Morning journal and courier., 1880-11-16
An Inventors Career.
Death of Dr. c. 0. CrOsby-A Glance at
 Some of the Remarkable Results of His

ident of this city, died yesterday morning in
 Brooklyn, N. Y, which had been his place Of
 residence for some time past, and whither he
 moved to transact business in reference to
 his cigarette machine,-his latest and one of
 his most promising inventions. He had
 been i'll for number of days. He will be
 buried from Grove street cemetery in this
 city, probably tomorrow morning. The de-
 ceased was an inventor of rare ability. Sev-
 eral of his inventions were of great mpor-
 tance and value not only to this community
 but to the world at large. He possessed not
 only rare inventive faculty, but was man
 of great versatility, and was self made
 man, rising to position of eminence as an
 inventor and winning fortune
 which vanished almost as quickly as it
 was gained-by dint of the exercise of the
 abilities with which he was endowed He
 was a native of Simsbury, Conn. He was,
 for years prior to entering the field of inven-
 tion, dentist in this city, and was quite suc-
 cessful in the practice of that profession.
 Many in this city will recollect his office and
 residence as being for long time on Orange
 street, about midway between Chapel and
 Court streets. It was while residing here
 that his reflective mind was turned to the
 subject of invention by seeing Goddess of
 the needle in the employ of his wife making ruffles. Noting the tedious slowness of the
 work, the idea of inventing machine that
 would do the work and expedite the business
 came to him. He applied himself to the
 task, and the result was the invention
 of the knife plating machine. This remark able machine was the joint product of his
 own and the inventive skill of Henry Kel- logg, Esq, of this city. Two prominent
 and very valuable inventions were the joint
 work of himself and MT. Kellogg. These
 were the knife plating machine-for making fine plaited rufies-and the tape trimming machine-for producing pointed tape trim ming. They were both wonderful machines and virtually created new branch of indus try. They were somewhat complicated, but
 very practical, working with certainty and great effectiveness. The knife plating chine was of very delicate mechanism, ep- erating with great nicety and rapidity. These machines created a new field of industry. Previously there was no such thing as knife plaited ruffies sold in the market. The ma chimes produced goods that were not known as articles of merchandise to any extent be- fore. Previous to the introduction of the tape trimming machine a woman in full days work might by the hand process make two yards of tape trimming, whereas one wo- man could in day with these machines make from 400 to ,OOO yards, according to her ca- pacity. One woman could operate four of at tions were operated and owned by the Elm City company, of which Dr. Crosby was for a number of years president, Samuel E. Bar ney, Esq, being secretary and treasurer.
 The company rented rooms of the late Thomas J. Stafford in Stafford building, there commencing business in 1860, but soon, requiring largely increased shop room, re- moved their business to the upper part of Bishops building on State street They car ried on the business of manufacturing tape trimmings and ruffies of all descriptions for ladies' neckwear, undergarments, etc., largely and very successfully for quite number of years. The shops gave employment to more than one hundred girls and women for quite 8 long period in their busiest times. At one time during the war they had to run their es- tablishment night and day, using two sets of hands, being unable to get the machines manufactured fast enough This was in the winter of 1S61-2. Dr. Crosby was at that time in Europe prepar- ing for another important invention. The invention of these machines greatly in creased the consumption of the class of goods made by them, and produced much finer article in greater variety and at 8 much less price than before. After Dr. Grosby's presidency Leonard Winship, Esq, became president, and the business was very prosperous until some years later disaster was met with. During the existence of the company great deal of money was made, and Dr. Crosby received a large sum in the aggregate from the profits, probably con- siderably more than $150,OO0. It is interest ing chapter of manufacturing history to note the following: Dr. Crosby one day just before the war sallied into the dry goods store of Messrs Winship GS Barney, and chat ting with the proprietors showed them sam pie of tape trimming remarking that he had machine which made just that article. He said that he proposed arranging with some- body to build some of these machines and start manufacturing just this article. Messrs. Winship & Barney investigated the commercial value of the article, and became convinced that there was great merit in the invention, and embarked in the enter prise which resulted in the formation of the Elm City company. Later, incidentally, one day Dexter Alden, Esq, of this city, getting Dr. Crosby's attention, asked him if he could not make machine that would make ruffies. The hint was sufficient, and with that pr. Crosby and MT. Kellogg set at work and in vented the knife plating machine.
 These were only part of the results of pr. Crosby's inventive talent. He invented 1 the celebrated fish hook machine, which rev olutionized the manufacture of making fish 1 hooks, and created a new business in this l Previously most all the fish hooks | used in this country were imported from Eng 1 and, and all fish hooks were made by hand. | This wonderful new invention at once attract l sd attention in both Europe and America. Dr. l Crosby's visit to Europe in 1860 and 1861 | was partly for the purpose of visiting the great fish hook manufactories of England, which |
 
 Manchester As stated, the work was done | oy hand in Europe. On his return he organ 1 zed, by the aid of capitalists, the American Fish Hook kand Needle Manufacturing company n this city, of which he was president for some time This company was the predeces- ;or of the present prosperous and successful l American Needle and Fish Hook company,in in | Artisan street, of which ex-Mayor William R. Shelton is president. The original company its means in perfecting the ma ,hines and establishing the business, the new company purchasing the machines and pat ,nts.
 The needle machine was also a great in 7ention, though it was never brought to the perfection intended, and it created a notable as may be supposed, in the needle of this country and Europe.
 Dr. Crosby invented a machine for mak- ng shoes, and took considerable pride in it, and he Crosby Shoe Machine Co., was formed bout 1872-3, but the invention was not made lse of to any extent, though quite remarka-