Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-11-22
SPRINGS AND AXLES.
i Successful and Distinctive Gardiner
Industry.
Description Of the Wentworth Cos.
Works

Description Of the Wentworth Cos.
Works
Prominent among the manufacturing inter
es's o. Gardner ami one which il secular to
that city, is the Wentworth Spring and Axle
Company Alta short distance above the
cuisines, part Of the city is situated the plant
Of the company and the busy sounds which
come from the buildings are truthful indic2-
tons that they are the headquarters Of an
industry the products of which have high
reputation throughout the United States.
This firm manufactures some Of the fhe.,
spring, and sxies ~hieh it Is the good for
tune Of New z gland carriage makers to
use The company was established in
1887 at Readfsli and removed to Gardner in
1868 where it was incorporated in 1871.
From small beginning ii has steadily in
creased in productive capacity and superi-
orty Of work unnl at the present time il il
turning out one and one fourth tons o.
sill unable 10 meet the demands made upo,
il as il now Ia. 90 hand orders for the pro-
euets of years work. In the manufsctur
Of the springs and axles about $50 tons OF
iron are annually used. This stock is boughi
in Pittsburg, Pa and Troy, n. Y. and II
converting it into marketable form 400 ton,
Of coal are annually consumed. Al the
present time the company employs 40 skilled
Torkmen and has monthly pay roll amount
iug to between s. 800 and $500.
From the time the rough material goes into
The bands Of the cutter until the finished
spring is packed for shipment, the process j.
one of much interest. The bars Of s:eel arr
placed upon the tram car. run into the build
ing, hois,ed by a crane and weighed In bulk
They are then cut into suitable lengths anc
are pureh to ALLOW for the passage of
nut to secure them 10 the carriage. From
this machine they are taken into the mai,
room where they are rolled to q fine point,
-latied and beaded so that the plates cannot
slip by each other " hen on the carriage ano
are then taken TO the filters. Here they ar.
made TO conform to any desired shape and
are then hamme red to put on the button-ears
and run through another machine TO turn the
eyes. This completes the rough part of the
work. They are next polished on grind
stones and then the ends and heads are finely
y. 81 6 81
being shipped every spring is put under
power press and tested. They are then
treated to coat of varnish to prevent rust
ing and when packed and weighed are ready
for market. The work is so well done in all
departments that the superintendent IN
forms US that not hundred pounds of re-
jected goods 10 ever returned out of the
yearly shipment.
Another branch of the business of this com
pany naturally connected with ii, is the manu-
iacture of iron and steel axles. This part is
of more recent date than u e former but the
product Of the company in this line has a no
les valuable reputation among carriage
makers than that of th-ir springs Similar
methods of procedure are used in the pri-
mary part. of the manufacture of axles as
we're u.ed in the making of springs. The
steel is weighed, cut into suitable lengths and
the arms an beds of the axle are drawn cut
under two separate hammers. From the
forge room they go into the finishing room.
where they are ceniered, placed in a lathe
where the arm is turned and are then taken to
the finishing machine where the double collar
and threads are cut. They are then ground
on" 10 perfee, tit in the box. The work ls
done so nicely that the axle and box shine
like polished silver and are absolutely per
feet in fit. The boxes are bought in Pitts
burg, Pa, in the rough and are worked down
at the compsny's shops. After the axle
leaves the poisher it is fitted up with wash
ers and nuts, packed weighed and shipped.
In many departments the wo k is done by
machinery, invented and manufactured by
the company. the uses for which have grown
out of the peculiar necessities of the bust
ness. Upon these machines the company
holds it. own patents and constant improve.
ments are requiring the use of new machin
cry The company manufactures about
twenty-five standard styles of springs and
fourteen of aIles. Besides the regular de-
signs it is able to make any st, lie of spring
or axle for which demand is made, proyid-
ing working plan accompanies the order.
The specially of the company, however, is