Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1883-09-22
MARTlNsBURG SPOKE WORKS.
4 NEW ENTERPRISE IN FULL
BLAST.

start an incorporated manufacture
ing company in Martinsburg, it has
at last been accomplished in the es,
Enlistment Of the Martinsburg
Spoke Works. Although the works
have. been running for some days
past, in order to adjust the machin-
cry and get everything in proper or
der, they were not formally started
until Tuesday. A number of citi-
zens of the town and country were
present on that day to witness the
workings of the machinery and the
process of making spokes. The new
forty-five horse power engine, like a
thing of life, was driving the long
line Of shafting, while the whirr and
buzz of the wheels and betting,
and the busy workmen gave bust
ness like appearance to everything
around that was very gratifying.
This last proposition to get up a
manufacturing company was started
last spring, and from its inception,
the work of organizing and raising
the necessary funds was pushed rap
idly along. After it had gone far
enough to justify practical start,
the organization was chartered, the
ground purchased, buildings con-
tracted for, machinery and engine
purchased and the work Of getting
ready to commence operations went
right ahead.
The lot at the north of town, adj
joining the B. s. 0. Il. r., was pur-
chased at a cost OF $500, on which is
erected a substantial brick building,
40 by 125 feet, with wing 20 by 80
feet, and is divided by partitions to
suit the purposes of the enterprise,
into engine, saw, lathe, finishing,
packing rooms and office, costing
$4,000. The engine and machinery
cost $4,000.
Everything seems to be running
smoothly and satisfactorily. Three
iathes are in operation, working on
q Londsn order,' and turning out
about 1000 spokes per day. When
all the lathes are put at work, 1t is
estimated that 100000 spokes can
be turned out and finished up each
year.
Mr.. Kugler, the head of the firm of
Kugler & Co., showed us his various
patterns, of which he has large
number, some of them being made
out of wood found in South Africa.
He will manufacture for the trade
in England Germany, Australia and
South Africa, and the orders for
each of those countries have to be
made over entirely different pat
terms.
The spokes turned out are OF the
finest quality-in fact no other kind
would suit the foreign market.
Consequently the timber used in
their manufacture is required to be
frst-class in every respect. This
timber is secured principally from
the farmers of this and Jefferson
and Morgan counties. The stock on
hand is quite large aui car loads are
coming in from points on the rail-
roads almost every day. After the
busy season is over with the farmers
a large amount is expected to be re-
ceived by teams.
The Spoke Works are run by Mr..
Joseph l.. Kugler Il Co., with Mr..
JOS, l.. Kugler as general manager.
The Messrs. Kugler came here from
Stockton, New Jersey, where they
carried on large spoke works, and
established a reputation for their
work, second to none in the coun-
try. Mr.. j. l.. Kugler, the head of
the firm, was in the business twenty
five years in Stockton. and during
that time went to Europe and made
business acquaintance and learned
the requirements of the trade in
those countries. He is an accom-
plished and practical business man,
and the success of the enterprise is
assured under his management.
WE are indebted to Mr. w. l..
Jones, jeweler, for pretty and con,
venient little article called the eau.