Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-05-07
BANGS BROTHERS.
Wholesale and Retail Dealers in and Manu-.
tacturers Of Glazed Windows. Window
Frames and Interior Finish Ono Of the
Largest. Best Equipped and Regulated
Planning Mills in New England.


In different parts of this paper we
have fully referred to many CONNER
eiai and manufacturing interests of the
city, showing to a certain extent the
value of each as factors promoting and
stimulating progress and commercial
prosperity The lumber and planning
mill business Is one Of our principal in
dustrics and every year makes steady
progress. Foremost among the plan
ing mills OF the kennebec valley IS
that Of Bangs Brothers of Augusta.
and 1t win not suffer by comparison
with any In New England. The firm
commenced business in Augusta in
1880 on the west side of the river In the
Spracue Wood Manufacturing Com
pany s buildings. where the new Ed
wards Company's mill now stands
Three years later they moved to the
east side Of the river into a building
now occupied by the Cushnoc Fibre
Company. Bisposine of this building to
the Fibre Company they built their
present mill In Maple street iii 1890
Their lumber yards and buildings cover
several acres. The main building Is
G0Xi40 feet in dimensions. four stories
in height. The work house, which Is
connected with main building by an
overhead bridge. is 30xl2a feet in size
three stories in height. The mill in
point of equipment and arrangement
viii easily surpass any similar institu-
ton in the kennehec valley. 1t is
equipped with all the latest and most
improved machinery known To the in
dus,ry. The principal product of the
the factory is window frames and
glazed windows. In fact Bangs Broth
ers are the pioneers in this line OF
business and have always made a
speciality of it, In this department
frames complete and $50 glazed VIM
dows. Here is where the famous pa
tent pockct-cap frames are manufac-
tured. which enjoy such a wide sale
and popularity. These products are by
no means the extent Of the firms
manufao lures. They also turn out
window SASH door frames. moudings
and brackets, and deal extensively in
hard pine lumber, hard wood flooring.
doors blinds and interior finish. They
also do all kinds Of band saving and
circular work and prompt attention il
given tn all orders. The mill IS also
provided with a dry house. and those
who desire bone dry flooring can al
ways find ii at these mills. The mills
are also provided with complete ma
chine shop where all repairs are
promptly made. 1t is operated by a
separate engine which was manufac-
tured by the head machinist in their
own shop. The entire plant is lighted
by electricity generated from their own
dynamo. 1t has Il capacity of 100
lights and is driven by l. horse power
SturteNant engine. The mill ma
chnery is run by an automatic cutoff
10 horse power engine of the Ide pat
tern, the steam being generated by a
100 horse power boiler. The boiler and
engine room is absolutely fire proof
The patent blower system is in vogue
here for removing and conveying
shavings to the boiler room. the fires
being automatically fed. For system
and cleanliness. the mill is a model
Owing to the rapid increase of trade
the firm have found it necessary to
double the capacity of the sash depart
ment and the machines are now be-
ing placed in position. About 65 hands
ployment at present. but this number
viii be increased as soon az new ma
chinery is in running order In their
yards large quantities of lumber is al
ways kept on hand. OF hard pine the
mills work up annually one million feet.
while of soft pine two to three mil
lion feet are utilized The glass used
mere Is by no means small item. No
less than 5000 boxes O5 carloads) were
used last year. Excellent shipping and
receiving facilities are enjoyed. a spur
of the Maine Central runs along the
side of the mill and into the lumber
yards. The trade of the firm extends
throughout the New England states.
their principal market being in Boston
on window frames. Several shipments
have been made to Africa, and quite a
trade is being worked up in the dark
continent The individual members of
the firm are Algernon S. Bangs and
Josiah w. Bangs. The last named gem
tlemen looks after the lumber manu-
featuring department while the former
IS the financial manager. These gen.
tlemen are thoroughly acquainted with
every detail and feature of their bust |
ness, and devote to it close personal
Mr. Algernon S. Bangs is !
something of an inventor and is the |
inventor and patentee of the enterprise |
pulley mortiSing machine. He is also |
working on another important NOR
Using machine. which will soon be |
ready to start. Notwithstanding Mr. !
Bangs extensive business interests he |
has devoted considerable time to the |
city in various ways. He is chairman |
Of the board of registration and ex-
president of the board of trade. He is
also supreme commander of the United |
Order Of the Golden Cross. a fraternal |
society of long standing and high rep
ltation.