The Portland daily press., 1883-12-25
PORTLAND sLEEGEra.
The Best Business Bone for Ten wears.

The Best Business Done for TEN years
A reporter for the PRESS hearing that the
sleigh manufacturers of Portland had done a
splendid business this last month, called upon
some OF the principal firms yesterday and
made inquiries as to the truth Of the rumor.
Yes said Mr.. Zenas Thompson, it is pretty
evident the muskrst made failure of 1t this
season and will have to buy an overcoat If be
don't want to freeze. When 1 went 20 New
York and Philadelphia, three weeks ago, the
dealers all laughed at me- They ioked over
my foolshness at building SO many eleighs
when the prophets had promised an open win
ter. And began to fear they were not SO far
out OF the way for my overcoss vas a burden.
But the weather of a week or ten days ago has
changed all that and now L am about all sold
out.
What are the prevailing styles, Mr.. Thomp-
son, said the reporter.
Well said MI. Thompson, here are Ethe ele-
CANT Russian style sleighs, with uprights on
either side of the dasher, bearing plumes, a
snow screen of nickle plated ware, and high
sides and backs to the sleigh SO that the occu-
pants can keep warm and be protected from
cold winds. Then here is the double Parisi an
with high hacks and very stylish; the single
speeding sleigh, which only weighs 6S pounds
and still again the lighter single speeder weigh
ing but 48 pounds. All these sleighs are made
of the very best material, and are finished in
thesmost artistic manner. In fact all Portland
manufacturers take pride in unfolding the
standard which has given Portland sleighs
such fame throughout the country
How many sleighs have You sold, said the
reporter.
About 125 replied Mr.. Thompson, represent.
ing about 600. They vary in cost from
800 to $3.50, and are upholstered in English
broadcloth or plush. I have never in ter
years, sold SO many sleighs, or so many to my
townsmen.
The reporter then visited Martin, Pencil s
Co. 1t must be borne in mind that z. Thomp.
son & Co., and Martin, Pennell & Co. make
the high cost sleighs that are sold to parties
out OF Portland.
Mr.. Martin is confined at home part of the
day, as he is convalescing from a serioussillness
His representative however kindly took the re.
porter over the establishment. Here also were
the handsome, costly Russian sleighs, the sin.
gle, and double speeder, the former model OF
grace and lightness. The reporter was also
shown the ''old comfort as they are called
single sleighs, with very springy backs and
bottoms, luxuriousy upholstered, and as com.
Portable as great reclining chair. He was
shown two great family sleighs in process Of
construction, that looked as if they could car
ry whole family on each seat.
Is it true, said the reporter, that the firm
made large sale of sleighs last Satur.
day.
Yes sir, said the gentleman, Martin, Pencil
q Co., Saturday night, shipped to Boston the
largest consignment of sleighs ever sold to any
one party from Portland. There were over
twenty sleighs rising $4,000 in value, sold tc
W. P. Sargent of Boston.
How many sleighs how you made and sold
said the reporter
About ninety, said the gentleman, valued al
from $4,000 to $4,000. Furthermore, as q
proof of the excellent qualities of Messrs. Mar
tin, Pennell & Co.'s employees, it may not be
out of place to say, that during Mr.. Martins
long illness, all the work went on with the
same thoroughness and attention to detail, al
II he was personally super vising it.
The reporter also learned from other sources
that Robert Farrar, who makes excellent
sleighs, had made and sold about 200 at val
uation of some $4,000, and Joseph Russell
about rs at a valuation of about $4,000 and
then there are other manufacturers who have
turned out about 100 moro for about the same
figures, making all told, about 600 sleighs solo
for at least $4,000. 1t is certain there will be
no garrets loaded with seighs to be sold at sac.
rifice this YEAR