New-York tribune., 1874-12-05
A GREAT INDUSTRY.
THE FAIRBANKS SCALE WORKS AT ST
JOHNSBURY.


PLATFORM scALEs-THE EXTENSIVE GROWTH OF
II TIE scALK BUSINESS AND THE SCALE WORKS
ruK COMPLETENESS AND EXTENT OF THE PRKs-
1 ENT PRODUCTION IN THE LARGEST SCALE MANU-
FACTORY IN THE woRID-THE VARIOUS DEPART
MKNrs AND PROCESSES.
,rRoM Az OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
| ST. JoHNsBuRY, VT, Nov. 27.-Forty four years
ago the then little town OF ST. Johnsbury. in the
portheastcrn part OF Vermont industry begun
which destined TO advance the reputation of Ameri
ean mechanical genius throughout the world and TO
the largest results in regulating commercial trans
actions m many countries. In $780, the first Fairbanks
scale made. Before that time the methods OF
weighing buy articles slow, rude. and imperfect
the balance the steey ard and the Dearborn beam
heiug chiefly used. Thaddeus Fairbanks the inveu-
tor OF platform scales was engaged with his eldest
Brother Erastus IN the hemp trade-from which multi
OF Vermont farmers expected TO make fortunes but
cid nt-and the constant need OF contrvance for
Weighing hemp in bulk set Thaddeus 20 making models
Finally, at the age OF "a, he made his first platform
scale. 1t a rather rude affair, but did
act differ essentially in general plan from the
scales which have made the name OF Fairbanks
famous. patent goi out and E. & T. Fairbanks
the manufacture of platform scales for sale To
The remarkable business talents and ability Of
the elder brother the head OF the irm,
cess was largely due Steadily, hut for long time not
very swiftly, tae Fairbanks scales grew IN favor
other farmers tools stoves OF the pattern devised
by Thaddeus Fairbanks 40 years ago are s found
IN Vermont farm-honses. As the scale business
increased and demanded more attention. these other
branches OF manufacture were dropped and now for
several the firm has made scales Ouy The right
10 manufacture Fairbanks scales in England was sold
70 Liverpool 1rm not many years after tae start but
so manv valuable improvements we're afterward made
by inventor that the ST. Johnsbury scales for
years been much superior TO any made IN England. In
Is72 lhe h-m Opeled brauch house IN London, which
had gratifying success in oVercomn English prelu-
dice in favor OF whatever is pouderous aud English.
icisb platform scales being much heavier and more
clumsy thIn the American.
FREIGHT TRAFFIC BEFORE TIE DAY OF RAILROADS
For more than 20 wears after the beginning OF their
manufacture Fairbanks scales sent by
Burlington OF to Concord " H.. or even TO Portland,
NJ, Il 1851 the Passumpic yer Rdiroad was opened
10 ~ JohnsbIry and the business responded TO the in
erase transportation facilities by expanding very
rapdly an with the railway thrown IN 1t was not
hong before many horses were req lred TO do the
hauling as when all the freight sent long distances
bv wagon TIE range Of production was also extended
rapidly until Fairbanks making sort
OF ,ea AMI balance from the heaviest do VI to the let
ter Il al they have tlEned out more than 500
df rent styles and manufacture at on3 time nearly 800
a1atons. from the decate balance FOR druggist OF
jsweer the enormous railway and canal scales which
deal with pOn1er0us locomotives AM laden cna-Ooats
Of the cou1trv has passed the Aanc, influenced
Great Britain ana every country Europe. has reached
N Oriental lands, aud has become very mlrked in
China Jlpan and India or late years has sought out
tn most distant countries and the farthest islands
oi TIE A lSrse order came from Java only few
days To the Impncty, the convenience. and cor
Ietlcss OF the scales this great success NAV be as
er-d in part bat most of all it due to The fact that
tn mandatory send, out poor work Tle same
uncoprun siug tIo.Uu-hness Of workmanship and the
same severe tests applied to everything
TRADE GROWN To ENORMOUS PROPORTIONS.
How great the attained really is be well
from OF the statistics Of the Fairbanks
Scale Works for 1873 Here we're 2.20O of pig
iron coal so OF mOding sand, $50 tons
o. bariron OF steel 40 tons Of copper tons OF
sAret-DI..ss, 80 boxes Of TN, tons of spelter.
tons of emery. 81 tons of nuts and wash
ers. u tOls Of maleable castings. 20 tons OF
vitI!o, $500 gross OF screws. 1900 kegs OF nails
so barrels Of OIL turpentine, and varnish, and nearly
500 900 feet or freight 1896 car-oads were
received and SOC fse1t out. The total number OF
scales actured. including weigh-maseTs beams
d, was 45I71, Of which 3,704 were made 10
foreign standards; in this total were included
22i iron frame track scales 2o5 hopper scales ttor
measuring grain in eIevatOr nearly hay, coal and
depot scales almost 1900 platform aud dormant scales
and Of counter and trip scales %'cOo Inc
labor account OF the year for nearly 600 EN-
poyGs amounted SS5565 In the extensive store OF the
d
a. WELL supplied with groceries, provisions dry goods
boos and shoes and everything else they need,
saes 70 the amount OF S20oOJ0 were made last year
The gross sales OF scales aud beams amounted TO nearly
a. aO1O Clearly the invention Of TIaddcus Fairbanks
laid the foundation OF a great industry.
Tie inventor stl lives, fun Of years and honors, and
though nearly four score his place at the head
OF the r and nus interest town OF St. JohnsOury
for which he has done much His eldest brother, Eras
tus F.Fnauks, who became Governor. .of vermont anu
held other important positions, died In lo64' mucn
laruented younger brother, who was also
member OF the firm, Joseph p. FaiFDanKs'
died in 1855. The firm is now made up OF
T7,addeus Fairbanks and Horace and Franklin Fair
banks. these the sons OF Erastus Fairbanks COL
Fr.t kiln F4irDanks, who possess rare mechanical ao'y
worthy OF his nane has the active direction OF the
works To his design due many recent NOTIFICATIONS
and improvements, and his genius for management Is
shown IN the thorough organization of every depart
A TOWN BUILT UP BY A FAMILY.
visit 20 the WORKS shows most impressvely their
completeness and extent, as well as the variety ana
excellence Of the daily WORK. The town Of st. Johns
burv thrifty and chiefly dependent for its pros
pry upon these works. is employed nearly one
sgbb Of the whole population and its most important
mart for nearly all Of tns portion are adult males, very
few b,ys and no girls or women being engaged. Inc
town e pleasantly laid out and its tne COurthouSe anu
the very handsome Atheneum, which contains d re-
choice library, Ine "uO4e So W
town OF Horace Fairbanks, beside the excellent Duo-
ings OF the Academy. the gift OF Ihaddeus
Fairbanks invite and reward Inspection NOT
are these all the eomey structures in the town beside
tie scale works winch themselves nave avery pea'
sppearapce The stately residences OF Messrs' fdlr-
banks. surrounded by spacious grounds, show that
these gentlemen nve in liberal way, benI
ung their priucey incomes. while they show
generous interest in efforts for the benent OF
The townspeope Their wOrkmen are, as class un
usnaly ineligent. valuable not only as welEtralneo