USA > Rhode Island > Biographical history of the manufacturers and business men of Rhode Island, at the opening of the twentieth century > Part 4
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American Emery Wheel Works .- Manufacturers of all kinds of emery wheels. Established in June, 1896; incorporated the same year. Capitalized for $40,000. Fac- tory located at 325 Waterman street, Providence. Employ 16 hands. Officers: Harold A. Richmond, President and General Manager; Walter E. Richmond, Secretary and Treasurer. Harold A. Rich-
WH LELAND & Co
Combined Vertical and Horizontal Spindle Milling Machine. Beaman & Smith, Providence.
some cases weighing as much as sixty-five tons. One, a combined vertical and horizontal spindle milling machine, is herewith illustrated. They employ from seventy-five to one hundred hands, are located about one and a half miles from the Union Station in the south part of the city, at the corner of Gordon and Reynolds avenues. The property includes nearly the whole square.
mond was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., in 1871. Graduate of Yale and of the Massachusetts In- stitute of Technology. Was formerly Treasurer and General Manager of the Ball Bearing Co., of Boston, Mass. Member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. The manu- facture of emery wheels has been carried on in this city for many years by other concerns.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
Rhode Island Braiding Machine Company .-
The business of this company was established in 1865, in rooms of the Spicer & Peckham Foun-
Gilman K. Winchester.
dry Building, on what is now West Exchange street, Providence, by G. K. Winchester, A. S. Hood and B. B. Edmands. About 1868 land was broken directly in the rear on Aborn street, and a three story wooden building of their own erected, 40x70, with a boiler house 24x40 ; a lit- tle later another three story brick addition, 40x80, was built, and still later another addition
Benjamin B. Edmands.
was erected, 40x45 feet, three stories, making the present structure 219 feet in length by 40 in width.
In 1861 Mr. Winchester succeeded in devel- oping and advancing the braiding machine to its present effective condition, which was largely the result of a combination of previous partial successes introduced by others, which, combined with important improvements of his own, ena- bled him to construct a braider, simple and effective, and thereby introduce to this country a new and important industry, now firmly plant- ed in all of our chief manufacturing centres.
Incorporated in 1885. The company make any kind of braider that may be required.
Gilman K. Winchester was born in New Chester, N. H., now the town of Hill, March 11, 1823. He learned the carpenter's trade and later pattern making. When the Rhode Island Braiding Machine Co. first began business he made all of the patterns. Mr. Winchester, who has been President of the company from the be-
Arnold S. Hood.
ginning, is now President and Treasurer.
Arnold S. Hood, who was the former Treas- urer of the company, was born in Plainfield, Conn., April 26, 1827 ; died June 21, 1899. Fol- lowed the whaling business in his younger days, was a Forty-niner, spending several years in California. On his return home he became a machinist, was foreman for the New England Butt Co. of Providence, until he became one of the partners in the R. I. Braiding Machine Co., where he served as superintendent of construc- tion. Prominent in Masonic circles, member of Providence Central Club.
Benjamin B. Edmands was born in Charles- town, Mass., June 3, 1825. Began his labors in life in the pottery business in his native town. Enlisted in 36 Mass. vols., infantry ; promoted to First Lieut. 54th Mass. regt., colored. Now Secretary of the company.
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AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
Walter Coleman & Sons .- Manufacturers of crescent edge lignumvitæ and white ash yacht blocks, tackle blocks, marine hardware, and
Edward J. F. Coleman.
general yacht supplies. The shells of their fa- mous yacht blocks are screwed together in a manner that makes it impossible for them to come apart ; they are elegantly finished and will not stain or rust, and the surface is perfectly smooth. Works at 308 South Water street, Providence. One of the oldest concerns in the State; founded by John Coleman in 1778. His son, Walter Coleman, succeeded to the business, and with his two sons, Stephen G. and William, he established the firm of Walter Coleman & Sons in 1821, which name has been retained ever since, and which has won a reputation the world over for producing the finest blocks that are made in any country, which is a great credit, not only to the firm, but to the State of Rhode Island as well. For a number of years the man- ufacture of wood well pumps was carried on by this company, in connection with their other business. In the course of time the sons suc- ceeded the father, and upon the death of Stephen G. and William, Stephen R., son of Stephen G. Coleman, came into possession of the business, which he retained until about 1890, when the entire business came into the possession of
Edward J. F. Coleman, his brother, who is the great-grandson of the original John Coleman. Mr. Edward J. F. Coleman, the present pro- prietor, was born in Providence, Feb. 15, 1858. Being thoroughly conversant with all of the details of the business, he has sustained the reputation that the house has won by keeping abreast of the times in keeping up a modern plant so far as machinery is concerned, so as to be enabled to produce the very best of every- thing in their different lines of manufacture in the most rapid and economical manner. Many improvements have been devised for the various block-making machines during the past few years. This company will have the honor of making the blocks for the cup defenders of 1901, as they already have done for the cup defenders since 1893, including the Columbia, Defender and Vigilant ; also the Colonia, Nava- hoe, Isolde, Niagara, Athene, and hundreds of others. Shipping people say that the blocks made by this company are sent to all parts of the world. California ship-builders patronize this company as liberally as the ship-builders on the Atlantic seaboard. This is indeed one of the most important of our manufacturing in- dustries.
Providence Brass Foundry .- Manufacturers of all kinds of brass, aluminum, and bronze castings. Foundry established by John T. Jack-
Joseph H. Lee.
son in 1800 at the corner of Eddy and Broad streets, where the Narragansett Hotel is now located. In 1813 A. H. Manchester learned his
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
trade here, and in a few years became a partner in the business, and later purchased Mr. Jack- son's interest, becoming sole proprietor. In
Stillman White.
1847, as he needed greater and better facilities, he built the foundry now occupied by the pres- ent owner, at 460 Eddy street. Here his son, A. H. Manchester, Jr., learned the trade and became a partner in 1856, and 1867 the entire business passed into his hands. In 1890 Joseph H. Lee purchased the business, a gentleman of wide experience in the foundry business. He began early in life to learn the trade of a pattern and model maker, and from this he launched into the machinery and foundry business, and has followed it ever since. He also devoted several years to the study of mechanical en- gineering. He was for five years the superin- tendent of the Franklin Foundry and Machine Co., of Providence, and for about the same length of time superintendent of construction of the Riverside and Oswego Mills, of Fulton, N. Y., besides an experience among other machinery building and foundry concerns, until he bought out the present business. In 1895 he had the honor of making all of the castings for the yacht " Defender," which so ably defended the America's cup in the international races of that year. The foundry has always enjoyed a repu- tation for doing the best of work, and their field of operations is all over the United States and in many foreign countries. Mr. Lee was born
in Providence, Nov. 27, 1855. Member Provi- dence Association of Mechanical Engineers.
Stilllman White .- Brass founder at No. I Bark street, Providence, R. I. All kinds of brass and bronze castings, and manufacturer of the S. White lining metal, which has proved to be one of the best lining metals now in use. The business was established in 1856, and ever since that time the products of this foundry have been used extensively among the manu- facturers of this State, and their being so many manufacturers that require brass castings, the demand has been and is still very extensive. Mr. White was born in Canton, Mass., Feb. 5, 1832. After receiving a liberal education in the public schools, he learned the trade of a moulder and made himself thoroughly acquainted with the business of a brass foundry, and at the age of twenty-four he began business for himself, making a very successful record in the field of Rhode Island manufactures, being still active in the foundry business. Mr. White is one of the influential men of the city of Providence. The citizens of the First Ward have honored him by electing him as their representative to the City Council for eleven years, and two years as their representative to the Board of Alder- men, and the city has honored him by electing him as one of the Representatives to the State Legislature. For six years he has filled a posi- tion on the Board of Fire Commissioners of the city of Providence, and has been re-elected for another term of three years. Has been a mem- ber of the fire departments for over fifty years, and for forty-five years a member of the A. F. and A. M.
New England Butt Co. - Manufacturers of butt hinges, braiding machinery, and carry on a foundry business. Works located on Pearl street, Providence. Employ 200 hands. The company was founded in 1842, by Nicholas A. Fenner, for the manufacture of butt hinges, an article which at that time was imported from Europe. In 1853 the company became incorporated and began to extend its scope. Some years later the manufacture of braiding machines was taken up, and this line, which has grown to very large proportions, together with its foundry business has almost superseded the manufacture of butts. This company makes a very complete line of braiding machinery for all kinds of round and flat braids, shoe laces, sash and curtain cords. The machinery manufactured by the New Eng- land Butt Co. for the insulation of electrical . wires, from the largest cable to the smallest magnet wire, is used by all the large manufac- turers in this country and by many in Europe. The present officers of the company are: Pres- ident-Herbert N. Fenner ; Treasurer-Russell W. Knight; Secretary-Edward B. Knight ; Agent, Joseph F. Blauvelt.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
B. B. & R. Knight .- Manufacturers of cotton goods, their Rhode Island mills being located at Pontiac (including a bleachery), Natick, River
Robert Knight
Point, Arctic, Westerly, Woonsocket, Providence, Lippitt, Fiskeville, Jackson, woolen mills at Cov- entry Centre, print works at Cranston ; in Mass- achusetts, at Dodgeville, Readville, Manchaug and Hebronville, making a total of twenty-one cotton mills that are operated by this company, there being more than one mill in several of the towns mentioned. The famous " Fruit of the Loom" is the product in part of these factories. Number of spindles, nearly 500,000 ; number of looms, over 11,000 ; number of employés, about 7,000. There are some fifteen villages whose inhabitants derive their livelihood wholly or in part from these extensive cotton mills, and the company maintains stores for the convenience of their operatives, there being some seventeen hundred families to be supplied with the daily necessaries of life. The company also own and carry on extensive farms that are located near the various villages. The products of these mills are all sold direct to the dealers, their principal headquarters being in New York, with branches in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Boston, and other cities, but the entire business of all these agencies is under the direction of the central office at Providence, No. 3 Washington Row. The business was established by Robert Knight, who was born in Warwick, R. I., Jan. 8, 1826 .. He was an operative in Elisha Harris' cotton mill at Coventry when but ten years of age, and for two years prior to that time he was employed in the Cranston Print Works, which he now owns. He remained with the Harris mill until he was seventeen years of age. In 1843 he was employed in the grocery store owned by his brother, Benjamin B. Knight, in Providence, but
after a two years' experience he went to West- erly and completed his education in the Paw- catuck Academy. After teaching school for a few months, he was employed by John H. Clark as clerk in his factory store at Pontiac, R. I. Soon after Mr. Clark leased his bleachery and cotton mill to Zachariah Parker and Robert Knight at a rental of $5,000 a year. In 1850 the business and property were bought by the firm of Parker & Knight for $40,000, and the next year, 1851, Mr. Knight purchased his part- ner's interest. Previous to this time the place was known as Arnold's Bridge, but from this time on the place was known as Pontiac. In this year then, 1851, was the beginning of the business in the manufacture of cotton goods that has developed at this first year of the new century 1901, just fifty years, to greater propor- tions than any manufacturing establishment of its kind in the world. In 1852 Mr. Knight sold a half interest in his Pontiac mill and bleachery to his brother, Benjamin B. Knight, (who was born in Cranston, R. I., Oct. 3, 1813,) and that year the name of B. B. & R. Knight was adopted as the company name. Benjamin had been in the grocery and grain business some seventeen years prior to this time, and he had been very successful as a merchant, beginning in the town of Cranston and closing his business career in this line in the city of Providence. The train- ing that he received as a merchant, that brought out and fully developed his remarkable business ability, had much to do in laying the foundation for the manufacturing business in which he labored with his brother the remainder of his
Benjamin B. Knight.
life. He died in Providence June 4, 1898. Firm now composed of Robert Knight, Webster Knight, C. Prescott Knight.
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AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
Byfield Rubber Co .- Manufacturers of arctics, gum shoes, canvas top tennis shoes, and a few specialties, including rubber heels, etc. Factory located at Bristol, R. I., having a capacity for turn- ing out 4,000 pairs of rubber shoes in a day, em- ploying some 250 hands. Plant equipped with artesian wells, having its own power and electric light plant. Business established in October, 1897, and incorporated the same year, May II. Officers : Fred L. Smith, President and Treas- urer; Ray G. Burlingame, Secretary; Terrence McCarty, General Superintendent. The goods of this company are sold in Great Britain and Australia, through their agencies there, as well as throughout the United States. Fred L. Smith was born in Pascoag, R. I., December 10, 1865. He became a bookkeeper and salesman for the J. C. Hall Co., printers, of Providence, in 1887, and upon the incorporation of the company in 1889 he was elected the Sec- retary, which position he continued to fill un- til the death of its treasurer, John T. Kir- win, in 1893, when he was elected Treasurer, Secretary and General Manager. Secured con- trol of the business in 1896, when he became President, Treasurer and General Manager, the present Secretary being William F. Lawrence. The company is one of the leading printing houses of New England, their great specialty being lithographic checks. They make more than half of the checks used by the banks of New England. They are also under contract to print the revenue stamps on checks for the United States Government. Dur- ing the year ending June 30, 1900, they printed nearly 13,000,000 revenue stamps on checks. Mr. Smith is also General Manager of the Knick- erbocker Lithograph Co., of New York city, and Treasurer of the Rhode Island Roller Screen Co., and a Director in the Second and Fifth National Banks of Providence.
Fred L. Smith.
Colvin Mfg. Co .- Manufacturers of high grade machine made cable and eye-glass chains for the manufacturing trade. Made from gold, gold plated, sterling silver and brass stock. Works located at 234 Chestnut street. Business established in 1898 by Byron L. Colvin and Fred B. Thomas. Mr. Thomas was born in North Attleboro, Mass., Dec. 15, 1867. Is the business manager of the company ; was origin- ally a carriage maker. Mr. Colvin was born in Coventry, R. I., May 23, 1861. He completed the machinist and tool-making trades at Brown & Sharpe Mfg. Co. After leaving this company he was employed by a number of manufacturing concerns, among them the Pratt & Whitney Co., of Hartford, Conn., and railroad companies as repairer of locomo- tives. Mr. Colvin while employed in a chain- making shop in North Attleboro, Mass., con- ceived the idea that the city of Providence would prove a good field for the establish- ing of a business of the same kind, as there was no such manufac- tory there, and he pro- ceeded to carry his idea into effect by forming a copartnership with Mr. Thomas, and the busi- ness of the present com- pany was established. Mr. Colvin has taken out one patent on a chain machine which he claims is the only machine that will produce heavy cable watch chain as good as that made by hand. Their machinery is nearly all auto- matic, most of it being designed by Mr. Colvin.
Tockwotton Co .- Manufacturers of nails and buttons with solid leather heads for upholstery, saddlery, travelling bags, hunting suits, etc. Business established in 1897. Incorporated in 1899. Capitalized for 25,000. Works located in Providence. Officers : W. R. Talbot, President and Treasurer ; A. G. Talbot, Secretary.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
The Joseph Banigan Rubber Co .- The Joseph Banigan Rubber Com- pany was organized and incorporated in Novem- ber, 1896, for the manu- facture of rubber foot- wear. They began manufacturing in Janu- ary, 1897, and since that TRADE MARK. time have been produc- ing all the variety of styles in rubber boots and shoes and increasing their production each year from the commence- ment, running their factory every working day since the organization of the company. In addi- tion to the regular line of rubber footwear they make many kinds of goods of their own special invention cov- ered with patents and trade marks, which are very popular with the trade. Their goods are unexcelled for quality, style and finish, having at their disposal a fac- tory operated by the most experienced rub- ber workers known in the manufacture of rubber goods, a factory modern in every par- ticular, fitted up with the latest improved up- to-date machinery and appliances and with the most experienced operatives in every de- partment. They have also equipped them- selves with a factory for manufacturing lasts and boot-trees under the management of one of the most experienced last makers and de- signers in the country. This feature in itself is of great advantage to a modern rubber boot and shoe factory, as with their own last making machinery they can get out new styles promptly instead of waiting weeks or even months, as is the case with other rubber companies, and allows them to give their customers the most
improved and latest styles without annoying delays.
The Joseph Banigan Rubber Company facto- ries are situated on Valley street, Providence, and have a capacity of about 15,000 pairs of rubber boots and shoes per day, giving employ- ment to 1,000 hands. The demand for their goods has steadily increased from the com- mencement of manufacturing, keeping this pro- gressive company always running up to their full capacity. Their product is sold over the whole United States and they have built up a good business also with foreign countries, par- ticularly Australia, where the Banigan goods are very popular.
While The Joseph Banigan Rubber Company is young in years, its management is in the hands of men of wide experience in the rub- ber business. Walter S. Ballou, its President and General Manager, has for thirty-five years been closely and suc- cessfully connected with the manufacture and sale of rubber boots and shoes and is one of the best known rubber men in the country. He is a na- tive of Cumberland, R. I., being born there March 2, 1849, receiv- ing his education at the Dean Academy of Franklin, Mass. Mr. Ballou began his career as a rubber goods man- ufacturer with the Woonsocket Rubber Co., where he acquired a complete knowledge of the business, and perfornied many years of efficient service in the business department of that concern.
Walter S. Ballou.
The present officers of the company are as follows : President, general manager and secre- tary, Walter S. Ballou ; treasurer, John J. Wat- son, Jr .; superintendent, Maurice C. Clark. Board of directors : Walter S. Ballou, Samuel P. Colt, John J. Watson, Jr., Edward R. Rice, Clarence R. Guild.
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AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
After the discovery of that peculiar gum yield- ing tree of South America in 1735, it took more than a hundred years to find the secret of treating that gum so as to make it of any commercial value. Under the first processes the articles made from rubber would become sticky in sum- mer and so offensive that the odor was unbear_ ble and in winter the substance became too hard. Many an inventor gave it up as one of
process for vulcanizing rubber. When by ac- cident he made the discovery that sulphur was the prime factor in the process, even at the very threshold of success, it still took him ten more long years to again by accident discover the fact that it required a certain degree of heat in con- nection with the sulphur treatment to thoroughly and completely vulcanize rubber. This degree of heat was not difficult to ascertain, and once
Plant of The Joseph Banigan Rubber Co., Valley Street, Providence.
those things that nature did not propose to yield a remedy for, and up to 1836 more than $2 000,000 had been lost in a vain endeavor to prepare the gum so that it could be made use of and remain the same under all conditions of weather and atmosphere. In 1834 Charles Goodyear, a Con- necticut Yankee then living in Philadelphia, came to the conclusion that he could invent a process that would properly treat rubber, and thereby give it the commercial value that was desired. If he had not been made up of more persistent ma- terial than the other inventors his endeavors would have been as futile as those that had already given it up as a bad job. For twenty-five years he labored before he finally discovered the true
fixed, the success of the rubber industry was assured. No State in the Union has made bet- ter use of his invention than Rhode Island, and the Joseph Banigan Rubber Co. is manufacturing as fine a line of goods as are produced in this Country.
The factory buildings which are located on Valley street, are built in the form of a letter L, the main building running about north and south, and the wing running east and west. A large tower surmounts the main factory near the street, and an office building is conveniently located near the south and front end of the plant. The factory is four stories in height, well equipped with a complete power plant, the entire floor space and storage room amounting to several acres.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
Almy Water-Tube Boiler Co. - Manufacturers of Almy's patent sectional water-tube boilers for steamships, river steamers, both propellers
Darwin Almy.
and stern wheelers, torpedo boats, fire boats, yachts, launches, donkey boilers for steamships, and for all kinds of stationary work. Works located 178 to 184 Allen's Avenue, Providence. Business of the company established in 1889 by Darwin Almy, the President and treasurer. In- corporated in 1890; capital $60,000. One of the best machinery plants in NewEngland,especially designed for this work. Mr. Almy was born in Tiverton, R. I., February 28, 1848. Has been engaged in steam engineering since 1879. Invented the Almy water-tube boiler in 1889, receiving his patent the following year. The advantages claimed for this boiler over the old fashioned fire tube boiler, are saving in weight, space, fuel, safety and quick steaming, and that this claim is sustained is evident from the many boilers that have been put in to some of the best yachts and boats afloat. Mr. Almy is a member of the following National Societies : American Society Mechanical Engineers, American Society of Naval Engineers, The Engineers' Club, Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers; also member of the Providence Mechanical Engineers, the Providence Board of
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