CHAPTER XXX.
MANUFACTURES.
It has been said that no people that holds labor in derision can maintain its position for three centuries. Too many people spend their time and waste their substance upon vain projects for getting rich without labor. Physical labor was cherished by all classes of our ancestors with great care. They found themselves obliged to fell the trees and till the ground, that they might have bread. Agriculture has been the chief resource and occupation of a majority of the people, but such is the surface of our town, so much of it is covered with rocky and barren ridges, that if we had remained exclusively an agricultural town, our population would not have increased, and our pecuniary circumstances would -have been equally cramped. Yet our fathers were satisfied if they could obtain enough from the ground to support their families. Their wants were few and easily satisfied. They manufactured their own garments, and the hand-card and spinning-wheel were in nearly every habitation. Here lived,
"The good old farmer ...
In his ancestral home-Puritan
Who read his Bible daily, loved his God,
And lived serenely in the faith of Christ.
… His life had run
Through varied scenes of happiness and woe;
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But, constant through the wide vicissitude
He had confessed the giver of his joys,
And kissed the hand that took them."
The prosperity of Meriden is due in a great degree to its manufactories. In 1791 Mr. Samuel Yale began to manufacture cut nails. He and his son worked in a small shop on the hill, near the present site of the Center Congregational church. Their little machine was worked by their own hands, and each nail was "headed" sep-rately and by hand. About the year 1794 Mr. Yale commenced the manufacture of buttons on a small scale. They were made of pewter, and would be considered by us a coarse and rough article. But at that time they met a ready sale. For a long time only two or three men were employed in the business.1
ivory combs.
Ivory combs were first made in this country by Andrew Lord, of Saybrook, Conn., about eighty years ago. He cut out the plates and the teeth by hand with a hand-saw; a slow and expensive process. John Graham of Boston, and Mr. Tryon, of Glastenbury, made ivory combs about the same time, on a small scale; the latter person using machinery. Ezra and Elisha Pratt, of Hartford, also manufactured the article about seventy-five years ago, cutting the teeth by hand, like Mr. Lord. Abel Pratt, of Saybrook, made ivory combs seventy-two years ago. He sawed the plates by hand, and two hundred and fifty were considered a good day's work; whereas by the present improved processes, over four thousand can be sawed out in one day by one man. He cut the teeth, however, with circular saws, and machinery moved
1 Perkins.
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by hand, and afterwards by wind. Ezra Williams also commenced the same business in Saybrook soon after Mr. Pratt, and began to saw the plates by machinery moved by water-power. This establishment afterwards was known by the, name of George Read & Co. Great improvements have been made there in the machinery, and at one time nearly all the ivory comb business in the country was done by that firm. Various other attempts to carry on this business have been made, most of which have not succeeded. At the present time, most of the ivory combs made in America, are manufactured in Connecticut, and nearly two-thirds of the whole are made in Meriden.
The business was commenced in Meriden in 1819, by Merriam & Collins, who used the best machinery known at that time. Their establishment was not long continued. Howard, Pratt & Co., began to manufacture ivory combs in Meriden in 1822. This firm was after-ward known as Julius Pratt & Co. Walter Webb & Co. commenced the business in 1831; Philo Pratt & Co., in 1836. The business of the latter firm was subsequently transferred to Walter Webb & Co., and Mr. Pratt became a partner. October 6, 1863, Julius Pratt & Co. united their interest with George Reed & Co. and Pratt Brothers & Co., of Deep River, forming a joint stock company, with a capital of 175,000 dollars, under the name of Pratt, Reed & Co. This company at their manufactories at Deep River and in this town, now turn out from 15,000 to 20,000 combs daily, or over six millions annually, besides an endless amount of piano and melodeon ivory, etc. Quantities of the combs are exported to all parts of North and South America, and some are sent to England.
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BRITANNIA AND PLATED WARES.
The history of Wallingford would not be complete without some account of the manufacture of electro-plated wares which constitute so conspicuous a part in the industrial interests of the town. Indeed, the present prosperity and hopes of. future growth in population and wealth are so largely dependent upon the enterprises connected with this manufacture, that we should not do ourselves justice to omit so important a feature of the town. This industrial department embraces the various manufactures of white metal, pewter, britannia, silver-plated and electro-plated wares.
Among the prominent names of manufacturers of pewter and britannia wares in this section, at an early day, were those of Boardman, Yale and Griswold. The Boardmans located at Hartford ; Griswold at Meriden; and Charles and Hiram Yale in Wallingford. In the early history of their business their goods were sold chiefly by peddlers. The best pewter ware was a com-pound of English tin, known as block tin, and lead, in proportions of about one-fifth lead to four-fifths tin. The poorer quality contained more lead and antimony and less of tin; and hence more scouring was required to keep the wares bright. At first these wares rarely extended beyond plates, platters, basins, mugs, spoons, etc.
The power at first employed was of a truly primitive character, being a balance-wheel turned by a crank in the hand of a man. A lathe was connected with this balance-wheel by means of a belt. On this lathe the wares were turned and burnished. The spoons were used either in the rough state as they came from the mould, or were scraped by hand and burnished. With
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the exception of the spoons these goods were sold by the pound and not by the dozen; and they were known by the dealers as weight ware.
The Yales were enterprizing and progressive men, and soon took the lead in the manufacture of pewter, and they imported from England some skilled artizans from the britannia establishments, where the wares were made of a superior compound known as britannia metal, from which lead was excluded altogether, and metals of a harder, and firmer texture were used; and hence they were susceptible of receiving and retaining a high polish of which the pewter was incapable.
By this means the Yales took the lead in the manufacture of britannia goods, such as tea-sets, church service, etc.; and it is noteworthy how different the manner of working this metal was in those days com-pared with what it is now. Then it was all cast in moulds of the shape desired. The wares were then considered very fine; and the art of compounding the metal was of great value.
The demand for this ware became so great that even horse-power was insufficient, and a resort to water-power became necessary. These men purchased a water-power known as Tyler's Mills, in the early settlement of New Haven County. At this mill, flouring of grain and dressing of cloth were accomplished for the surrounding country; and it was located on the Quinnipiac river in the north part of Wallingford, at a place now known as Yalesville. This power was improved by the erection of a new and substantial dam across the entire stream. New and commodious buildings were also erected for a business now becoming more and more extensive.
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At this juncture the art of spinning britannia metal was introduced into this country. An Englishman by the name of Seignor instructed some apprentices in the art. And the apprentice system, after, the custom of Great Britain, was now adopted by this company. The apprentice was bound for five years or seven years to learn the trade in all its branches; and at the close of the apprenticeship the profound secret of compounding and fluxing the metal was imparted.
Samuel Simpson, the senior partner of Simpson, Hall, Miller & Co., served an apprenticeship with this firm, beginning April 1, 1829; and before its termination, Hiram Yale, the junior partner, died. Soon after this, Charles Yale, the surviving partner, went into a decline, which was precipitated by various misfortunes and discouragements. Soon after the expiration of Mr. Simpson's apprenticeship Mr. Yale proposed to him and Mr. Williams, his former foreman, that they should manufacture the goods. This arrangement went into effect on the 1st of January, 1835. Mr. Yale died the same year. Mr. Williams soon after went to Philadelphia, and Mr. Simpson remained as successor to the Yales, continuing the manufacture of the same and other lines of goods. He continued the business until January 1, 1847, when he sold his manufactory to John Munson, who had been with him a number of years.
About this time the art of electro-plating was introduced duced and applied to britannia with very favorable promise. Mr. Simpson soon after purchased the old and well known water-power next below Yalesville on the Quinnipiac river, previously occupied for cloth-dressing and wheat-flouring, and known as the Humiston mills. This place is about half a mile west of the railroad
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depot in Wallingford. The place was fitted up by Mr. Simpson for the manufacture of silver plated ware. Instead of casting in moulds as formerly, the metal was rolled into sheets and cut up into required sizes, and shaped by means of chucks and dies fitted to the spinning lathe and the power press. By this process the white metal, after plating, is susceptible of a finish as fine and almost as durable as sterling silver, and at a cost of not more than about one-fifth.
At this period plated wares were generally imported under the name of Sheffield plate. This was commonly plated on copper under the old process of close plating. For a while electro-plating in this country encountered a deep-seated prejudice. But a test soon satisfied the most skeptical, that silver put upon rolled white metal by the voltaic battery was both beautiful and durable. These facts being well established, the difficulty of selling the goods was at an end; and the electro-plating excitement began.
On Jan. 1st, 1833, John Munson, to whom Mr. Simpson had previously sold the manufacture of common britannia goods in Meriden, associated with him two enterprising young men by the name of Wilcox, and under the joint stock law organized an incorporated company by the name of the Meriden Britannia Company. This new company, energetic, enterprising, and fully alive to passing events, induced Mr. Simpson to stock his business with theirs. This arrangement took effect Jan. 1, 1854. After this Mr. Simpson took an active part in the new company, and was not known separately in the market until 1866, when the Meriden Company proposing to build a large shop near their office in Meriden and to concentrate all their works together,
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Mr. Simpson, after careful deliberation in the exercise of his best judgment, dissolved his connection with them, preferring to remain at his old establishment in his native town.
SIMPSON, HALL, MILLER & CO.
On the 2nd of July, 1866, Mr. Simpson associated with him some practical business young men and some skilled artizans, under the name of Simpson, Hall, Miller & Co. From such an origin and under such favorable auspices, there is now established in Wallingford a business of great importance to the welfare and prosperity of the town; one which may be regarded among the foremost for general utility, and which may be classed among the fine arts. The prospects now are that the manufacture of white metal, for which Walling-ford has been noted for the last fifty years, will be en-tailed and handed down to other generations, with all improvements in the wares, workmanship, plate and finish, and the rigid attention to business, and the honorable and liberal dealing of the present proprietors.
GERMAN SILVERWARE.
Since the manufacture of plated spoons and forks, & c. on German or nickel silver has become so extensive a business, and its use so general, it may be interesting to know when and where the article originated in the United States. We suppose that there can be no question but that the first spoon made was from metal mixed or compounded by robert wallace, now of the firm of Wallace, Simpson & Co., of Wallingford, Conn. Mr. Wallace obtained the recipe for the composition of a foreigner, and procured the nickel and other necessary
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ingredients in New York in 1836, he at this time being hut a mere boy, and in the employ of Deacon Aimer Hall, of Wallingford, who manufactured britannia or pewter spoons. After melting a few pounds of the different metals together agreeable to the recipe, he took the compound to one of the mills in Waterbury, and had it rolled into a sheet suitable to form conveniently into spoons. He had it worked up by a practical sterling silver worker into a few spoons. It proved to be a good thing, looking nearly as well as sterling silver, and if
ROBERT WALLACE.
anything, more substantial. Mr. Wallace showing what he had done to Deacon Hall, Mr. Hall at once saw the utility of the article, and immediately took means to secure the services of Mr. Wallace and other practical men, and in a small way commenced the manufacture of tea and table spoons. For some time the sale of them was mostly confined to trunk peddlers, who at that day infested the country, and sold their ware from house to house.
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HALL, ELTON & CO.
In 1838, Mr. Hall associated with William Elton and others, under the name and firm of Hall, Elton & Co. Mr. Wallace was under contract with this company a number of years, when in 1855, he associated with Mr. Simpson and the other stockholders of the Meriden Britannia Company, and formed a limited copartnership for ten years, under the name of R. Wallace & Co., starting the manufacture of German or nickel silver in Mr. Simpson's factory, located on the Quinnipiac river, known as Humiston's mills; and at the expiration of the ten years the same individuals incorporated under the joint stock law under the name of
WALLACE, SIMPSON & CO.
The Meriden Britannia Company contracted from the beginning to take all the manufactured articles produced by the new firm; and by improving the water-power and building an enlarged factory with new and improved machinery, they are now able to turn out about one thousand dozen spoons, forks etc., daily, under the direct supervision of Mr. Wallace, who it is generally admitted cannot be surpassed as a manufacturer, either in point of quantity or quality.
Now from the small beginning by Mr. Wallace thirty-three years ago, besides the large business done by Wallace, Simpson & Co., the firms of Hall, Elton & Co., and Charles Parker Esq. each have establishments making a large amount of the same kind of goods in Wallingford. Then there are two large establishments in Waterbury in the same business, one in Wolcottville, one in East Haddam, and one in Taunton, Mass. Probably all told, not less than three thousand gross are
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put into the market daily, amounting to nine hundred thousand dozen, or ten millions eight hundred thousand single articles in the year, and this in addition to the millions of brass, iron, tin and britannia, to say nothing of the sterling silver goods. But when we think of fifty millions of people who use spoons and forks, it may not seem so strange that one out of five has a new plated one every year.
MERIDEN BRITANNIA COMPANY.
The Meriden Britannia Company was established in 1852, the factory at that time being near the site of the substantial buildings which compose the present extensive series of factories. The warehouse in New York has been at 199 Broadway since 1860. The factory embraces several buildings, the chief one being the most imposing structure in the city. Its dimensions are 527 feet by 40. The whole number of buildings is about half-a-dozen. They are principally of brick, built especially for the varied purposes of the business, and are nearly all four stories in height, and occupy four acres of ground in the heart of the city. In the busiest seasons there are employed in all the various departments about nine hundred experienced operatives of both sexes. The value of the merchandise usually on hand at one time at the factory and warehouse is about $1,000,000; and this estimate is independent of the immense amount of costly machinery, tools, etc., employed in the manufactory. The annual sales of the company and the various companies they own a controling interest in, average $2,500,000; and the goods are now sent to the trade not only throughout the United States, but largely to the British Provinces, West Indies, South America,
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Mexico, Pacific Coast, and even to England, France, parts of Africa, to Australia and to China. The specialities, or leading lines of these goods are nickel silver and fine white metal electro-plated wares. All these are enumerated and elaborately illustrated in the price-list and appendix issued by the house; one edition of which, inclusive of the numerous splendid engravings, cost them nearly $40,000. This item alone is significant of the liberality and enterprise of the company. Another fact worthy of note is that they manufacture more pieces of nickel silver and table ware than all other similar establishments in the world combined, outside of Connecticut. This company manufacture of nickel silver, 20,000 pounds per month; of white metal goods, from 40,000 to 50,000 pounds per month; and during twelve months in 1868 and 1869 they used in electro-plating over $200,000 worth of pure silver.
On our tour through the establishment, which by the way, comprises one mile of flooring forty feet in width, we were particularly struck with the huge size of much of the machinery, for instance, the rollers, which are the largest used in this kind of business in the United States; one press for raising and imparting the ornamental figures to the wares, weighing 26,000 pounds, and having a stamping and pressing power of perhaps 400 tons. The amount of coal used is about 1,500 tons per year. The most important part of the machinery used was made expressly for the company and patented by them; and one additional evidence of the excellence of the manufactures is found in the fact that the older members of the concern have had constant practical experience in the business for between thirty and forty years. The officers of the company are as follows:
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horace C. wilcox, President; dennis C. wilcox, Secretary; george R. curtis, Treasurer; isaac C. lewis, Superintendent.
WOOLEN GOODS.--J. WILCOX & CO.
One of the most extensive manufactories in Meriden is that of Mr. jededIah wilcox, President of the corporation of J. Wilcox & Co., whose history supplies another addition to the remarkable instances of successful enterprise. Mr. Wilcox commenced the manufacture of carpet-bags in 1848, and labored industriously in the business until 1850, and had at that period accumulated a capital of only $1,500. He then associated with himself a partner who contributed an equal sum; and that year their sales amounted to $75,000. This partnership however, did not continue beyond the year, when Mr. Wilcox purchased his partner's interest and continued the business, which rapidly increased, and in 1853 he admitted two partners, establishing the firm name of J. Wilcox & Co., which is still retained. The manufacture of ladies' belts was soon added to the business. Mr. Wilcox not only attended to the general business of the firm, but himself sold all the goods manufactured, which sales soon amounted to $300,000 per year. A large number of hands were employed in the factory, and teams were run through this and all the adjoining towns delivering work, and thus hundreds of families were furnished employment.
In 1858 the manufacture of hoop-skirts was commenced, which soon became so much in demand that the sale of these alone soon amounted to $300,000 per year. For several years, skirts and corsets were the leading articles of the firm's manufacture. The
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principal factory was then situated on the corner of Pratt and Camp streets, having a front of 160 feet, and an average depth of 115 feet. At this factory about four hundred dozen skirts were made daily, and a proportionate quantity of corsets. Two other shops in town were also engaged in making skirts for the firm. There were over five hundred hands employed. In 1860 it being difficult to obtain the tape used in the manufacture of skirts, a building 135 by 40 feet, two and one-half stories high, was erected a few rods south of the other buildings in Pratt street, and filled with woolen machinery for the manufacture of balmoral skirts. An extensive dye-house and other buildings were soon added, and a large boarding house for the convenience of the operatives. The firm now consisted of five members, and in 1864, was organized into a joint stock corporation with a capital of $200,000, the stockholders and directors being Jedediah Wilcox, Hezekiah H. Miller, Charles H. Collins Eli I. Merriman and Edmund N. Wilcox. In 1865 the capital stock was increased to $300,000, and the company were doing a very large and profitable business, when the works were destroyed by fire on the third of May, 1865. This was the largest fire which ever occurred in Meriden, destroying $250,000 worth of property. It was however well insured, and the company immediately commenced erecting the splendid brick mill on the opposite side of the street, which is filled with costly machinery for the manufacture of various kinds of woolen goods, in which 500,000 pounds of wool is consumed yearly. The company manufacture large quantities and various styles of ladies' cloakings, shawls, flannels, balmoral skirts, cassimeres, etc., and so high do these goods stand in the market that they are
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often compelled to run their works nights to fill their orders.
GUNS AND HARDWARE.--CHARLES PARKER.
charles parker commenced the manufacture of coffee-mills in 1832, in a factory 25 feet by 40, two stories high, with horse power. He now occupies sixteen different buildings, with dimensions as follows: No. 1, office and plating room, 18 feet by 45. No. 2, coffee-mill and burnishing shop with additions, 20 by 26, used as a store and varnish room; also addition for a coffee-mill shop, 15 by 25. No. 3, spectacle shop, 20 by 108. No. 4, tobacco-box shop and friction rollers. No. 5, coffee-mill shop, etc., 25 by 30, with addition, used as a store and varnish room. No. 6, vise shop, 25 by 160. No. 7, engine and boiler-room, 29 by 48. No. 8, finishing shop, 24 by 100. No. 9, store-house, 60 by 100. No. 10, screw shop, 30 by 200. No 11, foundry, 66 by 360, with additions. No. 12, blacksmith-shop, 16 by 20. No. 13, coal house, 20 by 20. No. 14, annealing shop, 20 by 20. No 15, coffee-mill shop, 30 by 45, with additions, 28 by 25, for oiling shop; also a japanning room, 10 by 15. No. 16, packing-room and carpenter-shop, 30 by 30. These buildings have been built from time to time as the business increased and demanded more room. The motive power is furnished by an 80 horse-power Corliss engine. Mr. Parker has, in connection with business here four other concerns controlled by him; one located two miles east of the city, one two miles west, one two miles south, and another half a mile west, where there are made iron spoons, ladles and forks, scales and hinges, machinery and guns, britannia spoons, and German silver spoons and forks; employing at these four concerns at different localities about three hundred persons, besides two
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hundred which are occupied in manufacturing coffee-mills, screws, spectacles, eye-glasses, tobacco-boxes, vises, butts, lanterns, match-safes, faucets, iron bench-screws, scissors and shears, cranks and rollers, barn-door hangers and rollers, gate and plain hinges, gridirons, bed-keys, wagon-jacks, scrapers, pulleys, lamp-hooks, window-springs, thumb-latches, hammers, gimlets, call and hand-bells, &c.
Probably there is no manufactory in the country that manufactures such a variety of goods as Mr. Parker. Among other inventions and improvements introduced to the public by Mr. Parker, is a breech-loading, double barreled shot-gun, which is the result of over two years of the most thorough experiments, and is claimed to be the best gun in use in this or any other country. The barrels are self-locked. The advantages claimed for his cartridge are, that it is a central-fire, coned, metallic cartridge, and is capped with the ordinary percussion caps. The weight of the gun is from 7 1-4 to 7 3-4 lbs. In connection is the United States Screw Company, incorporated in 1863, owned by Mr. Parker. The machinery for this branch of his business is all new and of the most approved kind.
THE MERIDEN CUTLERY COMPANY.
The business of this house dates its origin as far back as the year 1834, when its pioneers, Messrs. G. & D. N. Ropes were engaged in the manufacture of cutlery in the state of Maine. They were the earliest manufacturers of American cutlery. A few years afterward Mr. A. R. Moen of New York, commenced the manufacture of table cutlery in Wethersfield, Conn. His business passed into the hands of Messrs. Julius Pratt and Co., of Meriden, and they conducted it for about two years, having
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their office in Water-street, New York. In 1845 a company was formed in West Meriden which consolidated the business of the two establishments under the firm style of Pratt, Ropes, Webb & Co., Mr. D. N. Ropes having been the junior partner of the pioneer house. He erected a factory in Hanover, where the firm carried on the business till 1855, when the present joint-stock company was formed, and succeeded to the business tinder the now well-known name of the Meriden Cutlery Company. The factory consists of a series of substantial buildings, occupying from four to five acres of ground, its vast workshops being about six in number. The buildings comprising the main works and wing are four stories high, 300 feet by 36; the forge shop is one story, 160 feet by 38; the tempering house one story, 80 feet by 20; the joiner's repair shop two stories, 50 feet by 25; the plating house two stories, 45 feet by 36;and the steel and store-house two stories, 70 feet by 30. A new and commodious building for the business offices has recently been erected. On other portions of the grounds the company have built numerous tenements which already accommodate some sixty families of their operatives, while the building which constitutes their boarding-house provides for at least one hundred men. The number of men employed ranges from 300 to 400. The company use water-power exclusively. This is supplied by their dam, the overflow of which is nearly 200 feet wide, and equal to 300 horse-power. The works are supplied with a turbine wheel which cost about $6,000 before leaving the establishment where it was made. The coal used by the company and consumed chiefly in the forge department, amounts to over 800 tons a year. The steel is both of American and English
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production. The materials for the handles, such as pearl, ivory, rubber, horn, and such woods as cocoa, ebony and rose, are all imported. The rubber is vulcanized in this country. The goods manufactured by this house embrace about five hundred different styles. Mr. J. C. Breckenridge, who died in April, 1870, was connected with the works for twenty-two years. He entered the establishment as a mechanic, and by his own energy and abilities rose by degrees to be foreman and finally superintendent, which post he occupied for about ten years.
JAPANNED AND TIN WARE.--IVES, RUTTY & CO.
Nathan F. Goodrich commenced the manufacture of japanned and tin ware about forty years ago, in a building twenty by fifteen feet. The business was continued two years, when the firm was Goodrich & Rutty, and remained under that name till 1852, when Eli Ives and Elias Howell were admitted, making it Goodrich, Ives & Rutty. Mr. Goodrich retired in 1864, and Edwin R. Crocker and Nelson Payne were admitted, making the firm Ives, Rutty & Co. They occupy a two story building built in the form of a hollow square, 330 by 28 feet. They employ seventy persons, and use 4,000 tons of tin annually. The manufactory is located nearly a mile from the Meriden Post-Office, south.
LAMP TRIMMINGS & C.--EDWARD MILLER & CO.
The firm of Edward Miller & Co. was incorporated in 1866 with a capital of $200,000. edward miller, President, F. J. seymour, Secretary, and W. H. perkins, Treasurer. The manufacture is principally lamp trimmings for oil, fluid and kerosene lamps, besides numerous articles from brass, copper, German silver,
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iron and britannia. An extensive rolling mill is also connected with the works (the building being 70 by 140 feet), erected in the fall of 1868 for the manu-facture of brass for their own consumption. The main building is 210 by 40, with wing 100 by 40 feet. The motive power is furnished by a 150 horse-power engine, Corliss pattern, Harris's make, with three cylinder boilers, 4 by 16 feet. This company use 300,000 lbs. of brass, and do a business of $300,000 annually. This business was commenced about twenty years ago by Edward Miller, using foot and horse-power, making as a speciality candle-stick springs, which have continued to be made up to the present time, having barrels of them ordered in one day.
MERIDEN MALLEABLE IRON CO.
The Meriden Malleable Iron Company was incorpor-ated in 1868, being successors of J. H. Canfield & Co., and Lyon, Augur & Co. The main building is of brick, 31 by 73 feet, three stories, and is used for a finishing shop. There are besides two buildings adjoining, 50 by 104 feet, and 40 by 110 feet, and another, 24 by 36 feet, all one story. The motive power is furnished by a thirty horse-power Corliss engine, made by Harris, with one cylinder boiler. The works are located near the railroad in the northern part of the city, and can be seen from the cars, which pass in close proximity to them. The concern employs sixty persons, and manufactures on an average, twenty tons of malleable iron and twenty tons of grey iron per month, besides house-furnishing hard-ware, etc., etc.
CASTERS.--FOSTER, MERRIAM & CO.
Foster, Merriam & Co., incorporated in 1866, for the manufacture of furniture casters, with a capital of
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$80,000. The building is 100 by 30 feet, three stories high, with brass foundry attached, 30 by 30 feet; iron foundry, built in 1865, of brick, 100 by 60 feet, with wing, 30 by 40 feet. This company employs sixty persons, and turns out about 50,000 sets of casters per month, besides screws for piano stools, etc. They make 40,000 lbs. of castings, and consume 40 tons of iron per month, the motive power being furnished by a 15 horse-power engine, built in 1849. This business was established about 1835. john sutliff, President; albert foster, Secretary and Treasurer.
HARDWARE.--THE PARKER & WHIPPLE CO.
The Parker and Whipple Co. was incorporated in 1868, with a capital of $100,000, being successors to Parker and Whipple, who are the officers of the company. The firm of Parker and Whipple commenced here in 1859 and continued so up to the date of incorporation. The main building is 75 by 100 feet, used as a lock shop. The foundry is 60 by 70, with wings, 30 by 40 feet ; a brass foundry, 30 by 25 feet, and other buildings are used in the prosecution of the business. The works cover about one half acre, and are situated about one mile west from the railroad. This company employs seventy persons, and uses 300 tons per year of iron, and 50,000 lbs. of brass. They manufacture principally door locks and knobs, builders' hardware and trimmings. J. E. parker, President; henry J. P. whipple, Treasurer.
SPOKES AND WHEELS.
elihu hall & Co. of Wallingford were incorporated January, 1864, for the manufacture of carriage wheels, spokes, hubs, &c., with a capital of $15,000. E. hall, President, E. H. ives, Secretary and Treasurer. This
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company are successors to E. Hall & Sons, who commenced here in 1856, the business being previously established by the father in 1835. The main building is 40 by 80, three stories, built of wood, with an addition 30 by 50, two stories. This company manufacture about 400,000 spokes and 2000 sets of wheels per year. The works are located near the depot.
BUTTONS.
The pomeroy manufacturing Co. of Wallingford was incorporated in 1856, with a capital of $15,000, for the manufacture of buttons of every variety. The manufactory is located about three quarters of a mile east of the depot, covering about one half an acre. The power is furnished by an overshot wheel, the fall here being sixteen feet. This company do a business of $20,000 per year. L. pomeroy, President; F. miller, Secretary and Treasurer.
BORING TOOLS.
gaylord brothers commenced business in Wallingford in 1864, manufacturing gimlets and boring tools. Their building is about 30 by 50, two stories. They employ about fifteen persons. The power is furnished by a twenty-four feet breast wheel, the fall being twenty-one feet, located on Waterman's brook, a branch of the Quinnipiac, about one mile east of the depot.
SILK MANUFACTURE.
The Community Silk Factory in Wallingford was established in 1869. It is situated on a valuable water-power near the village, and employs about 30 hands in the manufacture of machine twist. The works are now (1870) in process of enlargement. Amount of raw silk consumed annually, 3640 lbs., valued at $36,000.
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PIANO STOOLS.
E. D. castelow commenced the manufacture of piano stools in 1860. He now occupies a building 75 by 22 feet, two stories high, with wing 20 by 12 feet, one story high, located on Mechanic street, Meriden. Mr. Castelow employs seven persons, and consumes 25,000 feet of lumber annually in the manufacture of his stools and the boxing of them ; turning out about nine dozen piano stools per week, besides stools for stores, shops, etc.
TIN WARE.
S. S. clark commenced the manufacture of plain and japanned tin ware about the year 1838, the business having been established about fifty years previous. For the past year he has turned his attention to the manufacture of coal oil, tin and iron goods, lanterns and lantern trimmings. The building is on Main street, Meriden, and is 60 by 90 feet, two stories, and employs sixty persons.
MISCELLANEOUS.
C. rogers & brothers commenced in 1865 the manufacture of coffin trimmings, tea-pot knobs, spoons and forks, etc. They occupy a building 20 by 23 and 20 by 20, respectively. They do a business of about $30,000 per year.
A. H. merriam commenced business in Meriden in April, 1868. He manufactures turning and drill lathes, presses, punches, etc. He employs five persons, and his works are run by a Corliss engine.
wilmot brothers commenced the manufacture of elastic furniture and door fenders about 1860. The monthly productions are about $3,000 worth.
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charles A. roberts occupies a two story building 20 by 30 feet, located on Crown-street, Meriden, for the manufacture of stationery goods, such as inkstands, pen-racks, bill-files, weights, etc. He commenced here in 1852.
The wilcox silver plate Co. was incorporated in 1865. Capital $250,000. The parker & caspar Co., manufacturers of silver plated ware, was incorporated in 1866. with a capital of $60,000. In 1869 this company became associated with the Wilcox Silver Plate Co.
The meriden steam mill lumber Co. was incorporated in 1867. Capital $75,000.
G. I. Mix & Co. occupy a large factory at Yalesville in the manufacture of tinned iron spoons, and hollow ware.
The quinnipiac paper Co. are established at Quinnipiac, two miles south of Wallingford village, for the manufacture of printing paper.
In 1849 the manufactures in Meriden were as follows, omitting the ordinary mechanic arts which furnished articles for use in the town:
julius pratt & Co.; ivory combs. Employed forty-two hands. walter webb & Co.; ivory combs. Employed thirty-three hands. pratt, ropes, webb & Co.; table cutlery. Employed seventy-five hands. curtis, morgan & Co.; locks, latches, and small iron castings. Employed fifty hands. Raw material, annually consumed, $12,000. charles parker, coffee-mills, latches, vises, britannia and plated spoons and various iron castings. Employed sixty hands. C. & E. parker; brass and iron castings. oliver snow & Co.; iron pumps, and all kinds of machinery to order. Employed twenty hands. foster, merriam & Co., casters, and a variety of brass and iron castings. Employed fourteen hands. Raw material, $8,000. julius parker; harness trimmings, hinges and iron castings. Employed
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eight hands. henry m. foster; Spring balances and steelyards. Employed three hands. julius ives; cast iron inkstands. Employed three hands. H. T. wilcox; steelyards and bit braces. Employed seven hands. Raw material $7,000. sanford, parmelee & Co.; augers, skates, rakes and bits. Employed forty hands. stedman & clark; plain and japanned tin ware. Employed forty hands. Raw material $20,000. goodrich & rutty; plain and japanned tin ware. Employed eighteen hands. Raw material $10,000. lauren t. merriam; plain and japanned tin ware. Employed twenty-five hands. Raw material $6,000. h. w. curtis; plain and japanned tin ware. Employed eight hands Raw material $6,000. charles pomeroy; plain and japanned tin ware. Employed eighteen hands. blakes-lee, stiles & Co.; plain and japanned tin ware. Employed four hands. charles waterman; kettle ears and candlesticks. Employed five hands. frary & benham; britannia ware. Employed ten hands. Raw material $20,000. wm. lyman; britannia ware. Employed six hands. isaac C. lewis; britannia ware. Employed eight hands. Raw material $8,000. s. l. cone; britannia ware. Employed four hands. l. g. baldwin; britannia ware and spoons. Employed five hands. crocker & pratt; brass and plated articles, like letters for signs, lamp chains, stove ornaments, &c. Employed twenty hands. edwin birdsey; wood turning, wooden combs and packing boxes. Employed fifteen hands. Raw material $8,000. birdsey & williams; bone buttons. Employed twelve hands. Raw material $7,000. H. griswold; bone buttons. Employed twenty hands. Raw material, $8000. calvin coe; neat's foot oil, ground bones and gypsum. Employed four hands. wm. hale; suspenders. Hands worked at their own houses. Raw material $20,000. jedediah wilcox; carpet bags. W. K. & S. L. treat; sashes, blinds and doors. Employed five hands. osgood & Co.; platform scales. Employed three hands. samuel yale; tin ware and lamp screws. Employed four hands.