The Portland daily press., 1872-04-24
The Manufacturer Of Portland.

The census statistics of 1870 put down the
total value of britannia ware and plated ware
produced in Portland in 1870 at about SOC, 900,
with $4,000 capital invested, and employing
80 hands, at an annual payroll of over SO, 900.
This branch of business, like many others in
our midst, has been prosperous, and personal
interview with the manufacturers develops the
| fact that there has been a gratifying increase
during the past year. .r...
Two establishments are devoted to this kind
of manufacture the Oldest of which is that of
r. Durham g. Co., corner of Fore and Union
streets 1t is exclusively an individual enter
prise, started about twenty years ago, and has
gradually grown to its present Importance.
Within the past three years it has doubled its
capacity and its productions, and the amount
of its sales the present year will be at least
100000. From twenty to twenty-five hands
are employed. Table ware is the principal arti-
Gle manufactured, though considerable bust
ness is done in house-furnishing and timers
goods. Over 40 styles of oastors are made, be-
sides great variety of coffee and tea-pots,
water and ale pitchers, patent coffee steepers,
tureens, ladies, lamps, spoons, &C., of britain
MIA and plated. About thirty tons of pure
block tin are consumed annually, and of course
so large an amount of goods penetrates to all
parts of the country, and Mr.. Durham finds
the cheap and quick transportation to AID from
Portland an advantage in helping him in his
competition with the Connecticut manufac-
turers in the large markets This establish
ment requires about 10000 packing boxes an
nually, and pays out about $1,000 a year for
coal hods besides a considerable amount for
pail-woods, all of which is distributed to man
ufacturers in the vicinity of Portland, while
the sales, made largely out of the State, bring
thousands of dollars to be again put in crcula-
ton at home ara
The Westbrook Britannia Co., on Union
street, established in 1867. The works
were originally in Westbrook (now Deer
ing) but were removed to the present loca-
ton about two years ago, where the Company
has room and machinery for larger business
than is now done. Using improved machinery
given number of hands can produce more
goods than by the old method. Fifteen hands
are employed, some of whom are engaged ex-
clusively in the plating department. Plansh-
ed ware is largely manufactured and the COM
pany has just introduced the manufacture, of
spoons with good success A number of pat
ents have been attached to some of the goods
which gives them greater popularity among
the trade. Nine-tenths of the goods made are
sold west of Boston, shipped direct to the larg-
est jobbers in the great Western cities, although
Canada and Nova Scotia demands considera-
BILE amount; and the works have been run with
out interruption since June last on orders from
the jobbers. 1t is matter of local pride that |
Portland ware has got a strong footing in the
great markets along side of the productions of
Massachusetts,, Connecticut and New York.
The beauty of the patterns, the unvarying ex-
cellent quality of the goods, and the cheapness |
OF transportation, backed by energy and perse-
verance enable our manufactures to enter sue
cessfully upon a field which has heretofore
been claimed by Others as their exclusive prop |
erty. This company has grown rapidly and 4
the present year will bring home from out of |
the State double the amount Of money that
they did in 1870 sS=A 4Va - q
There is an intimate relationship between the
of ware and the platter While
some combine the two branches in their own
business, others have their plating done by con-
tract. There are four plating shops in Port
and, the chief of which and the largest in the
State and the equal of any in New England is
that of A. H. Atwood, in Lancaster Hall build
ing This gentleman began business here five
years ago, and like many other large establish
ments, has achieved success by his own energy.
MIR. Atwood's specialities are tableware, har-
ness and carriage work, door plates, Sc, both |
electro and Manipulating being carried on
Much OF his harness and carriage work is pur-
hoe fIfa ,x.~I,o@ Al
dries, finished up and put into the Market
The table ware is done by contract for the
makers. The door-plates and numbers are
wholly of his own manufacture. Nine men are
employed, and the monthly payroll is about
$780, Three hundred and fifty dollars worth
Of silver is used monthly, and considerable
amount of pure gold. Mr.. Atwoods market is
almost exclusively among the harness and car
Rage makers of Maine, his neighbors in Port
and buying their trimmings largely of him.