The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-07-24

OF the entire product finds its way into
European countries.
AS one machinery manufacturer puts
lt-'n Brown * Sharpe's name is on
the goods, that's enough. It's as good As
sold"
SECRET OF THE DEMAND.
Probably that is the secret OF the
great demand for the product OF this Pc
cullarly Rhode Island concern. They
make machinery that cannot be dupll-
Gated elsewhere in the world. and IL Is
OF wide variety.
A gentleman who has just returned
from an extensive tour abroad. told the
writer that he came across a great deal
of machinery made by the Brown e
Sharpe Company. This was especially
true in Germany. where the demand for
fine machinery is constantly growing.
The peculiar thing about IL was that
the very machinery exported was used
In the manufacture OF articles which
were sent back TO this country and sold
cheaper than the home product.
The greatest competition in certain
lines OF trade was with Germany.
About 81 years ago Brown &, Sharpe
began manufacturing sewing machines
and other machinery In a sort of tum-
bic down place on South Main street,
nearly opposite the present Infantry
ming and the output Of the factory or
machine shop was limited. During the
war the firm secured contract TO make
guns and there the real start for future
prosperity was made. After the war the
firm made sewing machines and other
machinery and gradually developed d
reputation for turning out fine work.
Then the new shops were built near the
banks OF the Woonasquatucket. river,
and the prosperity of the company con-
tinued until the leading members OF the
firm became millionaires and the pro-
duct of the machine shops became world
famous. Probably no enterprise within
the borders of this little commonwealth
has advertised the State abroad better
than the Brown & Sharpe Company.
For a hundred years the State has
been famous for its manufactures ir
gold. silver and brass. This Industry
stands third In the number of hands EN-
ployed and amount OF wages paid. IL
stances first in the number of separate
manufactures and Ii has been a potent
factor in shaping the industrial and n.
nancial character OF the city Of Provi-
dence.
or the well-to-do manufacturing Jew
elers OF the present day not one Of them
but can point back with pride to the
| time when he was journeyman work.
Ing at the bench. This business appears
to be especially adapted 10 give the am
bilious workman with good ideas. but
with little capital, an opportunity to
become an employer on his own account.
Fortunes have been made, but they
have not been large in the majority of
cases. Jewelry making is essentially the
poor mans industry. Some articles OF
iewelry were made here as far back as
1884. Ten years later the jewelry busi-
ness, as we know IL now was really be-
gun by Nehimiah Dodge. the father of
| the Dodge who founded Dodgevlle,
Mass, 1t is presumed he was a spoon
maker as spoons are treasures in many
places to-day bearing the name OF
Dodge.
POPULAR RHODE ISLAND GOODS.
The secret of prosperity in jewelry
making in this vicinity consisted in the
| discovery that a very little gold could
| be made TO go great way. Rolled plat
ed jewelry captured the multitude. It
was as good as the genuine article and
| a great deal cheaper. Mechanical inge-
nuty has been employed in reducing
the gold plated articles down to a fine
art.
The growth Of the West gave a mar.
ket for this kind of product and pros
| perity marked every step OF the trade.
| According TO the census of 1890 there
were 1873 jewelry shops in Providence.
employing 5,5S5 hands, and with an out
put of $40. 500. $50 in value.
At present there are 2S6 shops in town
but the trade has suffered because OF
the. hard times and the number OF hands
employed now and the value of the out
| put is a matter of conjecture.
The largest factories are those OF the
Ostby e. Barton Company. Foster &
Bailey. S. B. Lederer, Hamilton &
Hamilton and William II. Luther &
| Son.
Considerable Of this class of goods is
exported through the intermediary Of
the Spanish-American exporters in New
York. The Cuban war has cut off a con-
siderable market for the cheaper pro-
duct. and this is one of the things con-
spring with a number of other things
to make the industry little better than
at a stand still just at present.
Mexico and the South American coun-
tries are quite liberal consumers Of gilt
goods and the thnly plated articles.
There is a possibility for a much greater
demand when the people OF those coun-
tries get a little more spare change.
The local manufacturers say there 10
no reliable way of knowing what the
export trade amounts 10. II Is a small
proportion OF the total output.
Like nearly everything else in which
! the community exceis, the state gets
very little credit abroad for its enter
prise. Nearly all the important manu-
/ faoturers of jewelry have headquarters
in New York and the dealing Is done
there. Another instance of where Rhode
Island is the factory and New York the
| counter.
A CONSTANT REMINDER
1t comes to us again In the case OF the
Gorham Mandatory. That Is q Rhode
Island development. pure and simple.
yet the New York office is headquarters
for the goods. Yet II must be admitted
in passing that the Gorham Company
stands second in advertising force
abroad. The Rhode Islander Is often
made glad when far away from homo
attending an important exhibition. TO
see the show by the Gorham Company.
and IL Is always an impressive and ele-
| CANT display. There Is a good deal Of
pride in the voice when the native tells
the stranger he came from the State
where the beautiful wares are made.
! Then the name Providence. X. l., 10
stamped on the goods fand the native
| has the assurance OF being supported