Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-07-19
CIer.Iand nIanufactures.


Ransom, CoBB & Co.'S Door, SASH AND WIN
DOW BLIND MISuFAcroRE-Thesee enterprising
gentlemen purchased of the late Richard Hill
liard, in 1855, the building known as the ''Cleve-
land Center Block" located at the West corner
of Columbus and Center streets. They at the
same time bought ground enough to erect a
lumber shed, on Center street, of the dimensions
of one hundred by one hundred and fifty feet,
and also two hundred feet fronting on the Riv-
er, and which latter also fronts upon Columbus
street opposite their Factory. This river prop
erty is designed for wharfage and lumber yaid
purposes, and is accessible by shipping.
Their large planning mandatory is one hun
dred and forty-two feet in length ON Columbus
street by seventy on Center street, and four
stories high. The machinery of the establish
ment, including three of WoodwOrth's Planers,
is propelled by thirty five horse power engine.
Among the machinery is one of Crosby's up
right panel saws, used for converting thick lum-
Der into looking-glass and picture frame backs,
panels, and thin boards for other purposes -
There is also in use a circular saw for manu-
featuring siding out of inch lumber; a valuable
mortieing machine, and all the machinery Tequi-
red by SO extensive an establishment.
The first story of the main building is Occu-
pied principally by machinery aud lumber, and
their principal sales room and counting Office.
In the second story is a Packing-box depart
ment, where all varieties and sizes of smooth
and rough boxes of this kind are constructed
Great quantities of these boxes arc kept con-
stantly on hand in the general storage depart
uent in the fourth story, and by this arrange
m ant Messrs. R.. c. & Co. are enabled to fill all
oriers for them at the shortest notice Part
of the second story is reserved as 4 store and
sales room, in which arc TO be found window
sash, blinds, doors, etc, etc. The other Por-
tons ofthc second story and most Of the third
are occupied by the workmen who ft up ard
put together the manufactured articles.
The business of Messrs. Ransom, Cobb & Co.
consists in dressing lumber for shipping to other
ports, and to ill contractors oTders-manufsc-
turing doors, blinds, window sash, fence pick
cts, mouldings, and sash frames. One of their
three large-sized Woodworth's planers is eapa-
bic of planning board on both sides at once
and matching j, at the same time, and is the
only one Of the kind in Ohio. Below each of
these machines are openings into the cellar,
through which the shavings drop; they are
gathered up below by an elevator and poured
down a conductor into the furnace room and
there perfom some service in the way of fuel
There are spacious hatehwsys through all
the floors, which furnish easy conveyance up
and down for the heaviest articles in a dumb
waiter, which works in a sliding frame, and is
raised and lowered at pleasure by means of
ropes. Water is conducted into every story
through an inch and half pipe, so that hose
may be attached to any plug in the building
and even carried to the roof if necessary, in case
Of Ere or other necessity.
The interior divisions of the buiIding are
composed of substantial fire-proof walls, and it
is in other respects amply provided against ac-
cidents by fire.
Messrs. Ransom, Cobb d Co. give employ
ment te forty men buy their lumber by the
cargo; keep over a years stock of prepared
material ready for immediate use +; and have
facilities for drying twenty thousand feet OF
green lumber every three weeks, when neeessi-
ty demands They use annually three hundred
and fifty thousand feet of clear and three mil
lions of common lumber, and sometimes more.
In their large lumber yard, opposite their manu-
factory, they have all the necessary facilities
for loading and unloading lumber directly from
the vessel. Much of their patronage comes
from dealers and builders in various parts Of
Ohio and the Southern and Western States
and this firm is one of those which has been OF
service in establishing the reputation of Cleve-
land abroad, and is bringing customers to her
markets