The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-04-22
& Co.'s Extensive FOundrieS

Armstrong & Co.'s Extensive Foundries
STOVE WORKS AND MACHINE SHOPS
HISTORY OF THE FIRM-DEsCRIPTIoN OF
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. DONE.
There are said to be three hundred and
fifty foundries in the United States engaged
in the manufacture of stoves and their kin
dred inventions, furnaces and ranges, and
which are computed to consume annually
over five hundred thousand tons of iron.
OF this large number Of stove manufac-
tories, prominent one is pictured at the
head of this sketch. Before proceeding
however to describe the extensive works of
the Messrs. Armstrong, we propose to say
Il word or two on
STOVES IN GENERAL.
Stoves are domestic convenience of COM
paratively modern invention, and although
their manufacture has become an import
ant branch of American industry, it has
only been developed within very recent
years. Their very general use however in
this country has proved an incentive to in
vention, until degree of perfection has
been attained in the construction of the
American stove, unrivaled 10y the produc
ton of any other country. In fact, until
our own DR.. Franklin, in 114j, took up the
problem of house heating-which many
modern housekeepers think he did not sue
coed in solving, if the Franklin Stove y
be considered the evidence of his success
heating appliances, and stoves as means
of warming domestic apartments, had re-
ceived but little attention. The Holland
stoves, which had been introduced into
! England, had met with but little favor,
because being nothing more than plain iron
boxes, or air-tight stoves, they had to en-
counter the traditional national prejudice
! in favor Of open fire places and CRATES, and
which, at this day, prevents the general use
of stoves in England. In the north OF
! Europe, in Denmark, Sweden and Russia,
the massive stove, or properly speaking,
oven, of which Benjamin Franklin wrote,
/ is still in use, and although improved heat
( ing appliances have been adopted there,
/ vet the advance in improvement and inven-
! ton in these respects has nothing like
| approached our own. These stoves, which
| in all probability were the earliest ones in
use, would be a curiosity to an American
| housekeeper. In one respect they would
| challenge her admiration. They require
! fuel but once in twenty-four hours. But
/ on the other hand the immense and elabo
rately wrought brass doors, i'll which, pol
ished to brillancy equalling mirror, the
! faces of the family are reflected, would
prove serious test of the amiability OF
! American "help." These stoves are built
1 of brick, faced with specimens of fine pot.
terry or porcelain, and have several stories
or floors, with apertures and doors to each,
| the fire place being at the bottom of them.
| Clumsy as these contrivances may seem
when compared with one of our modern
Morning Glories," yet when the question
of fuel is considered, they are admirably
adapted to their localities, since, "though
those countries have been we'll inhabited
for many ages, wood is still their fuel, and
yet at no great price" Economy in fuel
is the real necessity that mothered the in
Ventl0n OF STOVES. III tIlS country, DIS eisc-
where, except in England, where the ever
hungry mouths of her roaring low-down
CRATES have swallowed needlessy, year by
year, sufficient fuel to warm her thousands
of shvering poor, the objects sought to be
accomplished in the invention of new pat
terms and styles of stoves have been the
most perfect heating qualities consistent
with health, economy, and convenience.
The history of the stove trade shows that
our American manufactures have eminently
succeeded, and in which success Armstrong
& Co., of Port Deposit and Baltimore, SO
Justly deserve their share.
THE FIRM
of Armstrong & Co. is composed of three
brothers-Thomas, the oldest, and mana
ger of the works at Port Deposit; James.
the representative of the firm at the Balti-
more warehouse and William Armstrong.
Their name suggests the secret of their
success. Active industry, directed by bust
ness Judgment, has, from the smallest be
ginning, developed their business into large
and lucrative manufacturing interest, until
the firm of Armstrong & Co., at Port De-
post, Md, is known in every city and bust
ness centre, as one of the most prosperous
and reliable in the stove trade. Like so
many of our prominent manufacturers, the
Armstrong; began business in very mod
est way, and have acquired, by years of
labor and toll, the satisfaction of success
heightened by the reflection that they now
give employment to many deserving and
industrious mechanics, and serve alike their
own interests and those of men upon whom
whole families depend for support.
They came to Port Deposit poor boys, as
apprentices to John d. Marshbank, then
} carrying on a foundry, and with whom they
completed the term of their apprenticeship.
In June, 1854, they commenced business on
their own account, in the old foundry To-
Gated on the site of their present works,
| an old frame building G0x30 feet, built by
, Jas. Hopkins and Washington Webb, about
} 1910, employing no journeymen during the
first year after starting business, and hay