Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-08-25
Pioneer Manufacturing COMPANY Works.

D.
company completed, during the winter,
their large main building near the river
and at the outlet Of their dam, and had it
ready for occupancy this spring. They
have rented the two upper rooms, both
large and convenient-one TO Messrs Day
Il Dodge, and the other to Perry &
Batchelder, and both shops are now filled
with the hum Of machinery and the stir of
business.
The company has also erected another
large shop. a few rods east Of the main
building, to which ample power is commu
nicated by wire cable running from a
shaft wheel, connected with one of the two
powerful water wheels in the basement Of
the main building. to Il similar shaft wheel
attached to the new shop. The lower
floor of the new shop is used by Messrs.
Wells & Dewing in the manufacture of
the superior patent lasts, lately made by
Mr.. Wells at South Woodbury., and SO we'll
known by all shoe manufacturers in New
England and the Dominion OF Canada.
The firm Of Wells Il Dewing manufac-
ture not only lasts of every size and des-
cripton, but also boot trees and forms.
Their goods are the best made anywhere,
and find Il ready sale wherever introduced.
We believe the present company-Mr.
Dewng bein. the new partner-intend to
greatly extend their trade, and their goods
will doubtless now "go west, and find
there a ready welcome and a rcnumerative
market. The wood used for their lasts is
the very best seasoned maple. Maple
loos are cut into blocks of about - inches
in length, then split by machinery into s
pieces, resembling at the end the general
form of the eight pieces into which the
economical housewife divides her mlnce
pie. These pieces are then for forming
them in the rough, run through clown S
machine, "a much more clumsy-look
inr, inefficient affair than the Town :
Patent Graduating Machine, which comes
in ut last to give final form and beauty to
these now uncouth looking blocks. These
rough shapes, after coming from this ma
chine, are packed or stored away in the
dry house to season for 4 year. and some
times three wears, when they are ready for
the the final forming and finishing work
preparatory to being put upon the market
Let us here 90 back a little, and briefly
review the history of the last business from
its inception in this county The manu-
facture of boot and shoe lasts was started
ut South Woodbury.. in 1924, by Jabez
Town, grandfather, on the maternal side
of S. Q. Wells, the senior member OF the
present firm of Wells & Dewing. The
business has been ever since continued II
and built up by the family, running
through period of three generations
The first firm name was Jabez Town
Sons. and they run the business some 81,
or eirht wears This firm was succeeded
by that of the sons, the brothers Abner 4
J. w. Town. During the continuance OF
of this partnership Abner Town invented
the Towns Last Machine 50 called,and
soon after J. w Town invented certain
improvements thereto, and manufactures
and secured patents for the Towns Paten
Graduatinr Last Machine-a machine
, which is now used by manufacturers Q
lasts every where who do any thing of
business in that line 1t is certainly
e very ingenious and perfect piece of ma
= chinery for the work for which it is in
= tended. From one model it turns all size.
, and leaves them in perfect shape. Hi
IS is a very important item in the line of Ia
Is Dor and money saving, and enables tn
:. present company to cheaply supply an
Is thing required, from the plainest last of tn
# country cobbler to the finished iron
Il clads" in use bv the heavy manufacturer
a of fine and substantial boots and shoes.
O Nineteen years ago, when twenty-on
:, wears of age, 5. 0. Wells bought out tt
Or interest of Abner Town, AMI, some min
q wears after, secured possession Of the el
= tire business. He continued die manufa(
l. tory at South Woodbury. until this sprn4
# when. with Il view of securing rairoa
# facilities and Il more extended field f,
70 operations. he removed to Montpelier. an
IS admitted Nh J. \. Dewing of this villa9
rs u partner.
The new firm have just " got into line
- now, and are ready to fill all orde
. promptly and at low prices. They hol
:. to give employment to eight or ten hand
Their machinery, which was IN running o
< der when we made :. hasty run through II
shop, embraces among other things, t"
" of Towns Patent Graduating Last Nj
, chimes, a Towns machines for blockln
= ont lasts. rir. circular AMI drag SAWS. b.
rinr machines, turning llthes. emery an
soft wheels for polishing, etc. etc. 1t
III an important branch of industry and
re trust that the proprietors will " make
IN good thing out of it.
IS Dav Il Dodge, in the second story of Il
re main buildinr of the Pioneer Compan
!" manufacture Ainsworths Patent Portab
to Clothes Bars, for ID. l.. Fuller, Esq, Il
to present efficient proprietor of those We
Sc convenient and desirable clothes drlel
McSSrS. DOlIc a D'tt di>o ih''h0 P'P'
7 book and hat racks of fine finish. and do
l. general business in job work of all kin
III appertaining to their line of work TN
now employ seven workmen, and ha
49, room for u few more when trade becom
- more lively. The lumber used Is prime
~ palIy birch cherry, and black waln'
IT, Their machinery consists of a Lanes pla
= or. wood and strctcher lathes. irregul
:, cutter or variety moulder. hand and 9th
-. needed saws. sand wheel, boring machln
:, g.. They derive their power, as DO
b. occupants of the adjoining room, direct
bands running from shafting driven by
,is of the Pioneer Company's water "hee
H., Perry & Batchelder. in the adJoini