New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-18
4 Curious BUSINESS EXTENSION.
FROM CARTRIDGES TO SOAP. CANDLES AND
BICYCLES.

BICYCLES.
English letter 10 The American Manufacturer
Some remarkable facts which have just come
cut in the annual report of one of the oldest
manufacturing companies in Birmingham are
just now exciting some attention. as illustrating
the surprising straits to which the managers of
some of our Od-eSta bliShed concerns are hndlnB
themselves put to to keep their works going and
rovide a dividend for shareholders and the
amazing departures they are making with this
object
The concern in question is that long recognized
in this country as Messrs. Keynocks'. Limited.
and has lately been reconstructed. The original
ard fundamental business of the concern was the
manufacture of ammunition for military and
sporting purposes. KeynOcks' cartridges, of
course, still known all the world over. but
they are by no means the only product of the
company which have attained Worldwide re-
nown. and it seems not unlikely that in the
carly future the cOmpany'S name will De car
ried to the ends of the earth in connection with
articles of different character.
As manufacturers Of gunpowder. nitro-glycer-
inc and other explosives. Keynocks are compelled
to handle chemicals on rather extensive scale.
and incidental To the cultivation Of this industry
the company finds itself in possession of a
number of valuable by-products. which it
has been prompted to utilize for CONNER
cial purposes. Thus. during the last year, COM
plcte works on an extensive scale have been
erected at Birmingham for the manufacture Of
soap. candles and glycerine. The glycerne de-
Iartmont has been at work for some months.
supplying all the companys own requirements
for the manufacture of nitro-gycerine at Ark
low on the Irish coast. Some additions are
now being made to the diStilling plant, and
when these completed the company, II is
announced will supply chemists and druggists
with chemically pure elycerine for which
large and increasing demand exists.
The manufacture of candles, also. has been
carried on for the last eight or nine months.
thn company having bought an established con-
ncction Another new Development which dates
only from the beginning of this month, is the
manufacture of soap for which Keynocks pos
sess the only large works in the ncighbor-
hood of birmingham. Soap and candles and
elycerne. however, do not exhaust the list
Of Keynocks' new metamOrphoses. Works for
the manufacture Of cycle components have
lately been erected. and the manufacture of
these fittings will be commenced almost immedi-
ately.
Keyrocks apparently aim at becoming the
Whiteleys or universal providers of our manu-
featuring industry, and if the company contin-
ues To expand on its present lines it should soon
rCmber among its customers as many grocers
and druggists and cycle-makers as it now does
gunsmiths, mine owners and ammunition deal
ers AS cartridge-makers of course the com
many have long been accustomed to roll their
own metal strips and sheets, and | should not
no surprised to see a considerable development
i'm this department. BY and by. when the manu-
facture Of brass and copper tubes and wires, and
tho various finished goods of which TUBES and
wire are constituents, show little broader mar
Gin az nroft 1t remains yet to be seen. OF course,
~ manufactures various, not to say diss1mffar.
can he successfully conducted under one man
agemert in these times OF keen and inteiugens
comDetition and whether this policy OF attack
ing new branches may Lot provoke reprisan