The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1872-10-29
FoR THE RECORD.
L1MBERTTILLE INDUSTRIES.
NO L

sketches OF the principal places of business in
our city, believing that the citizens themselves,
generally, are not aware of the great amount
of work which is being done in their midst, as
well as to show to those outside that ours is
city of no small Importance.
We shall commence by giving a description
of the Lambertville Spoke Manufacturing Co.
These buildings are situated at the corner of
Uuion and Elm streets they are 200 feet long
by 60 feet wide, and are stories high, indie
pendent of the basement. The factory and
grounds cover an area of three acres. Calling
at the Office, we were invited in by Mr.. Josn
Finney, one of the firm, who, after asking us
to take chair, and exchanging a few woids
with us, excuses himself, and proceeds with
the business before him-that of examining
the letters which have just arrived. The cor
respondence of this company is larger than
that of any other three factories together--so
says the p NJ. We next address ourselves to
the gentlemanly book-keeper, Mr.. John Black,
and find him to be well suited to the position
which he occupies. The door leading into the
factory opens and Mr. Chas. A. Shotwell, the
smiling face, and a welcome "good morning,
SIR and after a hearty shake of the hand, we
express our desire to be shown through the
buildings, which request is politely granted
he taking the lead. We proceeded immed-
ately to the yard to examine the stock on hand
find the best selected lot of wood for spokes
that it has ever been our lot to look at. Com
modious sheds are erected for storing the rough
spokes capable of holding one Million and
nearly all of them are filed ; thus they have
on hand perfectly seasoned stock, for the Fall
toners full supply the year round. Paiticu-
lar attention is given to selecting what is
known as the second growth spokes, and they
are seasoned according to the advanced prac-
tice of expelling the sap by steam. The wood
is placed in a large receiver capable of holding
from three to five thousand spolSes at once, and
they are left in there under heavy pressure
of steam, sufficiently long to clear the wood of
all sap, when it is taken out and placed in the
large brick playhouse, lately built forthat pur-
pose. 1t will hold from one hundred and
twenty-five to one hundred and fifty thousand
spokes. Here it is subjected to graduated
heat, by means of steam pipes, until ii is fit
to be taken out, when it is ready to be put into
the best wheels ever manufactured, as good as
if it had been seasoned for years. This process
we are informed, has been sanctioned by the
ablest spoke-men in the country. Mr.. Finney
has been at considerable expense to prepare
this apparatus, and has travelled from one part
of the country to the other to gain information
upon the subject.
We are now prepared to go into the turning
room, where there are nine lathes constantly
running land we are told that in a few days
several more will be put in, to enable them to
supply the demand which is constantly being
made. Leaving this room, we pass into the
finishing room, and find it filed with the latest
improved machinery, and the best that can be
found in any factory of the kind in the coun-
try. The men running the machines are all
experienced worbmen, and the consequence is,
that with seasoned wood, improved machinery,
and skilled workmen, they turn out work sec
ond to no other establishment in the aoorId.
We now pass TO the packing room, and meet
the .jovial VIM. Lauer, who has charge here,
and from him we receive information in regard
to selecting. handling, packing in cases, &C.,
preparatory to shipping. Some idea of the
number of cases used during year for ship
ping purposes, may be formed from the fact,
that above 100000 feet of hemlock boards are
used for that purpose. This is independent of
those tied in bundles, and those sent out in
other ways. As high as 100 cases have been
shipped at one time, each case averaging three
feet each way.
We now ascend to the second floor into
conveniently arranged room, where the spokes
are stored the number being limited, how
ever, to very few at present, for as fast as
they reach the packing room they are shipped
away The third floor contains the bent
work, such as rims, shafts, poles, &c. We now
make a descent to the basement, and here find
the machinery for turning all kinds of handles,
whiffle~trees, neck-yokes, &C.; there we also
observe the different kinds of saws used for
getting out bent work, as well as for saving
felloes The felloes are cut ont of the best Sc
lcctcd white oak, and a large number are sent
away every week..
Curiosity prompts us to peep into the engine
room and we find Billy" ready to show us
the engine, and he need not be ashamed to do
so, as everything is clean and in neat order.
The engine is about so horse power and was
made by VIM GOWN of our city, and we are
justified in saying from what we heard, that
there is none better in the United States for
the work which it has to do Two large boilers
supply the steam. The waste shavings and
chips are used for firing, and supply all the
fuel needed. In addition to the shavings and
chips there is large amount of kindling
wood saved from the spolSes--this is sold to the
citizens of the place.
The whole force in the factory consists of 40
men, and are all under charge of the foreman,
Mr.. VIM. IL. Chosen. Each department of
labor, however, is under special charge of Sc
lected and skillful men, and the business is
throughout conducted in the most complete
and perfect manner possible. Besides this
number, there are about as many more engaged
in cutting, preparing and shipping wood from
all parts of the State PeOnle will nat,,rallv