New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-01-23
THE MANUFACTURERS or TROY.

While spending day or two IN thiS oeau'nui CITY,
We had opportunity to visit several manufacturing es-
abishments II will be matter OF public interest to
describe a few establishments, without pretending to
give more than very small part Of the whole, but
sufficient to show that enterprise and capital doing
a great deal in Troy.
CAR-wHRELS.
II does not require argument to prove the import
a,ce Of tins branch of manufacture; and gave no
little satisfaction to visit large foundey where it is
carried on. II is rough-ooking place Of necessity,
but pone the for that. The single cupoa-fur-
mace melts all the metal required As is melted it is
poured into immense ladie capable of holding over
eleven tuns and this kept in liquid state by means
Of charcoal the top. Before being poured INTO the
ods the metal in the lade is thoroughly stirred in
order 10 equalize its "temper." The molding and
casting do not differ materially from the opera
tons in other boundaries. AS the casting has
Sufficiently cooled to bear its own weight it is taken
out Of the mold and the is removed from me
ter In this condition, while yet red hot it is lowered
into the pit TO be cooled gradually. The face Of the
wheel, that 10, where it meets the rail, is chilled
hard as glass by the first process and by suddenly
cooling the whole wheel it would be likely TO prove
unsound and weak. To prevent this, the wheel is low
cred into pit which it may not be uninterestng to
dosoribe. 1t is made Of brick Of sufficient diameter
tossceive the car-whee, lying fat and of sufficient
depth TO hold twelve Wheels laid above another
The holes in the center Of the wheels laid one
above another so to form fire through which cold
sn is passed from pipe at the bottom. After the
wheels are thus placed, there is placed the neck
OF the upper one ordinary stovepipe with an elbow
which connects with the chimney. The tops then COW
covered and the cold air passes through, but such
mass Of heated metal secured must cool gradually.
We felt Of the pipe leading from pit which had been
covered "a hours, and the air coming through the
wheels heated the pipe very hot. The pit remains
covered four days and then the wheel is ready to be
fitted 10 the axle.
In making q cast" all the metal TO be used in one
day is melted and poured into the lade before any is
poured into the mods. When about half Of the metal
has been used small bar is cast as the specimen Of
ahe whole material, and this is marked the number
which tells the workman just the time when the cast
ing made 30 that by referring to his book he can
tell you when il was made, sold, and how long it has
been run. At the same time the specimen bar or
book shows what was the temper of material used.
To such perfection has this establishment carried its
business that not unfrequently it will make from
twenty seven to forty-two wheels day. and not have
more than two imperfect ones in week. The strength
Of the wheel may be inferred from the fact that a
strong workman has often struck the aange hundred
blows with a sledge-hammer without breaking it
Sometimes the heavy 1" drop" used for breaking i'm
perfect wheels 80 as to be remeted falls some 80 or 40
feet on a wheel twice before it is broken!
In this foundery some 25 hands employed; and
IN the busiest seasons the establishment produces AZ
wheels day, weighing about $50 ID. each. Wejsdge
from what the foreman told US, that some 10000 or
II 900 wheels are cast year. These selling now
for SIC so each-makng a sum total of some sls0,O00
a year.
Beside his foundery, one of the proprietors is
largely interested in similar one at Albany which
turns out about double the amount OF the one we have
been describing that the manufacture of this article
alone in Troy and Albany amounts to over $4,000 car
wheels year, worth 100000 have been thus par
cuar in describing this manufacture in order to give
railroad travellers some confidence in the wheels on
which they are carried and on the strength of which
fher safety 50 much depends,
A GREAT CAR-FACTORY.
For years past, before the network of railroads
came to pass over this country, poscoaches made
at Troy might be seen on the Aleghanies, Ohio,
and al parts of the land. The name of the makers
is about as familiar in this nation Us that of Gen.
Jackson But the progress of railroads has compelled
them to add the manufacture of cars to that of post
coaches flor the South and far West. We went
through their establishment Green Island opposite
Troy short time since. Their principal buildings are
on lot 400 feet square. There four rows of build
ines the breadth of the lot which, with some buildings
for lumber. make about 700 feet in length. All the
machinery for saving, planning, making lemons NOR
tees. &c is in full use, simplifying the work and in
creasng the product The smith-shops have the con-
yenences of hammers &c. the spokes are turned,
the feoes sawed planed and bored by machinery, and
80 throus bout the immense establishment machinery
is made to do what muscular force did few years
ago. In one shop the trucks are built the wheels and
springs arranged. In another the bodies are built,
painted, furnished and hung. 1t is pleasing to see
with what ease these heavy cars are handled, and
brought to their place in the shops, and thence re-
moved to the track for market.
The senior partner of the establishment began to
make coaches in Troy about 1918 in small way. AT
the present time idea of the business done in this
mandatory may be gained from the following figures:
Il is not an uncommon thing to have on hand stock
such as lumber iron &c.-to the amount of 100000.
They employ some 300 men, disburse wages among
them per year to the amount of ss5 900 produce over
100 post coaches and omnibuses year. over 60 first
class passengerca 100 horsecars for city railroads,
and some $50 freght-cars-worth in market the hand
some sum d $3.50 900!
THE STOyE-BUSISESS.
We also visited the largest stove-foundery in Troy,
and found evidences of good viii to warm and pro-
tide cooking apparatus for as many people have
the will to pay We had but little idea of the vare
ties of stoves in use until we examined this establish
nnt where 90 different kinds sizes Of stoves
made of e5 different patterns or patents No doubt
.laNs. IN fINoxyo ra