The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-03-17
For the Democratic Advocated
A Westminster Industry.

Such liz reality is the coach factory of John Z.
Eckenrode on George street, in this city. The
buildings are large and commodious, and ever pre-
sent buSiness-like appearance to the visitor. Mr.
Eekenrode bought lot of land from Mr.. Richard
b. Norment formerly of this place, in 1873 and be-
gan at to improve it by building a nice resi-
denee on the corner of Liberty and George streets
The same lot extends the full length of the square
on George street. and il Is upon this ground that Mr.
Eckenrode erected his coach factory. 1t is coach
factory indeed for, with the exception of the
wheels everything is done to finishing the vehicles
taking them from the rough. John Sicily is in
charge of the woodwork, and runs a reliable as
sistant George Eckenrode is in charge of smithng
and ironing department, and as a coach ironer has
but few superiors His work is from the rough bar
IRON and is all finished in a thoroughly workman
like manner. But few have an idea of the work
required complete full set of coach irons. 1t is
separate and distinct branch of mechanism, and
large amount offorgirg, turning. filing and bur
nshing required for the irons fora nice carriage
or buggy and, if the ironing is sighted all the rest
OF the work on vehicle is valuelcss. In the smith
ing and ironing department two fires run, and
four hands are worked. The smith shop is Is feet
by 81 and the woodwork shop is 20 by 20 feet. The
trimming shop is is by 30 feet and is in charge of
John Carbaugh, who is thorough in his department
and has one assistant. F. NJ. EckenrOde has charge
of the paint room, and has two assistants lie has
been educated to this business and knows just how
10 handle brush. This branch Of the work prop
erly done adds much to the value and durability
of the conveyance +. NJ. Eckenrode imparts to the
work of this establishment the finishing touch as
No lyarnisher. He uses Valentines varnish, which
is generally conceded to be the very best manufac-
tured Mr.. Eckenrode began business in a small
way at his present location. He away from
what was considered public street. but the excel
lence of his work soon showed the public where
John Eckenrode could be found. lie made repair
ing specially. and by his good workmanship,
coupled with a mature judgment, his workshops
soon began resound with the tools of busy hands
He established trade for the manufacture of the
best phptOns buggies, single and double; carriages
of many descriptions, Dayton, Mccall and other
wagons Mr.. Z. manufactured the first Mccall
wagon with side door that was built in this city,
and was clearly entitled TO a patent ON the same,
had he applied for it. lie uses the Brewster side
bar springs with side door Mccall and 1t makes a
most comfortable and a thoroughly convenient
wagon for family use. With the Dayton he uses the
elliptic steel spring. and the spring bar, upon
which the bed rests firmly and safely. His wheels
are bought in large lots principally from Cincin-
natl and some from Baltimore. They have hickory
spokes and felloes with elm and other hubs. They
are placed in q dry room, covered with tin, where
they season and become perfectly dry in a short
time Mr.. Eckenrode is partial to the compressed
iron bound hub" tits banded roughly with an iron
band covering centre OF hub where it has openings
for the spokes and this band is put on in rough
state by hydraulic pressure and afterwards finished,
IL makes splitting of the hub an impossibility The
Warner hub is similar to it, and is used by him.
Either make solid wheel, and prevent the rattling
often heard in low price buggies, &c.
to dad nF tint
partments. 1t has two yarnish rooms one 16 feetby
20 the other q feet by A. paint shops. one D
feet by 26 the other 80 by 3D depository for new
work % by CO. the other 80 by 3d. with platform Jog
by H. The latter is used principally for drying the
paint work in good weather In the repair depart
ment almost every style of wheeled conveyance is
remodeled. Mr.. Eckenrode claims TO have made
the first cutter that ever manufactured in West
/ minister, and continues to make them whenever
/ ordered His principal trade is local, though he
fills orders for this and several other counties of the
state, and ships some goods 10 Pennsylvania and
some to Florida His office is in the front room Of
the building, the lower floor and the store room
/ adjoining is where his trimming and other goods
are stored.
To manage mandatory of this character, and
of its proportions, requires one who is thoroughly
master of each department, and such is the propri
etor of this establishment. All work is inspected
by him in every particular before the customer is
allowed to move il from the repository, and while
4 in course of construction he serutinizes closely
| every piece of wood and iron, everything in the
trimming line es also the painting and vanishing
Mr. Eekenrode is a skilled mechanic Confidence
| in his work and in his integrity have placed him
where he is to-day, at the head of this large and
well sustained coach factory. People who once
deal in his goods are slow to discover the fact
that they will always get the worth of their money
Situated as he now Is with an established reputa-
ton for honest dealing Judgment inferior to none
for passing upon goods in his line corps of skilled
workmen, all the new devices for making his work
the very best, together with all the facilities of
knowledge when and how to buy his material, and
with over u 900 feet of floor room utilized in his
building thereby giving him every advantage OF
room-take all these things together with the fact of
twenty years experience and it will not strike one
as strange that the mammoth establishment OF John
Rckenrode is to-day grand business success In our
community. VISITOR.