of the firm, the name then being changed to Draper, Atwood & Co. A few months later Mr. Draper bought out the interests of his partners, and carried on the business alone until 1871, when Arthur W. Stanley was admitted as a partner, the name of the firm then adopted being J. O. Draper & Co., which has been the style to the present time. James O. Draper was born in Attleboro, June 29th, 1818. He attended the public schools and worked on his father's farm until he was 16, when he went to Abington, Mass., and learned the trade of shoemaking. At 20 he went to Mobile, Ala., where he and his brother-in-law, J. H. Stanley (father of A. W. Stanley, his later partner), were engaged in the produce business. He returned to At- tleboro and took charge of his father's farm and did some shoemaking, and in 1849 went 'round the Horn to California on the steamer Areotus and was six months on the way. In 1850 he returned home for a short time, but went to California again in 1852 and remained
there until 1856, and in 186r with Abner At- wood started the soap business in Pawtucket. He was a man of sterling character, strong feelings, an enemy to be feared and a friend who would stand by to the end.
Mr. A. W. Stanley is a native of Attleboro. Mass., where he was born September 30th, 1847, and was a nephew of the founder of the business. Soon after becoming a member of the firm he carried the principal burden of the business, and to his enterprise and strict atten- tion to its details, the steady growth of the concern is largely due. Upon the death of Mr. Draper, October 14, 1891, he became the sole manager and has continued to give his per- sonal attention to the business ever since that time. Mr. Stanley has been interested in other enterprises of importance. The Manufacturers Building of Providence, one of the largest manufacturing buildings in the State, was built by the Kent & Stanley Co., of which he was the President. and he was also a member of the firm of Kent & Stanley, manufacturing jewel- ers of Providence. which concern was con- sidered one of the most enterprising of the city. The soap works were completed in their pres- ent form in 1869, 60x90 feet, three stories in height. There is also a store house, 60x80 feet, of three stories. The works are well ar- ranged for the manufacture of soap, and are equipped with modern machinery and ap-' pliances. The annual output of the factory is about 5,000,000 pounds, and their products have become very popular among the manu-
Arthur W. Stanley.
facturers of the country, because of the uni- form quality of their goods. The works are located on Front and Clay streets, Pawtucket.
AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
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When Mr. Draper first began business his plant was a very small affair as compared with the present factory, but the business from the start has enjoyed a steady growth, and the works were enlarged from time to time to meet the increase of business, until the present ex- tensive establishment was completed. The firm have not passed a weekly payroll since the establishment of the business, almost 41 years ago, and are supplying some of the same customers they began business with.
Wilson's Shoddy Mill. - Manufacture
wood and iron work for wagons and carriages. Works located in Woonsocket, just above the Falls, on the east bank of the Blackstone River. He is a native of St. Hyacinthe, Canada, where he was born February 18, 1868. He came to Woonsocket in 1886, and after spending a few years in Vermont learning the trade of a car- riage smith, he returned and established the present business.
Charles W. Jencks & Bro .- Manufacturers of paper and wooden boxes. Business established
U.O. DRAPER & CO. FACTORY & FAMILY SOAPS
J. O. DRAPER & CO
OFFICEDE"
RYDER CO PROY
Plant of J. O. Draper & Co., Pawtucket, R. I.
shoddy. Owned by William R. Wilson and his nephew, Herbert M. Wilson. The manufacture of shoddy was begun here in 1866. The first mill was destroyed by fire in 1871, and rebuilt the same year. From 1878 until 1893 Herbert M. Wilson carried on the shoddy mill, and then Olney T. Inman leased the property and carried on the same line of business. Mill located on the Wilson reservoir which is supplied by the Clear River, about two miles from Pascoag, R. I.
J. L. Fugere .- Manufacturer of all kinds of
in September, 1852. Works located at 31 Broad street, Providence. This is one of the oldest paper box concerns in the country. Charles W. and John J. Jencks, the proprietors, are both natives of Providence. They are the sole manti- facturers of the "Sensible" mailing box. Employ about 200 operatives.
John F. Lassen & Co .- Manufacturers of awnings, tents, sails, etc. Business established in 1893. Works located at 923 Westminster street, Providence. John F. Lassen is a native of Halifax, Nova Scotia.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
The A. T. Atherton Machine Co. - Manufac- turers of cotton mill machinery. Business es- tablished in 1887 as the Potter & Atherton Ma- chine Co. The name was changed in 1893 to The A. T. Atherton Machine Co., and in 1896 the business was reorganized under the same name. Works located on Prairie avenue, Paw- tucket, on the India Point Branch of the N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. A new building, modern in every respect, and just completed this year of 1901. Employ about 200 hands. Officers: E. L. Freeman, President ; Geo. W. Stafford, Vice- President ; Fred Anthony, Secretary and Treas-
remained for six years. He then accepted the office of clerk for the Hebron Mfg. Co., in He- bronville, R. I., remaining three years. Andthen after serving one year with A. B. McCrillis & Co., he engaged with Oliver Johnson & Co., Exchange street and Exchange place, remaining about two years, and then he accepted a posi- tion with the Congdon & Carpenter Co., where he remained some seventeen years, after which he engaged with the A. T. Atherton Machine Co., in 1899, and in April, 1901, he was elected the Secretary and Treasurer of the corporation. Fred A. Wilde, the General Manager of the
رئيسة جنة
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LO
777
New Plant of The A. T. Atherton Machine Co., Pawtucket, R. I.
urer; Fred A. Wilde, General Manager. The Board of Diretors are: E. L. Freeman, Geo. M. Thornton, D. L. Goff, Edward Smith and Geo. W. Stafford.
Mr. Anthony, the Treasurer of the company, is a native of Coventry, R. I. After leaving school he entered the employ of Chas. F. Pease of Boston, in the upholstery business, and later engaged with Annable & Allen in the dry goods business in the Arcade in Providence, as bookkeeper. After leaving this place he en- tered the employ of John H. Eddy & Co., on Exchange street as their bookkeeper, where he
company, is a native of Providence. He was em- ployed for six years with the Geo. W. Stafford Mfg. Co., of Providence, which later consoli. dated with the Knowles Loom Works, and was known as the Providence Branch, and later as the Providence Branch of the Crompton & Knowles Loom Works. After leaving this company he entered the employ of The A. T. Atherton Machine Co., as Asst. Manager, at the time of the reorganization in 1896. January I, 1901, he was elected the General Manager of the business. The works formerly occupied were located on Broad street, Pawtucket,
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AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
which were a part of the property owned by the Broad Street Power Co. The new plant will afford an increased floor space, which will en- able the company to carry on their business on a larger scale, in a factory that is equipped with all of the modern machinery necessary in the manufacture of their cotton machinery.
Woonsocket Rubber Co. - Manufacturers of rubber boots and shoes. Business established in 1865 by Lyman A. Cook and Simeon S. Cook, who soon after employed Joseph Banigan to help set up the machinery for the new works. In May, 1867, the business was incorporated under the present name, the incorporators be-
construction. During a greater part of his life the late Joseph Banigan was the controlling spirit of the company, and to his energy much of the success of the undertaking was due. The weekly pay roll of this company amounts to over $20,000. The capacity of the Millville plant is 8,000 pairs of boots daily, and that of the Woonsocket factory is 25,000 pairs of shoes in a single day. These rubber goods are made in all of the prevailing styles so that every per- son may have as good a fitting rubber as they have in a shoe.
American Textile Co. - Manufacturers of lace goods in cotton and silk. Business incorpor-
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Woonsocket Rubber Co., "Alice Mill," Woonsocket, R. I.
ing : Lyman A. Cook, Simeon S. Cook, Joseph Banigan, Latimer W. Ballou and Henry L. Ballou. Works are located at Woonsocket, R. I., and Millville, Mass. Capitalization, $3,000,000. Employ 2,500 hands. The present officers are: Samuel P. Colt, President ; Frederick Cook, Treasurer; C. H. Guild, Secretary. Twenty boilers are required to furnish steam for both of the mills, and Corliss engines are used to the extent of about 2,000-horse power. The factory at Millville manufactures rubber boots and the Alice Mill at Woonsocket is where the rubber shoes are all made. The accompanying cut is a good representation of the Alice Mill, and the factory at Millville is very similar in style and
ated in 1898, works built in 1900, in Pawtucket, just over the line from Providence, near the dye works of the R. D. Mason Co. The mill is a modern one, and the industry promises to be one of the new enterprises that will be of great advantage to the State in the line of manufac- tures. Power supplied by steam. Officers : Hezekiah Conant, President ; Lyman B. Goff, Vice-President ; George M. Thornton, Secretary and Treasurer.
J. D. Warren & Co. - Manufacturers of solid gold stone rings, and sterling silver rings. Busi- ness established about 1880, and by the present company in February, 1899. Works located at 21 Eddy street, Providence.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
Eagle Mills. - Manufacturers of corduroys, plush, and cotton dress goods. Business estab- lished under the name of the Groton Mfg. Co., and in 1882 the business was reorganized under the name of the Eagle Mills. Factories located near the new bridge, Woonsocket, R. I. The old wooden mill owned and operated by this company is one of the oldest in the city now in operation, being built probably in 1831 by John W. Buffum, and known as "Buffum's Mill," until the second mill was built a few years afterwards, when they were known as "Law's Mills," in honor of George Law, who was the Superinten- dent and Manager for a number of years. John Buffum certainly purchased the land here in 1831, and he probably built the old wooden factory the same year. The style of architecture of this mill was in use in Rhode Island for mill purposes the first half of the Nineteenth Cen- tury. Employ about 300 hands. Officers: Charles Morris Smith, President; George M. Smith, Treasurer and Secretary; George H. Grant, Superintendent. Mr. Grant is a native of Woonsocket, where he was born December II, 1837. He received his education in the public schools of Woon- socket and is a graduate of Smithville Semin- ary, of North Scituate, R. 1. After leaving school he worked for his uncle in the grocery business in Pawtucket, and soon after he was employed by Edward Harris, the famous woolen manufacturer, to learn the trade of a machinist. At the breaking out of the Rebel- lion he was the boss machinist at the Jenks' Mill in Jenksville, Woonsocket, now the Guerin Spinning Co. Mill. He also worked as a ma- chinist in Providence at the Franklin Foundry and Hope Iron Foundry along about 1858 and 1859. He was afterwards made the foreman of
George H. Grant.
the machine shop of the Harris Privilege mill in Woonsocket, now the Lawton Spinning Company plant. After remaining there for a number of years he entered the employ of the Groton Mfg. Co. in what was commonly called Law's Mills, in 1872, as master mechanic the first year, and the second year he was ap- pointed the superintendent, a position which he has held to the present time. Mr. Grant was honored by the citizens of Woonsocket, who elected him the first Mayor of the city. He was a member of the first Town Council which was formed in 1865. He was a member four years, and president of the Council one year, and was Chief of the fire department. Since that time Mr. Grant has paid strict atten- tion to business, and has not accepted any other public positions. Mr. Grant was ensign of Co. K, Ist Rhode Island Infantry, and was later promoted to captain of Co. D, 5th R. I. Heavy Artillery. The Eagle Mills are supplied by power from the Blackstone trench to the extent of 200-horse power through two turbines, and by a Harris-Cor- liss engine of 380-horse power. Upon the op- posite page we print a cut of the mills made from an old print, which was taken before the Baptist church was moved from Main street. And another from a photo- graph taken December 5, 1901, which shows extensive additions that give nearly double the floor space for manufacturing purposes over the old mill.
There is the same interest centered in this old original structure that we find in connection with all of the old mills of this section, which include the Jenksville and Hamlet mills, those near Woonsocket Falls, and others that have been built in different parts of the city and State.
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Eagle Mills, Woonsocket, R. I. 1901.
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Eagle Mills, Woonsocket, R. I. 1875
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
Woonsocket Machine and Press Co. - Manu- facturers of cotton machinery, power transmit- ting machinery and miscellaneous iron work. Business established as the Woonsocket Foun- dry about 1838 on South Main street, Woon- socket, R. I. Later the name of the company was changed to the Woonsocket Machine Co., and in 1884 the business was incorporated under the name of the Woonsocket Machine and Press Co., with a capitalization of $200,000, the plant being removed to its present location on Second avenue, Fairmount district, Woon- socket, in 1879. The works consist of a foun- dry, machine shop, blacksmith shop, pattern house, shafting department, dry shed, sand shed, store house, boiler house, etc., the main build- ing being 475 feet long by 52 feet wide, and the various wings making full as much more floor space as the main structure. Employ 650 operatives. One of the largest machinery manufacturing plants in the United States. Officers: Edward H. Rathbun, President ; William S. Hopkins, Treasurer; Stanley G. Smith, Secretary ; Malcolm Campbell, General Manager.
The business began in a small way, but the quality of its productions built up a good trade, and gradually the plant has been increased until it reached its present dimensions. One of the principal events that brought about a boom for the concern was the purchasing of the City Machine Co. of Providence, in 1888, all of the patterns, special machinery, jigs, etc., used in the manufacture of the fly frame that bears that company's name, all of which were re- moved to the Woonsocket Machine and Press Co.'s works. For twenty years before this time the City Machine Fly Frame had been in use throughout the country, receiving the best of indorsements from the manufacturers using them, and since this company became the own- ers they have made many improvements that places it in the front rank of cotton machinery, vastly superior to the machine as originally built. The improvements that have made this fly frame so popular was first the introduction of the single gear horse head in 1891, which overcame the back lash which had been the difficult thing to overcome in other machines, as well as high speed gearing. In con- nection with this invention was a device by which they did away with a great amount of
friction which was necessarily caused heretotore by the compound sleeve revolving in an oppo- site direction from the main shaft. These im- provements, which were so valuable, were eclipsed in 1894 by the invention and introduc- tion of the vertical shaft, doing away with the horse head entirely, and obtaining a positive drive between the main and bobbin shafts, through an angle shaft, vertical shaft and slid- ing gear, thereby giving an even tension to the roving at all points of the traverse, an impossi- ble result with the use of the horse head or train of gears following the rail up and down. This vertical shaft has proven the invention that has made this fly frame the acme of perfection, and which has placed them in the mills throughout the country, doing a class of work that is abso- lutely perfect. In 1895 Daly's differential motion and their patent contact gearing were added, and the next year the steel clearer cov- ers and steel castings were put on, and in 1897 the steel draft gear bonnet and safety cone catch were introduced, and in 1898 their patent self-oiling spindle step and Campbell's ball- bearing top rolls. These inventions make the most complete up-to-date fly frame manufac- tured in New England.
The great advantage derived from the verti- cal and angle shaft that this company has brought out, is the fact that it does away with all gain or loss heretofore experienced in other machines, because the motion of the gears is al- ways continuous in one direction, regardless of the direction taken by the rail, thereby causing a perfectly even tension on the roving.
Daly's differential gearing overcomes the great amount of friction and breakage caused by the several bevel gears of the old style differ- ential, moving at double the speed of the jack- shaft. The Daly gearing entirely overcomes all previous difficulties, producing a bobbin of yarn which cannot be surpassed by any other ma- chine. This invention provides spur-gears run- ning in the same direction, and at half the speed of the old style machine.
The patented improvement used for regulat- ing the tension on roving frames enables the operator to make the change from the front of the frame by simply unlocking the controlling wheel and turning the handle to the right or left, as the case may require, which will make the change on coarse frames of one-eightieth.
FOUNDAT
1895
1895
PATTERN STORAGE
ENGINE ROOM
SETTING . UP. & SHIPPING DER'T
189
895
WOONSOCKET MACH
GENERAL MACHINE SHOP.
1880
PA
RN
STORE HOUSE
Plant of the Woonsocket Machine & Press Co., Woonsocket, R. I.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
and on fine jack frames a change of one-ninety- fifth, thus enabling him to control the cotton to a fineness never before acquired by any other arrangement. This arrangement always allows the cone belt to return to its proper starting point, so that the tension will be proper when starting on the empty bobbin. Every manu- facturer recognizes the great advantage of this invention in producing even weight goods.
The self-oiling spindle step patented by this company for the City Machine Fly Frame re- quires oiling but twice a year. It is constructed by drilling holes through the partitions between the reservoir and bearing. The oil enters the bottom of the bearing and is siphoned back into the reservoir through the top, thereby provid- ing for no loss of oil except by wearing and evaporation, which is very slight.
The Leon W. Campbell ball bearing top roll now used on this fly frame is superior to other rolls because it requires but one-half the weight ordinarily used, and runs absolutely steady. The reason for using less weight is be- cause there is no friction to overcome, the roll starting the instant the steel roll revolves. These are adapted to railway heads, drawing frames, speeders, spinning frames and combers.
We have described at considerable length the patented improvements of the City Machine Fly Frame because it is so important a machine, used extensively among the textile manufac- turers of the country, in producing goods of the finest texture. These improvements explain very clearly how well the work is done.
The company also make W. H. Erskin's patented cone stop motion for fly frames, which is a safety stop mechanism to prevent the ends breaking down in front if the cone belt should break, and it is very successful in its operation, and is full as important as their safety stop motion which prevents the break down of the machine by stopping the frame before such a result is brought about by some unnatural cause.
The next machine in importance to their fly frame is probably their patent steam rotary cloth press, which, by their newly patented bed in 1893, provides for four points of contacts as the cloth passes through the press. Two points on the lower and two points on the upper bed, and the concave and convex surfaces run the entire length of the beds so that the roll bears
evenly throughout. Seams in the cloth where the pieces are sewed together do not prevent this patent bed from pressing the cloth evenly up to these seams, as an automatic arrange- ment allows the four thicknesses of cloth to pass through, and then the pressure immediately comes in contact with the even cloth close up to the seams. The pressure can be regulated in this machine to suit all requirements, from 4,000 to 10,000 pounds by simply turning the hand-wheel that connects with the pressure cams. The steam enters one end of the bed and the condense goes out of the other end, giving a perfect circulation, and the system of piping heats the beds and cylinders evenly, giv- ing a uniform heat to the cloth, which causes it to press evenly. At the end of the machine is the folding device, whereby the cloth is folded evenly and without a wrinkle as it comes from the press.
The Fisher Card Feed is another important machine made by this company, which is being used generally throughout the country. Any kind of stock can be fed, either long, short, coarse or fine. It is made with few parts, and therefore simple in construction, and very dur- able. When the reservoir is full it runs at a slow speed, and when nearly empty will run fast; arranged automatically. Testimonials from the most prominent textile companies of the country declare this feed to be perfect in every respect.
The improved cloth trimmer, made by this company, is another important machine, for use in cotton mills for inspecting and brushing of cloth, leaving the goods in excellent condi- tion on rolls ready to be shipped. They are made in various widths as mills may require, and arranged so that cloth can be rolled up or unrolled. A bad place in the middle of the cut can be unwound by simply moving a hand lever. These machines are all built with iron panels, and the brush bearings are arranged so that fire cannot originate by the winding in of loose threads between the bearing and shoulder . of brush.
The McMichael loose reed motion made by this company prevents "shuttle smashes" and is consequently an important attachment. It is impossible to dent the reeds, and they are locked and unlocked automatically by this attachment.
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AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
A very important adjunct to the textile ma- chinery manufacturing business of the Woon- socket Machine and Press Co., is their depart- ment for the making of power transmitting ma- chinery and miscellaneous iron work, which in- clude shaftings, hangers, clutches, flange face couplings, the "Woonsocket" Patent Compres- sion Coupling, horn clutch couplings, safety horn clutches, the latest improved friction cut- off couplings, spread and swivel hangers, yoke and J hangers, post hangers, balance wheels, coupling and pulley forcing machine for shaft- ing 4 inches diameter and under, improved belt
Power for the works is supplied by two Allen boilers of 125-horse power each, one Harris-Corliss engine of 175-horse power, and one Ames engine, and the company have their own dynamos for lighting purposes. The machinery equipment of the plant is modern in every respect.
Edward Harris Rathbun, President of the company, is a native of Woonsocket, son of Ex- Lieut .- Governor Rathbun, and grandson of the late Edward Harris, the manufacturer who first brought American woolen goods up to the standard of foreign productions. He became
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