St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-05-14
st. Johnsbury's Industries.
THE SCALE WORKS.

to say to the reader at the outset, that
we make no attempt whatever to make
it perfectly plain to him. One will
readily see that this will be utterly i'm
possible. To tell just how scales are
made, and to give all the details of
great establishment like this, would re-
quire the knowledge of long years of
experience. The outsider may think it
an easy matter to step into the various
departments here, look about a little,
and then tell the public all about them.
But if he thinks so he makes great
mistake. Probably not over a dozen
men in the whole works completely
understand the full details of scale
making, and it is more probable still
that not over three or four of these suf-
ficiently comprehend the underlying
principles, so as to be able to give the
proper instruction to Others regarding
the manufacture. Sir Thaddeus and
Col. Franklin Fairbanks are known to
be entirely familiar with the governing
principles, while very few of their
long tried and trusted men have been
obliged to make the business study,
thereby gaining a comprehensive
knowledge of weighing, and of the va
rious processes of manufacture.
A large number of the mechanics
fully understand what belongs to their
own departments; but in the very ma
ture of things they cannot spend time
or thought studying principles, or in
becoming familiar with the multitude
of details necessary to carry on the
works. While there must be a body
and soul to all great industries, to plan,
provide, and direct; and while it nee
essarily happens that the important
things of these industries can be intrust-
ed to only few persons, it is yet true
that the rank and file of this establish.
ment contain men of first rate intelli
gence, the prime condition to success.
in any business. We reiterate the fact
then, that none are fully able to give 6
plain insight of these works, save the
few managers and heads of depart
ments; and these men are so complete
ly occupied, that it is is doubtful if they
can find time to please or instruct tn,
public regarding what is now of sucl
vast Importance to the welfare of th
community. We therefore undertak,
the task, promising to give only a gen
eral survey of the industry, in our owl
way, and with such facilities as W,
can hastily command.
Through little book of a dozel
pages which has been placed in ou
hands, we learn how the idea came O
the platform scale. 1t seems that 10
seph Fairbanks, father of Erastus
Thaddeus, and Joseph P. Fairbanks
came to this town in 1915. Here h.
purchased a mill privilege, where som
of the works now stand, and built
saw and grist mill. His son Thaddeus
who was then 20 years old, and VIII
had natural inclination to mechanics
added to the mill the business of cal
riage making. Erastus, who had pre-
viously engaged in mercantile pursuits
now gave up the business, and in 182
united in partnership with his brothe
Thaddeus, under the name of ''E. & 7
Fairbanks" In 1899 many farmers c
the neighboring towns went to raisin
hemp. There had to be machines fo
dressing it, and applications were mad
to the new company to manufacture
one that had already been patented b
New York parties. They made the ma
chimes, and soon afterwards, they, wit
a few Others, formed a company fo
hemp dressing, and purchased the ricb
of using the machine in st. Johnsbury
AS the hemp straw was brought i
by the farmers it had TO be weighed
aud by method that had long been
use in weighing hay, that was very il
accurate,-it often occurring that i
weighing two thousand pounds ther
would be a variation of fifty pounds
From this it appears that the weighin
process at that time was SO imperfet
as to attract the particular attention {
Thaddeus Fairbanks. If in weichin
it was common to lose one fortieth par
it was high time somebody commence
to see where the trouble was.
1t takes some talent to trace frol
causes their legitimate results, and it j
one of the great phenomena of tb
world that mighty things may spriu
from seemingly insignificant cause
1t has been said there is a divinit
that shapes our ends rough hew the
as we will and the only explanatio
we are able to give, is that the Unsee
Power does shape the course of mel
some for one purpose and some for al
other. The mind of Thaddeus Fai
banks had certain adaptations that wei
just right for his life work. No 9th,
mind was allowed to do this work bl
! it was left for him, in his own time an