The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-12-24
CANTON INDUSTRIES.
BALLARD, FAST & CO.'S WORKS.
A Successful Establishment, Prof
table Career and Flattering
Prospects.

This firm was organized IN the early
part of 1854, as a partnership concern,
for the purpose of engaging in the man
iacture of reaper and mower knives and
ickles. The partners in the firm were
N. L. Ballard, M. L. Fast and Daniel
Cobaugh, each of whom had previously
been prominently connected with the
manufacturing interests of Canton, where
they had acquired familiarity with all
the details of successfully managing a
manufacturing establishment.
They proceeded, during the course of
the same year, to the erection of a shop
necessary to carrying on their new en-
terprise, which was soon completed. 1t
consisted of main brick building one
hundred by forty feet, fronting on Wal
nut street, near its intersection with the
p, Ft, w. & G. Ry,, and two smaller
wings built in the rear of the main
shop. These shops were fitted with
new and modern machinery, and the
firm began word as soon as expedient,
with laboring force of about fifty en-
ployes. During the early time of their
operations their capacity was two hun
dred knives and sickels per day, or a
daily amount of six hundred dollars.
From the beginning Of actual work in
their enterprise, they met with success
which warranted them in making con-
slant improvements on their works and
machinery, and in the year 1866, the
firm was changed from co-partnership
concern to
STOCK COMPANY,
consisting of the same members, who
were duly assigned to the following po-
aitions:
NJ. L. Ballard, President.
NJ L. Fast, Secretary and Treasurer
Daniel Cobaugh, Superintendent.
Owing to the success they had met
with, their shops were considerably en-
larged, and their facilities increased.
Besides the knives and sickles, they
then began the manufacture of seat
springs, for reapers and mowers, wagons
and hay rakes. They continued in the
exclusive manufacture of these articles,
with increasing success until 1871, when
a new and very important enlargement
the list of articles previously made.
This enlargement consisted of an ad-
ditional building which was erected for
the purpose of taking in the manufact-
ure of all kinds of saws, which branch
of their industry soon became leading
feature of their establishment, When
they had continued in making saws for
about year they found it necessary to
again enlarge their works, to accommo-
date the largely increasing demand for
their articles.
Though they have been engaged in this
branch for only a comparatively short
time, their saws have become widely
known, and are shipped to all parts Of
the country.
In 1874, they once more enlarged and
increased their facilities, and began
making carriage springs, in addition to
the other articles already enumerated.
THEIR PRESENT WORKS
comprise main shop buildings, one hun
dreG and ninety by fifty feet, with three
wings varying from thirty to forty feet
in width, and from fifty to one hundred
feet in length. Part Of the main build
ing is two stories high. Besides these
there is a large room for tempering pur-
poses and storage.
&Their works are all substantially built,
as some of their ponderous machinery
necessitates, and are of brick, convent
emily arranged and systematically di-
Vided into four departments.
The blacksmith department is under
the foremanship of A. Comerford.
W. w. Mutt superintends the grinding
department, A. w. Ballard, finishing
rooms, and George Hiles, saw depart
ment. This department was to US the
most attractive feature in the works.
= The company receive their steel for
making saws, in all necessary shapes and
sizes, already prepared for cutting the
teeth, which is done by machinery.
When the teeth have been cut they are
tempered and placed upon anvils for
Strengthening. They are then ground
and again hammered until Strengthened
They are then filed, polished and made
ready for shipment.
The estimated value of their shops,
machinery, and tools, is nearly $500, 900,
and the annual amount Of business tran
sacted by them reaches nearly $500, 600.
A large proportion Of their hands are
skillf1l mechanics, who receive good |
wages, their annual labor account |
amounting to about 100000.
Taking It altogether, this busy estab-
lishment is one of the most important |
and reliable concerns in this city of in
dustrial enterprise, and one of which the |
citizens of Canton may feel justly proud.
With years to come, taking those past |
as standard Of success, they will doubt
less enlarge, improve and add new and
greater facilities 10 their words. Wheth-
er such be done or not, their reliability
will always insure them q prominent
place among the list Of industrial con-
csFns in this city. !