Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1894-1895, 1895-01-11
A MODERN FACTORY.
Some Brief Facts Regarding the In
diana Novelty Manufacturing
Co.'S Works.


ing the interests of Plymouth will give
from week to week notices pertaining to
the various factories here and with that
end in view we visited the works of the
Indiana Novelty Manufacturing Co.,
one day last week.
There are doubtless many citizens
here who have never been inside these
works, and consequently cannot imagine
the vast amount of skill and ingenuity
displayed there, nor have they any ade
quate idea of the magnitude of the bus
mess conducted.
The buildings of the Indiana Novelty
Manufacturing Co., consist of a main
building 2S0x60 it., an addition of 1S6x6O
ft. with fine office building of. two stOr-
les 60x40 it. Passing through the office
and entering the main building we find at
once much to interest us. We are shown
first the various stages in the manufac-
ture of the wooden bicycle rims that
have made this factory famous. There
are large amounts of lumber here and
autimatic circular saws soon convert it
into strips suitable for bending. Then
these strips are placed in a large steam
chamber where they are steamed until
they are capable of being bent. Taken
from this steammg room they are placed
within steel bending machine, turned
around cone and the two ends clamped
together. Next these rough circles of
heavy lumber are placed in the drying
rooms where they are subjected to
steady heat until thoroughly dried and
seasoned. After being dried, these cir
cles are handed to the men who take
charge of the jointing of these rims and
this is without doubt the most interest
ing of any portion of the mechanicism
of this factory. a series Of circular saws
revolving swiftly under the influence of
enormous steam power cuts the peculiar
joint which holds the rim together. Af
ter being jointed and glued these rims
are allowed to dry for "a hours and are
then placed in two latheS one of which
cuts and forms the outer, and the other,
the inner side. Then they are handed
to the finishers who sandpaper and
smooth them down and from there to
the finishing department where they are
first coated with hot oil to render the
wood waterproof, after which they are
vanished and polished and are ready to
ship. Every piece of the special ma
chinery used, and which is the invention
of Geo. w. Marble, works automatically
and an hours visit to this factory will
demonstrate the fact that an enormous
amount of inventive ability and engin-
eering skill has been utilized in the con-
structiOn and manufacture of the vari-
Gus intricate machines used in the con-
struction of these bicycle rims. 1t is
only few months ago that the idea of
using a wooden rim for bicycles was
looked upon with certain amount OF
disfavor by the bicycle manufacturers
throughout this country.
Yet tod ay every factory is using these
rims and despite the fact that there are
several firms manufacturing and plac-
ing upon the market wooden rims of one
kind or another, the fact that the In
diana Novelty Manufacturing Company
supplies ninty per cent. of all these goods
used, is a good criterion of the value of
these goods and speaks well for this
company's efforts.
The lumber used in the manufacture
of these rims is known as Rock Elm and
is brought here from Wisconsin.
In addition to this brand of manufact-
ure this company also makes large
number of tennis racquetS and base
ball bats for the celebrated firm of
Spaulding Bros, Chicago, and also line
of fancy tables.
The power for this factory is supplied
by 200 horse power Bass COrless en-
gine which with new 125 horse power
boiler has just recently been added to
this plant.
At present the Indiana Novelty Man
ufacturing Company is running night
and day and employs some hundred and
fifty hands. A few days ago they closed
a contract with the Western Wheel
Works, Chicago, for $4,000 wooden rims
to be supplied during the next twelve
months. They are receiving now about
four car loads or an average of $4,000
feet of lumber from Wisconsin every
week.
Taken all in all this factory is an
honor and credit to Plymouth and one
which will well repay visit from all
who are any way interested in machin-
cry or mechanicism of any kind.
The thanks of the INDEPENDENT are
extended to Mr. w. +. shit, who sc
kindly devoted his time, and made our
visit to the Novelty works so pleasant.