Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-11-14
THE WATCH FACTORY.

Ou SalCIudy SSculuS the employees duu
attaches of the Lancaster watch factory
partook OF handsome banquet in the
dining room Of the Stevens house. The
affair was of 4 complimentary character
and was rendered by Mr. Abram Bitncr.
the gederal manager of the factory. on
behalf of the board of directors. as .
testimonial of their appreciation Of the eff
forts of the employees which have resulted
in placing the factory upon its present
footing of assured success, after an t:-
perience of several years, which has been
full of ups and downs, and the downs
often sufficient to dauut the Stoutest heart.
These times that tried mems souls seem
row to be safely passed, the factory is full
up with work, and orders are in
hand that cannot be filled for months.
Notwithstanding the large capac-
ity of the establishment, numbering
somewhere between 225 and $50 hands.
Recently, tco, the management have re-
ceived most complimentary testimonials
Of the merits Of the Lancaster watch, and
they feel warranted III the statement that
their present product is the best they have
ever turned ont. As an instance of tie
accuracy Of the watch Mr. Bitner men-
tions the fact that Ticket Agent Ham
bright, Watchman kautZ, ard other at
t:sehe Of the Pennsylvania railroad depot,
carry Lancaster watches of different grades,
and within the past month there has no:
been half Il minutes variation between
them.
The Stevens house dining Room presented
al animated spectacle Saturday evening.
Three ia Jlcs, handsomely decorated with
fruits and flowers and burdened with the
good things of this life, extended the entire
length OF the room, while meeting it at
right angles was another that ran across
at the upper or north end. The festive
appearance was further enhanced by the
tasteful OrnamentiOn Of the chandeliers.
Covers were laid for 250, and every place
was occupied, about $50 being attaches OF
the factory, ladies and gentlemen. The
table at the north end was occupied by
the board of directors. There was 10
speechmaking, but all hands fell heartily
to work about half-past nine. The assault
on the viands was made with great precis-
ion, but was none the less destructive. The
Tenu was substantial and comprehensive,
including oysters in various styles, cold
meats, salads and the usual accessories,
with coffee, and a dessert of ice cream, cakes
and fruits. About an honr was spent at
the table, the utmost good cheer prevail
being noted for the entire decorum, whilst
good hunlor and mirth were not by any
| means lacking at the festive board and it
was remarked by the board of directors
and by the few outsiders whose privilege
it was to be present upon this enjoyable
OCCASION that a better behaved set OF young
ladies and gentlemen is not met with at Il
public gathering Of this character. The
banquet was an entire success and not less
creditable and gratifying to Mr.. Bitner and
the board of directors than it was salts
factory to and appreciated by the watch
factory employees and the other guests.
Historical Sketch.
The following facts obtained from enc
Of the officers Of the company, are of gen.
eial interest
The organization of the original com
rany took place at the Board of Trade
rooms, June 10, 1874, with capital stock
proposed to amount OF S75, 1000, of which
so. 900 had at that time been subscribed.
The fine structure in the West End,
Low occupied as the watch factory, was
built by this company on ground to the eX-
tent OF three acres or more, which was
donated by G. y. Bitner, esq, who has,
from first to last, invested in this enter
prise probably not less than seventy thou
sand dollars.
The design Of the original company was
to make the finest high grade watch in the
United States, and to manufacture only
watches of this "ra,le. Tho works of the
watch were Of gold instead of brass, anti
the jcwcling and certain other features
! were to be finer than could be found in
any other watch made in America. But
the project was too broad for the capital
invested and but few Of these watches had
been completed when the stockholders lost
faith in the enterprise, and, after eXpcnd-
ing about $3.50, coo, made assignment Of
everything for the benefit of its creditors.
An assessment was made upon the stoc',
and al! debts owed by the company were
duly paid. An effort was then made to in
| ducc as many as possible of the former
stockholders to form q syndicate for the
purchase OF the works, SO that the money
which they had already invested might be
saved, and also that this promising indus
try might not be lost to Lancaster.
No new men would touch the enterprise,
and but eight of the old stockholders
could be induced to take any further
risks. DIR. Henry Carpenter, as agent for
these parties, purchased the property at
the assignee's sale, and it was divided into
ScNCH cuuti iAlCiSSCS, oNuCu ICSpcCIi'cIy
by DR.. Henry Carpenter and Messrs. &.
a. Bitner, II. S. Cara, John Best, J. p.
McCaskcy, Bitner e. HOstettcr and Eshle-
man & lathvon. These gentlemen or.
Sanizcd the " Lancaster, Pa, Watch
Company. Limited ~ August 23, 1877.
The capital stock Of the company was
afterwards permanently increased and the
company reorganized October :, 1873, the
new stockholders being Mcssrs John /.
Hartman, John ID. Skiles, J. p. Wicker
sham, d. G. Baker, Benz. p. Miller, J. B.
Kaufman, John G. Hager, Henry Gua-
daker. A. II. Mylin and Hon. A. Herr
Smith.
The works were subsequently leased
April 1, 1879, for term of five Jcars to
the Lancaster Watch Company, Linn
itcd.' and under this lease they have
been running for the past two years and 4
half with what seems the prospect of an
assured success under the present manage
ment.
1t has certainly had very eventful his
tory, and it will be credit to its man
agemcnt and source of great satisfaction
to all philosophical citizens that an in
dustry SO usefrh in its character employ
ing such a superior class of artisans shall
be spared to Lancaster and become pro-
ing fortunes. The total amount Of capital
invested in the enterprise since its incep-
tion is about $3.50, 900, Of which more than
$500, 600 has been in wages alone. Four
teen grades Of watches are at present man
ufactrred, all of which have fine and
constantly increasing reputation for ac