The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-11-27

HONE INnUsTRlEs VIRGINIA MATCH
FACToKY.-The Virginia Matc1-Factory, at
Rockets, as will be seen in another column.
will be closed Oh the 18th of December.
The proprietors, Messrs. Goldbsck Il Co.,
state that they "will not resume work until
we can sell our ware at a living advance
upon the cost of production. This has been
forced upon las 10y northern combinations,
who have lowered the price Of parlor matches
far below the cost Of material, with the
avowed purpose of breaking US up in Rich
mond."
This factory, the third largest and the most
complete In the United States, commenced
operations some two years ago BY A. Gold.
back, for many years in the wholesale dry
goods house of s. NJ. g. NJ. Rosenbaum, and
E. Bear, Jr., Of Gordonsville, Va. The lat
ter withdrew some thirteen months ago, and
it has been carried on under the firm of A.
Goldback & Co. by A. Goldback, who has
established quite large trade both North
and South, although be bad to compete with
parties in their business who have been
making every effort to break them down,
without avail, and their stoppage. they be-
lieye, will be only temporary. They have
been manufacturing parlor-, sulphur, and
candle-matches. The wood they prepare in
Canada, as there is no white pine In Virginia.
Their factory contained three rooms, each
sixty by one hundred and twenty feet. In
the basement they had their boiler, steam.
pipes, and apparatus for making paste and
sealing wax. On the first floor, by itself, is
one Of The handsomest engines to be seen
anywhere. Next comes the composition
room, where the grinding and preparation
Of this mastic is done. There are five setting
up and one cross.cutting match.machines.
The sulpbura!ion and dipping is done on
this floor; but away from the other rooms.
The composition Is made in large copper
kettle heated by steam.bath some ten hours.
1t is then placed upon a huge marble table,
which is also kept bot by steam, and spread.
Then the sticks, which are previously rolled
up In large bundle containing about one
hundred thousand, are dipped into this mass.
They also receive a coating Of parafioe, and
are then cut Ia the prosecuting machine by
means OF very sharp, round knife moving
rapidly around an axis. They are then put
away 70 dry; after which they are put in
boXts and stamped, aS there is tax OF nearly
seven hundred per cent. on this article: The
operations are carried on on the first floor,
and give employment to some fifty hands.
The cande.ma,cb Is prepared with machine
SstuildE W q "CdNiuSsltutll, COupOStQ VI u
cotton wick, which IS rolled on cylinder.
separated by n comb, and passed through
m: Red parafic wax.
i. On the second floor all kinds of match.
boxes are manufactured. In this room forty
hands have been employed. Lately the con.
Germ have had their match. boxes made at the
Male Orphan Asylum.
The third floor is used for drying and
sterin- away material.
The factory has been turning out about
1900 gross Of boxes of matches per week, or
about $4,000 matches.
The fabrication of matches Is quite dan.
gerous operation, and great care has to be
taken in order to prevent an accident by fire
or otherwise, Where improved machinery
is used. however. as bus been The case in the
Virginia Aa.ch.Factory, there is but little
danger. Upon entering the factory. q
stranger would be struck with the smell
whtet Oils the house. The air is
thick. aod one begins to cough. In
deed, disease has been produced by being
compelled TO work 10 one OF these
iactorles. Muck of the disagreeable oder
from the matches and paste has been OBJ
Waited by Messrs. Ge.dbacs & Co. They OF
course suspend operations with reluctancy,
bnt hope that our merchants will help them
ont aDd not allow their hands to long remain
idle.