USA > Rhode Island > Biographical history of the manufacturers and business men of Rhode Island, at the opening of the twentieth century > Part 9
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Victor Shaw Ring Traveler Co-Manufactu- rers of ring travelers. Business established in 1899 and incorporated the same year. Capital- ized for $20,000. Works located at 23 Sabin street, Providence. Officers, Amos P. Baker, President ; Virgil Fisher, Secretary and Treas- urer; Orville Fisher, General Manager ; Victor C. Shaw, Superintendent.
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AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
J. T. Slocomb & Co .- Manufacturers of mi- crometer calipers and combination centre drills, the latter for the purpose of centering lathe work. The business was established in 1891 by the present proprietors, and they have de- veloped a very extensive trade in their special- ties. They send their goods to nearly all parts of the world. Factory located at 227 Eddy street, Providence. Employ 20 hands. John T. Slocomb was born in Little River Mills, Canada, July 21, 1864, and came to the United States the same year. Learned the trade of a machinist in Bangor, Me., and located in Providence in 1887. For two years was em- ployed by Brown & Sharpe Mfg. Co., and the same length of time by the Rhode Island 0 1 Locomotive Works. In D 1891 he entered into partnership with C. E. Barlow for the purpose of manufacturing goods as described above. Charles E. Barlow was born in Norwich, Conn., July 22, 1867. Learned the trade of a machinist at Brown & Sharpe Mfg. Co., and after a num- ber of years' experience among other manufac- turing concerns as a journeyman, he entered into partnership with J. T. Slocomb under the firm name of J. T. Slocomb & Co.
The calipers made by this company are pro- tected by two patents that pertain to the adjust- ments and the form of the frame. The accom- panying cut is of a new micrometer caliper having a bow of I section and with its anvil formed solidly with the frame which is of steel ; the adjustment commonly made by an anvil screw is made in this tool at the other end. The cut shows the one inch caliper full size which measures from O to I" by thousandths. The two inch size starts at one inch and measures two inches, it being the same as the one inch in other respects. The anvil, being the same size as the screw and end of the frame, makes the caliper convenient for measuring very close to a shoulder, and this, with the proportion of open- ing of the bow, allows a shoulder 3-16 inch high
to be measured up to the full capacity of the tool. The anvil is also made higher than com- mon so that measuring can be done in a recess or back of a rib or other slight projection. There are no decimal equivalents stamped upon the bow or frame, a similar result being accom- plished in another way. Graduations on the other side are extended on every 1-8 inch di- vision or those that read decimally .125 inch. These lines are numbered on the lower side from I to 8, so that the tool is readily set by eighths without considering the decimal gradu- ation at all, and without any manner of calcula- tion. Decimal equivalents within 1-8 inch are stamped upon the thimble, and therefore if a person chooses he need not use the decimal system, except for measurements between eights, but this arrangement in no way inter- feres with reading the tool in decimals the regu- lar way.
Rodman Manufacturing Co .- Manufacturers of doeskin jeans, cotton yarn and warps. Busi- ness established by Robert Rodman in 1847. Incorporated in 1883. Capitalized for $500,000. Employ 500 hands. Officers: Albert Rodman, President; Walter Rodman, Secretary and Trea- surer. Factories located at North and South Kingstown. LaFayette Mill at LaFayette, Sil- ver Spring woolen mill, at Silver Spring, Shady Lea cotton mill at Shady Lea, all in North Kingston, R. I. Wakefield woolen mill at Wakefield, South Kingston, R. I. The LaFayette mill is the largest of the four factories, and one of the most attractive woolen mills in the State. The productions of these mills have always borne a high reputation for excellence of quality. Mr. Robert Rodman is one of the patriarchs of the woolen and cotton industry of South County, and while his two sons now bear the burden of the business, he is still very vigorous and active and apparently as interested in the tex- tile business as he was when a young man, although he has passed considerably beyond the eightieth milestone.
John H. Althans Co. - Makers of bread, cake, ice cream and general pastry goods. Business established by John H. Althans many years ago, and incorporated in 1900. Bakery located at 207 Brook street, Providence. Employ 50 hands. Officers : John H. Althans, President ; Allen J. Arnold, Treasurer and General Mana- ger ; Henry T. Braman, Secretary.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
A. B. Pitkin Machinery Co .- Dealers in new and second hand machinery and supplies. Busi- ness established by John W. Boynton in Hart-
Walter C. Young.
ford, Conn., in 1850. Incorporated in January, 1891. Officers: Walter C. Young, President James T. Thornton, Vice-President and Treas-
James T. Thornton.
urer ; Fred S. Sweet, Asst. Treasurer and Sec- retary. Office and salesrooms located at 39 Exchange Place, Providence. Capitalized for $ 100,000; employ 25 hands.
The business was bought of Mr. Boynton by Alfred B. Pitkin in 1879, and removed to the city of Providence, when the business was carried on under the name of A. B. Pitkin, the present name being adopted upon the incorpora- tion of the company, and for many years the lo- cation of the salesrooms was at the corner of Washington street and Exchange Place, with a floor space of about 6750 square feet, but the business has so far increased until at the present
Fred S. Sweet.
time it requires four buildings in different parts of the city for sales and warerooms, amounting to over 100,000 square feet of floor space.
This rapid increase was due to the infusion of young blood into the business in the year of 1891. Walter C. Young, the President of the company, who was born in Providence in 1861, entered the company as one of the incorporators, occupying the office of Secretary until 1898, when he was elected Vice President. He held this position until 1901, when he was elected President of the company. As a boy he was em- ployed by the Perkins Mfg. Co., now known as the Davol Rubber Co. At the age of seventeen he entered the employ of Belcher Bros., now the
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AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
Belcher & Loomis Hardware Co. After serving this company for thirteen years, he resigned his position to become one of the incorporators of
Alfred B. Pitkin.
the A. B. Pitkin Machinery Co., and his long commercial experience proved of great advant- age to the company as its growth and expansion gives ample evidence of.
James T. Thornton, who entered the employ of the company in 1891 as book- keeper, was born in Lonsdale, R. I., in 1868, and received his education in the city of Fall River, Mass. In 1895 he became Asst. Secretary of the company, and in 1898 was elected Secretary; in 1900 was elected Treasurer, and in 1901 was elected Vice President and Treasurer, and the en- tire business is now under the management of Mr. Thornton. Prior to entering the em- ploy of this company, he was an expert ac- countant, with an experience in cotton mills, as a boy, and trained in office work at the American Print Works of Fall River. Prior to becoming an accountant he had learned the machinist and cabinet makers trades, which he acquired after school hours in the different shops of the city. Mr. Thornton has represented the com- pany in various parts of the United States,
among the mills and machine shops, and to his energy and tact as a salesman is largely due the success of the company. Mr. Thornton is a member of many local organizations, and Presi- dent of the Edgewood Boat Club.
Fred S. Sweet, the Secretary and Asst. Trea- surer of the company, was born in Providence, in 1867. He entered the employ of Bugbee & Thompson at the age of seventeen, and after serving three years with this company, he ac- cepted a position as book-keeper for the Kent & Stanley Co., of Providence, where he remained for a term of nine years. In April, 1896, he re- signed his position there to accept a position as book-keeper for the A. B. Pitkin Machinery Co .. which department now comes under his control as Secretary of the company. In February, 1898, he was elected Asst. Secretary of the company, in January 1900, he was elected Asst. Treasurer, and in February, 1901, he was elec- ed Secretary and Asst. Treasurer. His exten- sive experience as a book-keeper brought to this company another valuable acquisition that has proven a great help in pushing forward the immense volume of trade that has been developed.
Mr. A B. Pitkin is a native of Connecticut, he having been born there in 1833; he establish- ed in Providence a business that has been de-
A.B.PITKIN MACHINERY COMPANY.
PROVIDENCE MACHINERY AGENCY
ACHINERY CO
Office and Salesrooms, A. B. Pitkin Machinery Co., 39 Exchange Place, Providence.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
veloped since its incorporation to a magnitude that few similar concerns in the country can equal, either in the volume of business or in the
Walter H. Manchester.
class of machinery handled. While this com- pany do not manufacture in the strict sense of the term, yet they handle more machinery than many of our largest manufacturers of machinery, their class of goods ranging all the way from a pulley to a roving frame, including every kind of textile machine that is made in this or any other country that is in demand here among our manufacturers. Mr. Pitkin, on ac- count of ill health, has had very little to do with the business during the past six years, the bulk of its management having devolved upon Mr. Thornton and Mr. Young.
Manchester & Hudson .- Dealers in masons' materials, including brick, lime, cement, drain pipe, calcined plaster, stone, etc. Business es- tablished by W. H. Manchester and J. H. Hud- son in 1878, at 354 Eddy street, Providence, and located at their present place at 55 Point street in 1888. They are among the largest dealers in masons' and builders' materials of any in South- ern New England. Their plant covers over an area of 40,000 square feet of land bordering on the harbor with ample wharfage facilities. There are several buildings for storage pur- poses, and the office of the concern is situated on the Point street side of their plant. Their
up town office is at 35 Weybosset street. They are provided with a wharf slip 300 feet in length amply wide enough for all kinds of vessels that are required to ship their goods from one port to another, with a harbor frontage 100 feet, making a total of 400 feet of dockage, and this being situated just north of Point Street draw bridge gives this company the advantage of a superior location for carrying on their extensive business, because it is in the very heart of the business of the city. Probably no company in Providence has furnished more supplies for the great manu- facturing and mercantile buildings of the State than Manchester & Hudson, their business re- quiring the services of 16 men besides a number of delivery teams.
James S. Hudson, the senior member of the firm, was born in Providence, December 5, 1833. Was President of the Builders and Traders Ex- change of Providence for a number of years, also connected with the Building Material Ex change of New York and member of Providence Board of Trade. Walter H. Manchester was born in Providence, August 16, 1851. The company are agents for American Sewer Pipe
James S. Hudson.
Co., Hoffman Rosendale cement, Dragon Port- land cement, also for the best grades of lime and brick.
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AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
Rodolph F. Morse .- Manufacturer and pro- prietor of Gilbert's self-packing glass gauge preserver, one of the most useful inventions
Rodolph F. Morse.
that have been brought out during the past decade, and one that promises to take the place of all other inventions or appliances for the packing of glass gauges, which have never over- come the effects of the expansion and contrac- tion of the glass, caused by the heat from the boiler, water and steam, thereby crack- .28 ing the gauge and 6 making it worthless. AZ The invention is what might be termed a rubber washer, so made as to enable the nut to hold the glass gauge in place per- fectly water tight 0 with play room enough to overcome the effect of expan- sion and contraction, thereby making it im- possible for the glass gau e to break from that cause. Makes a perfect seating and prevents blowing and eating away of the glass. Can be adjusted without the use of a wrench ; lubrica-
tors will not leak when packed with these pre- servers. Invented by Henry K. Gilbert in 1898; patent secured March 28, 1899. Patents also secured in many foreign countries, includ- ing Great Britain, Belgium, France, and the Dominion of Canada. R. F. Morse, the pro- prietor, was born in Boston, Mass., March 3, 1856. For many years a commercial traveller. Office, 33 Eddy street, Providence, R. I.
George W. Edmunds .- Manufacturer of all kinds of fine carriages, and bodies for automo- biles. Business established in 1860. Was ap- prenticed to learn the blacksmith trade at twelve years of age. Works located at 75 to 79 Clif- ford street, Providence. Mr. Edmunds was born in Montville, Me., Nov. 13, 1836.
Charles O. Normandy & Co .- Manufacturers of house shoes and slippers. Business estab- lished by Mr. Normandy in 1899. Works lo- cated at 143 Summer street, Providence, which are well equipped with modern machinery. Charles O. Normandy was born in Lynn, Mass., October 12, 1878. Began to learn the shoe makers trade at the age of II years, and was employed by his father in the same business for a number of years before establishing busi-
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Charles O. Normandy.
ness on his own account. Trade largely in New York and New England States. The only com- pletely equipped shoe factory in the State.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
Smith Bros .- Manufacturers of a general line of cheap jewelry, more especially for use among manufacturing confectioners, to be given away
James Smith.
in prize packages, and in other ways. One of the largest manufacturers of cheap jewelry in the State, with an extensive plant, including up- to-date modern machinery. The company em- ploy a large force of drummers, and their goods are sold throughout the United States and many foreign countries, England being the principal market in Europe, the South American countries being the largest outside market that they have to supply. The great variety of their goods, and the very low price at which they can sell them, enables the company to supply a demand that many jewelry manu- facturers are unable to meet because of the immense quantities required at a low price, so as to enable the buyer to give the goods away with his manufactured product as a kind of advertisement. Factory located at No. 34 Bassett street, Providence. Business established by the present company in 1890 Employ when running full force 150 hands. James Smith, of the firm of Smith Bros., was born in Cranston, R. I., August 11, 1862. He early learned the trade of a jeweler, as applied to manufacturing, and after eleven years experience among manu-
facturing jewelers, where he gained a complete knowledge of the business, he began manu- facturing for himself as a partner with his brother, under the firm name of Smith Brothers, and the result of this copartnership has been the production of a phenomenal trade in the manufacture of a line of jewelry that is in great demand among manufacturers who produce a line of goods that require a prize to be given away with each article purchased. The com- pany may be said to stand comparatively alone in this particular line, and their goods are becoming more popular as each season's demand is being supplied.
- William Smith, of the firm of Smith Bros., was born in Hope Valley, Hopkinton, R. I., February 1I, 1865. Began to learn the jewelers' trade in 1880, and made himself proficient in every department of the business that has made more than a national reputation for the city of Providence, this being in a sense the most prominent of all of its industries, so much so that its products in this line are known the world over. After a number of years having been spent in the employ of other manufacturers, he became a partner with his brother under the company name of Smith Brothers, and by
William Smith.
their energy and judicious advertising they have won a reputation in the commercial world that is a credit to their enterprise.
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AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
O. C. Devereux & Co .- Manufacturers of men's gold plated and pearl jewelry, a general line. Business established in 1873 under the firm name of J. E. Braman & Co., the members of the company being J. E. Braman, Stephen P. Salisbury, and O. C. Devereux. The works were then established at 220 Eddy street, where they made a line of gents' plated goods, the same as the company now make. In January, 1878, Mr. Braman retired from the firm, and the name then became Salisbury & Devereux. After one year Mr. Devereux bought out his partner's in- terest, and the firm name then was changed to O. C. Devereux & Co., that title being re- tained ever since that time. Mr. Devereux became the sole owner of the business when Mr. Salisbury sold his interest, and he has been sole proprietor from that time to the present.
Oren C. Devereux was born in Johnston, R. I., April 9, 1837. After completing his education in the pub- lic schools and Schol- field's Commercial College, at the age of fifteen years he be- came an apprentice for William Johnson, then located at 14, now 71, Marshall street, Providence. Mr. Johnson made a gen- eral line of both gold and plated jewelry which enabled Mr. Devereux to secure a valuable early training, that should prove of great service to him in the years that were to follow. His health failing, after two years, he went to work in a store, and March 4, 1857, he returned to com- plete his time in the jewelry business, this time with Peck & Barton of 30 Page street. Here he worked for thirteen months, or until he was twenty-one years of age. He subsequently worked for Mr. Barton, after the death of Mr. Peck, until the war broke out. The jewelry business at that time being very slow, Mr.
Oren C. Devereux.
Devereux went home and worked on a farm for a year, and then he was engaged as a clerk in Bradford's seed store on Canal street. In 1865 he again began working at the jewelry business, this time for Child & Horton. Afterwards he was employed by R. D. Horton, and was the superintendent of his shop for four years. Then in 1873, as already related, he began manufac- turing on his own account as a member of the firm of J. E. Braman & Co. In 1889 Mr. Dev- ereux bought the mother-of-pearl business that had been carried on by Charles L. Potter for 28 years at 407 Pine street. Another floor was hired for this depart- ment of the business, and since that time he has made both lines of goods, com- bining gold plate with the pearl so far as possible, although some of the goods are made of pure pearl.
From 1880 for many years the firm made a specialty of "Stonine" jewelry, for gentle- men's cuff buttons, studs and scarf pins, a white composition to simulate linen, and which made a very dressy article in the jewelry line, specially suited for full dress occasions. Mr. Dev- ereux held two pat- ents covering the method of fastening the stone to the shank of the button or stud. Mr. Dev- ereux practically had a monopoly of that branch of the jewelry trade for many years, and it nat- urally proved a very profitable department of his business. Mr. Devereux has always been too busy with his business to think of anything in the line of public office, but by his strict busi- ness methods he has built up an extensive trade and a plant well equipped with all the modern machinery and tools necessary to produce the finest lines of goods in the jewelry manufactur- ing business. Employ 40 hands when business is good. Mr. Devereux is a veteran Free Mason and Odd Fellow and a member of several other organizations.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
E. L. Spencer & Co .- Manufacturers of gold rings together with a general line of jewelry. Works located in the " Emma" Building, corner Aborn and Washington streets, Providence. Mr. Everett L. Spencer, the sole proprietor of the business, was born in Providence, April 29, 1867. As a boy he began to work for the jew- elry firm of Waite, Smith & Co., remaining with that firm for ten years, the last four years he was representing the company on the road. At the end of this time, he severed his connection with the firm and asso- ciated with George H. Holmes & Co., becom- ing a traveler through the West for the latter, remaining in that posi- tion for four months. His connection with this house was brief, as he made arrangements to enter the business field for himself, and began under the firm name of E. L. Spencer & Co., on April 15, 1891, locating his factory at 62 Page street. A beginning was made by purchasing the plant of F. A. Stevens & Co., of Providence, which was owned by Albert A. Remington, of this city, who was a partner with with Mr. Spencer for one year. After the first year, Mr. Reming- ton's interest was pur- chased by Mr. Spencer, who thus became sole owner of the entire business, and has been ever since. When business was first begun, the firm manufactured a line of plated and silver brooches and stick pins. In fact, the same line that had previously been made by George H. Cogshill, who had previously owned the plant. From the beginning, Mr. Spencer began to make ad- ditions to the line, having an aptitude for bring- ing out new things that were tasty in design and elegant in finish. In this way he forged ahead until he finally merged the original business into a line of solid gold goods, and to-day the firm is noted all over the country as
a leading gold ring house, rings having been a specialty, although a large production of brooches, stick pins, drops, studs, charms, baby pins and eye glass chains are also made. The factory of the firm remained at 62 Page street until last year, when the rapidly growing busi- ness of the firm required larger quarters, and a removal was made in August, 1900, to the ele- gant "Emma" Building, which is owned by Dutee Wilcox, and located at the corner of Aborn and Washington streets. The building is one of the best situa- ted and equipped for manufacturing purposes of any to be found in this city. The factory of Mr. Spencer is also probably as well equip- ped for the class of work manufactured by his concern as any to be found, being filled with machinery that is up to date. The firm gives employment to a num- ber of capable designers and tool-makers, as well as to a large number of employes of high grade. The firm also have an extensive department for packing jewelry, and ample office room.
Everett L. Spencer.
C. A. Wilkinson & Co. -Manufacturers of gold and gold filled spectacles and eye glass frames and general optical goods. Business estab- lished in 1896. Works located in the " Emma" Building 53 Aborn street, corner Washington street, Providence. Charles Allen Wilkinson, the General Manager of the business, was born in Fall River, Mass., March 3, 1852. He was in the manufacturing jewelry business for ten years prior to going into the present business. Dutee Wilcox is a partner in the business.
Fuller, Carpenter & Co .- Manufacturers of gold filled chains, bracelets, fobs and charms. Works in Manufacturers Building, 7 Beverly street, Providence. Employ 45 hands. Busi- ness established in 1890 by J. D. Fuller & Co.
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AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
D. Wilcox & Co .- Manufacturers of a general line of diamond jewelry, including rings. Busi- ness established by Dutee Wilcox in 1856; works located at 184 Washington street, Providence. Employ 50 hands. Firm composed of Dutee Wilcox, Howard D. Wilcox and Walter Gardiner. Dutee Wilcox was born in Douglass, Mass., June 22, 1834. At the age of sixteen he began to learn the jewelry trade. In 1856 he formed
Potter & Buffinton .- Manufacturers of a general line of gold jewelry, mostly gents' goods. Works at 7 Eddy street, Providence. Business established in 1856 by Col. Isaac M. Potter and Albert W. Delnah. At the breaking out of the war Mr. Potter went to the front and after a number of promotions he closed with the com- mission of a colonel. In 1865 he associated himself with Fred W. Symonds, under the firm
Emma Building, Corner Aborn and Washington Streets, Providence.
a partnership with Horace and Olney Thayer, and began to manufacture jewelry on Steeple street, Providence. After several changes in the firm, in January, 1880, Walter Gardiner was admitted to the firm and the present company name was adopted. Later Howard D. Wilcox was admitted to the firm. Mr. Wilcox, senior, among other things, invented the "Wilcox & Battell stud, " patented in 1859, which had a great sale throughout the country.
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