The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-07-20
Wagons OF To.Day.
THE DEACoN's WONDERFUL ONE HORSE
SHAY oUTDONE.

an acquaintance, as vehicle arrayed
in all the splendor of new varnish and
black enamel went spinning by.
eyes" coolly replied the man about
town. "that's fine turnout. DO you
know, every time | see fine wagon l
think Of two things,-one of them is
the trouble that the good old Deacon
had in building his wonderful one horse
shay, and the other is how much time
and worrimenthe might have saved had
there been such an establishment in his
town as that kept by Israel Bittenben-
bender of Franklin avenue, / always
imagine / can see the old Deacon in
brown study when he
"-swore, as deacons do.
With an | du vum, and an 4 tell yeOu
I'll make one shay thatll beat the town,
N thd keounty ~ all the kentry reound.
Fer tu me, said the deacon, IT'S mighty plain
That the weakest spot must stan the strain.
An the way to fix 1t, as maintain, is only jest
Tu make that place as strong as the rest.
l can see the good old fellow now
as he went huting all through the
whelIwright shops Of that region look
ing after suitable material to build his
wonderful shay out of. Everything
had to be made by hand, and without
doubt the good old deacon sometimes
felt discouraged at the job before him,
and wanted to say things that deacons
are supposed to say. How different
would all this have been had such an
establishment as Bittenbenders been in
existence.
This conversation led to the repor
ter's making an early visit to the Bit
tenbender establishment, and as he
found several matters of considerable
interest, he decided to write them up
for the benefit of the numerous readers
of the NeaoS.
In the interest of those who like
plain unvarnished facts, it may as well
be stated that wagon building is not
like boot and shoe making. Every
year new devices are conjured up to
make boots and shoes wear for a less
time than. they used to last "in the good
old times" while wagons are built
stronger and stronger every year.
TIE BEGINNING.
70 begin at the beginning we will
state that the extensive wholesale es.
tablishment of Israel Bittenbender fol
the sale of wagon and coach materials,
at Scranton was started in 1867. The
starting was on modest capital in one
small room, which now looks insignif
cant when compared with the nam
moth establishment of the presen,
dag.
Great strides have been made il
wagon building since the close of tn,
war. When tire Bittenbender estab
lishment was first started, and for sew
eral yeas, the wheelwrights all ovel
the country were prejudiced agains
purchasing their supplies of large fur
nishing establishments, and for shor
time went on in the hard old way O.
playing spoke shave and chisel, below
and sledge, saving out fellows by han(
and doing everything the hardest wa,
imaginable. Why the first stock o
wheels that this establishment dar
venture on purchasing was ten set
which was thought to be large stock
Thousands OF sets are now kept con
stantly in stock, from which the small
dealers all over the country are suppl
ed.
In the matter of steel tire alone, tn
first order made by this firm wa
twenty sets. 1t now orders car
load lots, representing an immense caI
ital
The comparison between the room i
which the business first started, an
the present rooms in use, is startling
In 1867 room twenty by thirty fec
accommodated the trade. Now tn
amount of room used constantly woul
more than cover haif-acre lot.
The Neocs reporter found both NJ
Bittenbender and Mr.. j. Kemmerer ''i
home" The latter acted in the cap
city of guide through the establish
ment, They first vent from the maj
buildings, at 12S Franklin avenu
, across the street to No. Ill. On the 5
t cond floor of this building were store
: an immense stock of wheels, and gea
l ing of every description. Every avai
g able foot of the large main floor, al
=, two extensive Is were in use. On Il
third floor was found very extensi
s stock Of wide truck material, hea,
bodies of platform wagons, iron pli
$ forms, tops sc, On this floor is ke
| large stock of substance called +
" celsior. 1t is composed of wood,
d nearly as soft as sea moss, and is us
t, by upholsterers, cracker packers, a.
other dealers. This material is bought
n carload lots. Immense quantities 8
y used every month by the Weston M
II Company, and by Monies ~ Pug
4 for packing crackers. On this floor
= also kept stock of bellows and ia
t. for blacksmiths, also stock of il
g and wood seats for wagons. Fans {
Il superseding bellows as they give
blast instantly, and the blast ceases
er s.antly as it is started. The stock
Sc anvils, and other blacksmithing to
ID are kept in another part of the establi
d, ment,
s In the rear part of the build
is reached by Centre street, is a lar
basement filled with wagon rims. I
, A? first floor is stored with bows, bug
in bodies and surplus stock. The secc
p floor contains bows, sleigh bendings {
k, cutters all ironed and ready for sale
I'D the fnishers
THE MAIN BUILDINGS.
The reporter is escorted back ag
he to No, l2S Franklin avenue. Leav
-, the front room in which is located
III office, a concrete building in the |
is approached. The building cont,
four floors, each 52 by 22 feet ins
a" dimensions.
''y The fourth floor is stacked aud p
w full of heavy rims. bows, and sh'
~; In a few days this room will be ,
'' entirely for shaft and rim room.
The third floor is used for
storage of spokes, Spokes are tie,
'eu in punches of tfty-two for heavy
10 gons, and sixty in the light sizes.
"' of this part of the State is supp
with spokes from this establishm