Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-12-18

Lowe. vice president; Edward Lowe,
secretary and treasurer oundcrs. ma
chlnists and manufacturers of ali kinds
OF milling and improved shingle ma
ehinery-toot of Huron street.
This important industrial concern
Rad It's inception as long ago as 1913.
when James McCray succeeded
ketenum & McCray of Greenville anu
removed To Grand Rapids, erecting
upon the site Of the present works an
unpretentious frame foundry ana una
chine shop. Here he invested his en-
tire capital of $50, 900. and met with
reasonable rnccess, but died IN 1851.
when the management passed tempo
rsrily INTO the hands OF Gilbert NJ.
stewart and b. MeCray, who sold ous
to Daniel Ball and Charles Z. Babcock.
Ball 4 Babcock retired in 1855. and
were succeeded by Byron D.. Ball under
the style OF Daniel Ball " Son, employ
ing twenty I'VE wogkmen aud turning
out the first saw mill engine ever built
in Grand Rapids. Richard Z. Butter
worth and William ). Gum became
associated with Mr.. Ball In 1886, as
Ball " Butterworth, Mr.. Butterworth
becoming sole proprietor IN 1853, and
so continuing until 1869, when James
Lowe bought Ri interest, and the style
was changed to Butterworth 4 Lowe,
which is still retained. though Mr..
Butterwortn died In 1888. The pres-
ent company, oiiicered rs above, was
Incorporated in 1890, capital stock
100000.
IN September last Butterworth &
Lowe bought and consolidated with
their own the business and good will of
j. c. Simonds & Son, the world-famous
manufacturers of single machinery.
Mr.. Frank A. Simonds, the junior
member. accepting the superlnten-
dency of the concern. Under the new
auspices the policy of improving ald
extending the sale of these uneQualed
machines will be continued with the
same vigor that ch sracterized the old
firm. These spe cialties include the
Slmonds iron-frame machine, strong,
well proportioned, 81 model of Sim
plicity and effectiveness, made in one
size only, for 38-lnch saws; the Simonds
wood-trame machine, similar to the
above, in sizes for SO, So. 40 and A.
inch saws; the Simonds improved yoke
for arbor; the Simonds improved tilt
table; the Slmonds improved steoler
carriage, which enables the operator to
cut three true shingles from one-lnch
board without liability of spalting the
saw; the Slmonds patent roller-way for
tilt tables; the Simonds jack works;
the Simonds power drag-saw machine;
the Slmonds drag-saw elevator aud
friction lift; the Simonds shingle bolter
and sapper; the Simonds sIx-knife
wheel jolnter; the Simonds improved
sheet steel knot saw table machine; the
Slmonds single butcher or packer;
the Simonds spslt and refuse elevator;
the Simonds 800 shingle machine;
specially designed for the use OF mill
men VINO wish to utilize otherwise
waste stuff. anu the Simonds emery
saw GUNNER, an indispensable adjunct
To the mill-tne best and. cheapest in
the market.
The works and appurtenances, stu
ated at the foot of Huron street, cover
about three acres of land and comprise
a number of brick and frame buildings
one 10 three stories In height and of
varying dimensions suited TO the re-
qulrements of the business, and fitted
up in firss-class style rs foundry, ma
chime, blacksmith. finishing and pat
tern shops. storage warehouses. sales
rooms, Offices, etc. Ample power is
provided IN all departments. by means
of turbine wheels taking water from
the canal. supplemented by steam
engine constructed on the premises, rs,
indeed. was most OF the machinery
used. The working force number about
seventy. and the annual output aver
ages 800, 900. comprising every descTip-
ton of engines and machinery for mill
purposes, BOTH saw and grist. The
products of tho firm are IN high re-
pute. and the demand from all parts
of the continent 10 large and steadily
increasing.