New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-07-06
r. HOE d co.

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| FACTORY ON SHERIFF st-THE OLD works
HOES SAWS AND PREsSES-THE PERFECT
| ING PRESS
Rarely in the history of any age or nation
have effort and splendid success been so sgna
combined in the wonderful career OF the wordfamOu
firm Of r. Hoe Co., inventors and manufacturers OF the
Lightning Rotary Press. 1t the senior member OF
the present house. Col Richard March Hoe, who bridget
the chasm that yawned widely rs years ago across the
path OF progressive journalism, and, by the invention Of
machine which increased hundred fold the old hand
press speed Of use impressions in 60 minutes enabled the
publishers Of the giant dailes to print all edition Of
$4,000 copies both sides, in four hours. This extra
ordinary press exactly supplied the Ut
gent need Of tho great newspaper men
OF Europe and America and The ThudereT, after
vain attempts to make APPLICANTS English machine
it's purpose compelled to demand OF American
ingenuity the wheTewtn TO forge its bolts with
the requisite rapdity Great the fame given by this
invention to a firm which had been steadily growing in
repute and prosperity since its establishment in 1929 Its
founder Robert Hoe was born in 1884, and the son
Of weltOdO farmer in pleasant and sequestered dis
tct Of Leicestershire England Bound apprentice to
carpenter he purchased his ndentuTss and emated TO
the United States in 1903 his republican principles his
ambition, and the obstacles TO advancement in England
all having cOnspiTed to draw him hther. Arriving in
New-YOrk narrowly escaped death from attack OF
the yellow fever through which he kindly nursed
by the eccentric Grant ThOrburn. He econ established
himself advantageeusly in his trade was married
at the age Of % TO the daughter Of Matthew
Smith OF Westehester, and had by her six dangh
tiers and three so2s Two Of his brOthers-iulaw,
Matthew and Peter the former joiner and the latter
the inventor of well4nown handpress formed part
nershp and established themselves Matthew had been
Hoes partner for tme as pressmaBers and when the
two brothers died In 1929 Hoe succeeded the business
then in its infancy, and employed only handful OF
men, who worked in old buildings situated I'm the
L. ~
sts and reached by alley running from Finest to
Diaidenane. The extension of Cedarst compelled
the removal Of the rapdyncreasing business to the
location at Nos % and 81 GOldst which Hoe Co. still
occupy. Here is fvestory building Of brick, with
front Of "a feet and depth Of 100 1t now as
repairing shop, factory for various kinds OF printers
furnishings, and warehouse where all the principal
business of the transacted. Failing health com
PEELED Robert Hoe 1852 TO Telnquish his business,
and in the following year he died Ho succeeded by
his eldest r. NJ Hoe, and Matthew Smith, son OF his
deceased partner, both of whom had been associated
with him since 1923 Their steadily increasing prosperity
led after the erection Of extensive buildings
BroOne-st. About the time the manufacture OF
caststeel commenced and has ever since been
important branch Of their business Matthew Smith,
man OF uncommon business talent died IN 1912. and
Robert and Peter Smith Hoe succeeded him. Rich
ard NJ Hoe the eldest OF the three continued in charge
Of the mechanical department. and devised many valu
able inventions. In 1887 he patented England and this
country admirable method Of grinding circular
and In 1876 he perfected his Lightning Press" Type
Revolving Printing Machine. This rapidly intro
duced into all the largest newspaper establishments
in the world and FOR the next 10 years
thusastc Journalists exhausted themselves in de-
scrbing its miraculous performances aud in exoling
the genius Of its inventor such grand success might
well have stated the ambition and relaxed the energies
Of these unng but, the contrary. 1t has only
inspired them 10 such renewed effort that they have
lately made most important improvements IN circular
saws and in the machinery for their manufacture and
are now engaged in perfectng press tho prin.
ciple Of printing both sides at from continuous
roll OF paper Moreover, they have just completed
Offices and model printing machine factory on an OK
tensve SCALE describe these is the special object
OF the present article.
The principal works of the firm of r. Hoe & Co. are
situated on the block bounded by Grand Sheriff. Broome,
and Columbia. sts about half mile east Of Broadway,
and rather than that distance from the City Hail.
from which the works may be directly reached Dy the
East Broadway and Dry Dock horse cars This DOCK Is
200 feet in width between Sheriff and COlumDass ana
800 feet deep from Grandst TO Broomes Save the SITES
occupied by four houses on the Grandst front It is en-
tirelv owned by Hoe Co., and fully two
thirds of its area directly devoted TO their business
The sharpeyed visitor who approaches this establish
nent from Broadway will first espy at the corner OF
Grand and Columbiasts foursory office building ana
them adjoining this, long fvestory factory extending
down sherist toward BrOOmest. These constitute the
new portion Of works. and present lofty and impOs-
ing sherst frontage Of 200 feet The new factory adj
Joins the old one which is four stories high and runs
along Broomest to the "Iron Foundry" that stands at
the Coulumbiast corner and is one story IN hight, with
sIoplpg roof and four tall ventlatng chimneys These
two buildings with the adjoining four-sory oinery and
pattern shop in COlumbas Of 400 feet by
100 including the irregular open space which they neose
IN the center The rest OF the block IS occupied at pres
ent by ordinary buildings used for various purposes but
the firm intend eventually 10 build 1t oil up
in the form Of hollow square, surrounded
by structures similar in plan TO their new
factory All the present buildings Of brick. and have
lust been painted light color but there is nothing
very striking in their appearance, no special attempt
having been made at architectural elegance The 80
large windows without blinds in the outer wall OF the
new factory give promise Of abundant light within and
the 81 six pointed iron stars which stud its surface hint
at the strength Of the structure which they help to secure
An iron picket fence runs along the smOothsoping
sherif-st sidewalk, few feet from the basement
windows IL designed TO protect and vertical iron rods
shield the lower windows Of the office building. on the
Grandst side high brown iron grating, topped with
brsng spearpOints guards the glass 'front.' the number
painted in red and black figures on the horizontal
pane the double recessed DOORS the name, r. Hoe
CO.. appears In raised letters the iron doorsteP and
various signs neatly inscribed tho satecoored
window shades Upon entering, the visitor finds
himself in the arlest and freshest OF
OinCeS. Inc passage Oh the bJItcL buco ID uINlucu
by heavy black walnut rail from the spacious Enclosure
Within which contains the usual complement OF desks
and tables chairs and stools and also copying press,
bookcase and wardrobe, aud two massive safes
But the most unique and interesting object here IL the
magnetic telegraph machine, which puts this office In in
slant and constant communication with the downtown
establishment GOldst This machine, which Of the
Morse pattern, and stamps It's messages with dots and
dashes continuous strip OF paper, introduced
about years ago by Col r. M. Hoe himself Of the
pioneers Of American telegaphy IL is the first private
telegraph used and has proved practical advantage
would
small which IL costs them TO maintain 1t. Another
noticeable convenience Is the set OF ten speaking tubes
vith 4ba NJ ling