The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-04-22
THE HUM OF INDUSTRY.
A STROLL THROUGH THE SHOPS OF
THE BLOOMSBURY FURNIT URE
COMPANY.

shone brightly, and the balmy air of
spring was most inviting, reporter of
The COLUMBIAN was lured from his
den, and started out for walk, and to
gather news by the way. That he
might visit one of the industries of
"New Bloomsbury" he turned his
footsteps toward the plant of the
Bloomsbury Furniture Company, where
he was first met by Mr.. Theodore
Redeker who very kindly showed him
through the shops and explained the
different processes Of manufacturing
furniture.
The plant consists of two brick
buildings SO by 100 feet in dimensions
each two stories in height, and one
having basement wherein are locat.
ed the shafting and hot air pipes. The
engine and boiler house contain an
engine of IS horse power, and boilers
of 100 horse power. By an automatic
arrangement of pipes all shavings and
sawdust are conveyed from the ma
chimes where they are made directly
into the fire box under the boilers,
thus avoiding their accumulation and
at the seme time providing fuel.
The dry kiln will hold 10000 feet of
lumber, and a very economical system
of handling the lumber has been ad-
opted. The lumber is unloaded direct.
ly from the cars on the ID. l.. & w.
X. r., on to transfer trucks, which are
run into the dry kiln and when ready
for use the trucks are run out at the
other end of the kiln into the fs sctory
and unloaded at any point desired. Or
the trucks can be run directly from
the cars to any part of the factory with
out going in the kiln.
One building contains most of the
machinery on the first floor consisting
of planers, ,polishers, band saws carvers,
ock-cutters, dove-tailers and every
thing else in the way of modern ma
chinery used in first class furniture
factories. On the second floor is the
cabinet department where the furni-
ture is put together. The two build
ings are about 100 feet apart, and con-
nected by an elavated railway. The
building nearest town contains the Of
flee, packing room, ware-room and
polish room on the first floor, and the
filling and varnishrooms on the second
floor. The ground covers ten town
lots. The buildings have an excellent
system of fire protection. Water pipes
are run all through, and every five feet
is sprinkler which, in case o; fire is
put in operation by the melting of a
soft piece Of metal that melts at
heat Of 100 degrees.
The rapidly with which this plant
has been erected remarkable. Ground
was broken on October 1st, 1901, and
every thing was completed, and the
first car load of goods shipped on
March 10th, 1892. This is a record
for a new factory that is hard to beat.
The water for fire protection is
supplied from a tank on trestlng
about 50 feet high. The water comes
from the mains of the Water Company.
At present they are making several
different grades of bed-steads, side
boards and chiffonlers. Tine line
will be gradually enlarged until they
include full sets of furniture of all
kinds. Forty five hands are employed.
The members of the company are
Theodore Redeker, President, w. H.
Schuyler, Secretary and Treasurer,
and J. Z Keifer, Superintendent.
Mr.. Schuyler was employed by J.
X. Rishel at Hughesville for years
as book-keeper and manager. Rishel's
furniture factoryis the largest one in that
section. Mr.. Schuyler is therefore
thoroughly acquainted with the busi-
ness and is a thoroughly competent
man for the position he holds. He is
married man and has one child.
He resides in the house Of John
Wagonseller on North Main street.
Mr.. Redeker was also with J. K.
Rishel for some years as designer,
carver and foreman, and he is con
sidered one of the best men in his
line, to be found. His designs are
original and beautiful, and the work is
finished perfectly under his supervision.
He is married man and has four
children, and resides on East street.
Mr.. Kiefer was formerly in the re-
tail furniture business at Hughesville.
He has always been a successful bust
ness man and a good manager, and
like his partners, has enjoyed the re-
spect and confidence of the people
where he has resided. He is in every
way qualified for his duties as Superin-
tendent. He resides in the Wagon
seller house.
Among their trusted employees are
w. w. Achenbach, foreman of the
machine department, who was fore.