Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-04-19
OUR INDUSTRIES.
THE NAIL CITY LANTERN COXPANY'S NEW
PLANT.
Railroad Work Being Pushed Vigorously on the Ohio
Slde-COndtmnahon Suits 10 Commence
Italian Versus American Stouemasons.

The Nail City Lantern Company, whose
articles Of manufacture are lanterns and
Mason's fruit jsr caps, is one OF the insti-
tutions of Wheeling which has grown
steadily, and whose growth has been Of
that healthy order which comes from the
stimulating influences of sound business
policy and the production of a good article.
Three years ago this company, to in
crease its capacity and better facilitate its
business, built an addition in the rear of
its then three-story building on Water
street Last fell, to further improve the
premises and render the plant more
adaptable TO the class of work car
ried on, the erection of
fourth story on the entire
building was begun. Now they have the
Improvements ell completed and the ma
chinery resrrsnged to the best advantage
All the heavier machinery is on the first
floor, and the presses and stamps for FORM
ing the various parts of the lanterns and
caps are so arranged that the least possible
handling of the ware is necessary. The tin
for q lantern is cut into discs, and each
disc is r, pidly passed from one power press
to another, till in very few minutes the
part comes out completed and ready TO he
joined to its fellow parts 10 make a COM
pleted lantern. The pieces are taken to
the top floor, where beyy of girls, sitting
at long wooden benches, which extend the
full length of the building, solder them to-
gether. The lanterns are polished on
rapidly revolving canvas buffers and are
then ready for packing and shipping
The fruit jar caps are made by a similar
ly well perfected process and como out
more rapidly on account Of the smaller
amount OF work needed to perfec. them.
The company has put in tifly-horse
power Westinghouse engine, which runs ss
smoothly as sewing machine, and steam
elevator to carry the ware from one floor 10
another. Their power is carried TO the
different floors from the engine by sE in
dependent system of belts for each floor, 70
that the machinery on any floor can be
stopped instantly by the drawing OF a
tightening pulley. By this means the en-
gine can be kept in constant motion while
changes in machinery are made on any
floor
In connection with their Wheeling estab
lishment, the company operates a small
glass factory at Lszearville, above Wells
burg, where their lantern globes and porce-
lain tops for fruit jar caps are made. Thia
concern is idle now on account of some
trouble the Wellsburg people are having
with the Royal Gas Company. The
trouble, however, is about over, and the
factory will start again in few days.
Their Wheeling plant and the glass works
employ about two hundred hands, Of whom
one hundred and fifty work in the Water
street establishment. The Improvements
Just made have hindered them from run
ming full, but business prospects are splen-
did and in few weeks the place will he
on in foil. Secretary PAUL informed the
REGISTER man that their wares are shipped
to all parts of the United States, and to
Canada and Mexico. The best seasons are,
for Jar caps from March till September, and
on lanters from June till February, with
August, September and October the ban
ner months.