USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > History of Providence County, Rhode Island, Volume I > Part 73
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CHAPTER XXI.
PROMINENT MANUFACTURING CONCERNS OF PROVIDENCE CITY.
The Allen Fire Department Supply Co .- American Enamel Co .- American Electrical Works .- American Multiple Fabric Co .- American Screw Co .- American Ring Trav- eler Co .- American Ship Windlass Co .- American Supply Co .- American Tubing & Manufacturing Co .- Atlantic Mills .- Atlantic Manufacturing Co .- W. E. Barrett & Co .- Barstow Stove Co .- R. Berry & Co .- R. B. Bannister .- N. C. Briggs .- Henry Blundell & Co .- Brown & Sharpe Manufacturing Co .- Builders' fron Foundry .- Corliss Safe Manufacturing Co .- Corliss Steam Engine Co .- Chatterton's File Works .- City Machine Co .- H. J. & H. F. Campbell .- Geo. E. Cole & Co .- George M. Cruik- shank .- Davol Rubber Co .- Perry Davis & Son .- Davenport Arms Co .- Diamond Machine Co .- J. C. Dodge & Son .- George C. Douglass .- Elmwood Mills .- Henry W. Ellis .- The Elizabeth Mill .- Elmwood Paper Box Co .- Wm. H. Fenner & Co .- Fletcher Manufacturing Co .- Wm. A. Harris Steam Engine Co .- A. J. Harris .- Franklin Machine Co .- Fuller Iron Works .- Granger Foundry & Machine Co .- John Gillington. - G. F. Glauner .- The Gorham Manufacturing Co .- J. A. Gowdey & Son. -John Heathcote .- Heaton Button Fastener Co .- Hicks Boiler Works .- A. & C. W. Holbrook .- John Hope .- Hope Webbing Co .- George Hawes & Sons .- L. F. Joslin & Son .- Kendrick Loom Harness Co .- King & Richards. - Reliance Flour and Grain Mills .- Macnair & Burlingame .- Martin & Norris. - Thomas Mabbett .- Manton Steam Steerer Works. - Miller Iron Co .- Dutcher & Eames .- Volney W. Mason .- Mc Williams Manufacturing Co .- Miles Alarm-till Manufacturing Co .- Moulton & Ingraham .- New England Coffee and Spice Mills .- National Tubing Co .- National Worsted Mills .- Nayatt Brick Co .- N. E. Butt Co .- Nicholson File Co .- Nottingham Mills. -Thos. Phillips & Co .- Phenix Iron Foundry .- Presbrey & Myrick .- Providence Ma- chine Co .- Providence Steam Engine Co .- Household Sewing Machine Co .- Provi- dence Worsted Mills .- E. R. Randall .- R. 1. Bleach & Dye Works .- R. I. Braiding and Machine Co .- R. I. Concrete Co .- R. I. Coupling Co .- R. I. Locomotive Works. -R. I. Machinery Agency .- R. I. Malleable Iron Works .- William B. Rider .- Royce, Allen & Co .- Slater Mill and Power Co .- Spicers & Peckham .- S. S. Sprague & Co. -Geo. W. Stafford Manufacturing Co .- Stedman & Fuller M'fg Co .- Stilhnan White .- Horace Thurston .- Towel Rack & Novelty Co .- Union Eyelet Co .-- Union Oil Co .- Valley Worsted Mills .- What Cheer Paint Works. - Rice & Hayward.
1 N' the following paragraphs we shall notice briefly the conspicu- ous manufacturing enterprises of the city.
The Allen Fire Department Supply Company was established by the late Albert F. Allen. It is located at the corner of Eddy and Friendship streets. The works are accommodated in a wooden build- ing covering a site 40 by 120 feet. Twenty to thirty hands are kept employed in the manufacture of fire department supplies and other machinery. Goods to the value of about $30,000 are annually manufactured. Steam power is used. The present officers of the company are: Robert O. Gilmore, manager. and Samuel G. Colwell, treasurer.
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
In the year 1866 the business of the American Enamel Company was organized and the company incorporated. Their object was to manufacture under patents held by them, royal enamel, designed to protect iron pipes from rust or corrosion, and applying the enamel to iron pipes, fancy goods and other articles. The office and factory is located at 17 Warren street, the work being carried on in a build -. ing 30 by 100 feet, two stories high, and in other accessory buildings of smaller size. There is also a branch located at Mashapaug lake, covering one and one-half acres, upon which there are several build -. ings. The factories are amply provided with every facility in the shape of mechanical appliances that can aid in the rapid production of perfect work, and furnish employment to some 75 operatives. The- capital of the company is $100,000; treasurer, Charles A. Gamwell.
The American Electrical Works, established by Eugene F. Phil -. lips. in 1870, are at 67 to 79 Stewart, and 16 to 20 Conduit street. The main buildings are three brick structures, one of which is 120 by 40 feet and the other two each 63 by 23; a frame building 115 by 30; feet, and a brick engine house. The work of the concern is the man- ufacture of insulated electric wire, the annual product amounting to about $600,000 in value. An average number of about 325 hands are employed. The present officers are: Eugene F. Phillips, president, and William H. Sawyer, secretary and treasurer.
The American Multiple Fabric Company was organized in 1884 .. It carries on the manufacture of tubular woven fabrics, fire hose and multiple woven goods, for mechanical, manufacturing and other pur- poses. The works are at Olneyville, and are accommodated in a main building of stone and wood, 225 by 45 feet. The spinning room is 65 by 24 feet. An average of 50 hands are employed, and about 250,000 pounds of material are annually used. The officers are: Charles Fletcher, president; W. A. Wilkinson, agent and treasurer.
The American Screw Company had its beginnings in the Eagle Screw Company, incorporated in 1838, and the New England Screw Company, incorporated in 1840. The buildings occupied by the former are at 21 Stevens street, and those occupied by the latter are at 588 Eddy street. They are three stories high, and built of brick. They manufacture wood and machine screws, and kindred goods, employing several hundred hands. The president of the company is Edwin G. Angell: and its directors are in addition, J. S. Phetteplace, B. W. Evans, B. Wall and H. J. Steere.
The American Ring Traveler Company is one of the largest man- ufacturing concerns in this line in the country. The business was started in 1881, and the present company was incorporated in 1883, with a capital of $25,000. The factory is a two-story building, 35 by 75 feet, and is equipped with specially constructed machinery operated by steam power. The company manufactures every description of
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
steel and composition twister travelers, a specialty being made of United States standard and elliptic and quarto travelers, patents for which are controlled by the company, and also Wilson's patented round pointed travelers. The business is conducted by the agent, Mr. A. C. Tingley. The works are located at 108 and 110 Dorrance street.
The manufacture of ship windlasses, begun by Mr. James Emer- son in 1856, resulted in the organization of the American Ship Wind- lass Company. This is one of the most successful concerns engaged in the manufacture of ship windlasses in the country. The works, located on the corner of Waterman and East River streets, occupied a building two and a half stories high and 200 by 54 feet in size. The products of these works consist of improved windlasses and capstans for handling anchors and chains on ship board.
The American Supply Company manufacture reeds, harness, belt- ing and general mill supplies. They occupy an office at No. 10 Ex- change Place, and have a factory at 49 Clifford street, in the city, and others at Fall River and Valley Falls. The works here were started in 1883, by the Myron Fish & Kendrick Loom Harness Company. They employ about 100 hands and produce some $400,000 worth of manufactured goods per annum. The present officers of the company are: George W. Holt, president; John Kendrick, vice-president; Myron Fish, treasurer.
The business of the American Tubing & Manufacturing Company was started in 1883 by Alfred Caldwell. It is located at 52 Aborn street. Here it occupies a brick building three stories high, 140 by 90 feet in size. The goods manufactured are flexible gas tubing, oil stove wicks and elastic webbing. About 30 hands are employed and about $30,000 worth of goods are annually turned out.
The Armington & Sims Engine Company was established in 1878 by Pardon Armington and Gardiner C. Sims. The company was in- corporated in 1882. They have works on Eagle street, the buildings being two to four stories high and covering about 90,000 square feet. Power is furnished by steam. About 175 hands are employed and the manufacture of stationary steam engines is carried on. The present officers of the company are: Henry Howard, president; John W. Dan- ielson, vice-president; Pardon Armington, treasurer: H. C. Cranston, assistant treasurer; Gardiner C. Sims, manager; Theodore Andrews, secretary.
The Atlantic Mills, located on Manton avenue, at Olneyville, is one of the largest class of manufacturing establishments in the city. It was formerly known as the Atlantic De Laine Company. The ini- tial mill was built by General Charles T. James, who was afterward a member of congress from this state. It is a stock company mill, and in business is represented by Charles D. Owen and George Owen, Jr., as Owen Brothers, agents. The works occupy several large, three-
39
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
story buildings. No. 1 mill is 60 by 300 feet, and was built in 1851; No. 2 is 250 by 350 feet, built in 1871; No. 3 is 250 by 350 feet, built in 1882; No. 4 is the old Union Mill, a wooden building, 150 by 50 feet. Nearly 2,500 looms are in use, and from 2,500 to 3,500 hands are kept employed. Power for driving the machinery is afforded by the Woonasquatucket river, on which the works are located, and this is supplemented by powerful steam engines. The office of the agents, Owen Brothers, is at 20 Market Square. The works are employed in the manufacture of ladies' dress goods.
The Atlantic Manufacturing Company, formerly known as the Atlantic Tubing Company, have works at 67 Stewart street engaged in the manufacture of flexible gas tubing. These works are equipped with the latest and most improved machinery known, including five 96-carrier braiders and twelve 48-carrier braiders. Motive power is furnished by a 15 horse power engine, and 20 skilled workmen are employed. The chief officers are William C. Wood, president, and E. F. Phillips, secretary and treasurer.
The firm of W. E. Barrett & Co. are manufacturers of agricultural implements. The business of this firm originated with the firm of Burdick & Barrett, founded in 1843. The present proprietors assumed full ownership in 1863. The offices, salesrooms and warehouses are located on Canal street, occupying a four-story brick building, 120 feet square, and a number of lofts over other stores in the vicinity. The factory is located on Burges street, and consists of a two-story building. 50 by 150 feet in size, supplied with all necessary machin- ery, which is driven by a steam engine of 25 horse power. The prin- cipal implements manufactured here are conical plows, the Narra- gansett horse hoe, the Shares harrow and the Syracuse hard metal plows. The firm does a large business as general dealers in agricul- tural implements and seeds.
The Barstow Stove Company continue the business established in 1836 by Amos C. Barstow. The company was incorporated in 1859. The works are located on the corner of Point and Chestnut streets. The buildings cover an area of two and a quarter aeres, and the main building is three stories high. Stoves, ranges, furnaces and oil stoves are manufactured here, as well as other goods in the line. The works employ 200 hands. The company received a grand medal of merit at the World's Fair at Vienna in 1873 for the best cooking stoves and ranges. The present officers of the company are: Amos C. Barstow, president; Amos C. Barstow, Jr., vice-president. The company have warehouses also in Boston and New York.
The manufacturing business of R. Berry & Co. was established by Mr. Berry in 1883. It consists of cotton and woolen knit goods. The mills are located at the corner of Bassett and Butler streets, ce- cupying two buildings, one of which is 30 by 160 feet and the other 40 by 160 feet, both being three stories high. About 300 hands are
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
employed. The firm is composed of R. Berry and George E. Boyden.
The business of manufacturing ladies'dress and cloak buttons was established in 1877 at 235 Eddy street, by Robert B. Bannister. He is said to be the most extensive producer in his line in New England. His factory occupies three floors, each 50 by 150 feet in size, fitted up with various improved appliances for prosecuting the work. Em- ployment is furnished to over 100 hands. The house has an exten- sive patronage from all parts of the country.
The carriage manufactory of N. C. Briggs deserves a passing notice, not only on account of its importance, but because of its long standing. The business was established by Thomas R. Briggs in 1836, and he was succeeded by the present proprietor in 1846. The manufactory is located at 530 and 532 High street, and occupies a three-story building, 30 by 60 feet in size. Fifteen skilled workmen are employed, and a superior class of work is turned out.
The machine works of Henry Blundell & Co. were founded by Mr. Blundell in 1849. They are located at 39 Clifford street, occupying a one-story building 80 by 30 feet. Brass couplings and small machin- ery are manufactured; 20 hands are employed, and goods to the value of about $25,000 are annually produced. Steam power is used. The active members of the firm are the brothers, William H. and J. C. Blundell.
The business of the Brown & Sharpe Manufacturing Company was established in 1833 by David Brown and his son, Joseph R. Brown. From 1841 to 1853 it was conducted by Joseph R. Brown alone, and from 1853 to 1868 it was continued by Joseph R. Brown & Sharpe. The Brown & Sharpe Manufacturing Company was incorporated in 1868. The works of the company occupy the square bounded by Promenade, Holden, Beach and Valley streets. The main building is 291 feet long by 51 feet wide, three stories and basement, with wings 50 and 75 feet long, making about 83,000 feet of floor area. The No. 2 building is 195 feet long by 51 feet wide, four stories, with wing 41 feet long, making, exclusive of storage, carriage, reading and lecture room, about 35,000 square feet of floor area. The smith shop is 130 by 50 feet. The foundry is 265 by 67 feet, exclusive of adjoin- ing pattern shop, cleaning rooms, cupola house, wash and bath rooms and the like. The buildings are of brick, except the foundry, which is of wood. The works employ about 850 men. A variety of ma- chinery and castings are turned out, among which may be named sewing machines, iron castings, patented articles, milling machines, grinding, screw and tapping machines, chucking machines, gear cut- ting machines, engine and hand lathes, machines for cotton and woolen manufactures, cutters for gear wheels, taps, reamers, twist drills and sewing machine and gun parts, and various other appli-
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
ances used by machinists. The president and treasurer of the com- pany is Lucien Sharpe and the superintendent is Richmond Viall.
The Builders' Iron Foundry was started by Zachariah Chaffee. The works are located at 22 Codding street, covering about three acres of ground. The main building is three stories high, and built of brick. All kinds of heavy iron castings are produced. About 200 men are employed, and some 5,000 tons of iron are annually cast into various forms. The present officers of the company are: Zachariah Chaffee, president, and R. A. Robertson, Jr., treasurer.
The Corliss Safe Manufacturing Company is located near the N. Y., P. & B. Railroad, in the suburb of the city known as Auburn. The manufacture of a burglar proof safe, constructed on a new prin- ciple, is carried on here, the founder of the company and the inventor of the safe being Mr. William Corliss, a younger brother of Mr. George H. Corliss, of the steam engine company. The location of the works is at 158 Cove street. The company was organized and the business begun about 1881, the officers being William Corliss, presi- dent, and H. W. Wilkinson, treasurer.
The Corliss Steam Engine Company is the outgrowth of a busi- ness established here by George H. Corliss, a native of Washington county, New York, who came to this city to reside about the year 1844, and turned his attention to the improvement of the steam engine. A company for the purpose of developing his inventions was incorporated in 1856. The works are located at the Charles street railroad crossing, where the buildings and premises cover nearly nine acres of ground. The buildings, which include machine shop No. 1, machine shop No. 2, foundry, wareroom, erecting shop. boiler shop, smith shop, pattern shop and store rooms, engine and boiler rooms, stable and offices, have a total floor area of 216,533 square feet. With the exception of machine shop No. 2 and pattern shop, they are all of but one story in height. Machine shop No. 1 is 608 feet long by 70 feet wide. The buildings are constructed of brick. The works are employed in the manufacture of stationary engines, pumping engines and steam boilers. Mr. George H. Corliss was the inventor of the celebrated Corliss engine. The famous "Centennial Engine," exhibited at the Philadelphia Exposition in 1876, and which furnished power for the machinery in the great exhi- bition building there, was designed by Mr. Corliss and built at these works. He also designed and built the "Pawtucket Pumping Engine," which, though in its eleventh year of continuous service, still maintains its world wide reputation as being the most economi- cal pump on record, in the use of fuel. Its average duty in pounds of water raised one foot high, per hundred pounds of coal consumed, is 124,512,184. This is calculated on the total amount of coal used for starting, pumping and banking, with no deductions for ashes and cinders. The present officers of the company are: William M. Cowan,
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
vice-president; William B. Sherman, secretary; Charles E. Giles, super- intendent.
Chatterton's File Works are located at 33 Randall street. Here the celebrated patent hand-made adamantine files are made. It is the oldest file manufactory in the city, having been established in 1839 by George Chatterton, by whom the business is still conducted. At the time these works were established the manufacture of files in this country was unknown, but it has since increased so rapidly that now the larger part of the files used in America are manufactured in this country, and considerable quantities are exported through New York and Boston commission houses. From 30 to 50 hands are employed in the work. Mr. Chatterton was awarded a medal by the Rhode Island Industrial Exhibition in 1858 for the best American files and rasps. Mr. Chatterton is a native of Sheffield, England, where he learned the trade.
The business of the City Machine Company was begun under favorable circumstances in 1868. Its works were built up for the pur- pose, on Harris avenue, at the corner of Acorn street. The plant covers one and one half acres. The main building is three stories high, 145 by 45 feet. There is also a pattern shop, 100 by 24 feet, and an erecting shop, 145 by 45 feet. The machinery is driven by a Corliss engine of 72 horse power. Cotton and woolen machinery is manufactured. About 150 men are at times employed. In 1882 the works were in charge of R. A. Peck, president; Almon Wade, treas- urer, and C. L. Eaton, agent. About that time they passed into the hands of the George W. Stafford Manufacturing Company, by whom they are now occupied.
The business of top roll coverers was started by the firm known as H. J. & H. F. Campbell in 1854. Their shop, located at 99 Orange street. has been maintained by them and they do work for the manu- factories of Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Eight or ten skilled workmen are employed.
The manufacture of gilt moldings and picture frames is carried on by George E. Cole & Co. at 204 Broad street, where a room 45 by 75 feet is occupied, and a number of men are kept employed.
The steam engine works of George M. Cruikshank were estab- lished by him in 1876. They are located at 286 Dyer street, where a building 75 by 150 feet, two stories high, is occupied. About 25 hands are employed in the building and repairing of steam engines and other machinery, annually using about 500 tons of metal. Mr. Cruik- shank being now deceased, the business is continued by Mrs. G. M. Cruikshank.
The Davol Rubber Company was established as the Perkins Manu- facturing Company by Joseph Davol, who furnished the capital, but took no active part in the management of the business. In 1878 Mr. Davol took charge of the works, and in 1882 a company was incor-
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
porated as the Davol Manufacturing Company, which in 1885 was changed to the Davol Rubber Company. Mr. Davol is still its presi- dent and treasurer. The goods manufactured are fine rubber goods. such as are found in the druggists' sundries and stationery trades, or used in surgical and dental operations. The works are located at 16 Point street, in a handsome brick building. 100 by 200 feet on the ground. and three stories high. Here are employed an average num- ber of about 275 hands, and many thousand pounds of Brazilian gum are consumed.
Not the least among the manufacturing enterprises of this city is the establishment of Perry Davis & Son, whose celebrated " Pain Killer " is a household word in thousands of families in all parts of Christendom. More than half a century ago Mr. Perry Davis, a poor man, by experiments prompted by his own sufferings, discovered the efficacy of a certain compound of drugs, which he named Davis' Pain Killer, and commenced offering it in the market in a small way. The medicine rapidly gained popularity, and this was doubtless augmented by the recurrence of a season of cholera, for which the remedy seemed peculiarly adapted. Its reputation spread from the local confines to a national extent, and was even carried intoevery nation of the globe where civilization is known. The manufactory is carried on at 136 High street, the son of the original proprietor being its present man- ager. The manufactory comprises four large two-story buildings, covering an area of 15.000 square feet, and a large number of hands are constantly employed.
The Davenport Arms Company was organized in May, 1880, with a capital of $25,000, for the purpose of manufacturing firearms under patents owned by William H. Davenport. The officers were H. S. Taft, president; J. W. Coffin, treasurer, and W. H. Davenport, super- intendent. Operations were begun at 79 and 81 Orange street, the company occupying four floors of a building 30 by 70 feet in size, and employing about 40 men in the various departments of its work. After a few years the company withdrew from the business.
The business of the Diamond Machine Company, formerly called the Diamond Emery-wheel and Machine Company, was established by the late Benjamin H. Hadley in 1875. The works are located at 48 Aborn street, in a building 70 by 120 feet and three stories high. The manufacture of grinding and polishing machines and emery- wheels and similar goods is carried on, some 60 hands being em- ployed and about $75,000 worth of goods being annually manufac- tured. Steam power is used. The business is under the management of George A. Hadley.
The planing, molding, sawing and turning mill of J. C. Dodge & Son occupies a three-story building, 50 by 100 feet, at 450 South Main street. The mill is equipped with a full complement of wood work- ing machinery, which is operated by an engine of 45 horse power.
1
Perry
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
Twenty or more workmen are employed to attend the machinery. The business was started in 1859 by William Turner, who was suc- ceeded by the present firm in 1866, since which time the business has been largely increased.
The manufacture of boot, shoe and corset laces and braids was carried on a few years since, at the corner of Sabin and Callender streets, by Mr. George C. Douglass, who had in operation some 300 braiding machines, and employed about 30 hands. This business was started in 1837 at Geneva, R. I., by the firm of Heaton & Cow- ing. Mr. Douglass obtained possession of the Geneva Mills in 1865, and in 1876 removed the business to the city.
The Elmwood Mills were started in 1886. They are located on Daboll street. They occupy two buildings, which are connected, the size of which is 160 by 45 feet, constructed of stone. Cotton cloths, prints, sheetings and fancy goods are manufactured. The works employ 130 hands, and produce about 450,000 yards per annum. Lemuel Hayward is the treasurer of the company and F. H. Potter its agent.
The business of Henry W. Ellis, in the manufacture of wagons and wagon makers' wood work, was established here by Mr. Ellis in 1851, and by him it has been continued to the present time. Fortune has at times seemed to be against him, but, though twice burned out and once washed out by a freshet, he has not been annihilated, nor abandoned the business. A two-story frame building is occupied at No. 2 Clifford street, on the corner of Dyer, the building having an area of 8,000 square feet on each floor. About 40 men are em- ployed in the different departments of work required by such a business.
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