The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-03
WASHBURN & MoEN MFG. co.,
Woreester, Mass.

this respect. we are brought face to face
with the achievements Of a corporation
that has been instrumental IN no small
way in giving the city her prominent
ssosition in the industrial world. We re-
fer TO the WashbUn & Maen ManufaC-
turing Company, the largest single in
dustry in our midst an industry ia
nous all over the world for its produc-
ton Of wire Of every description and
for every purpose. This great indus
trial plant was started by lchabOd
Washburu, who, with William II. How
ard as a partner, began in 1919 the man
ufscture of wooden machinery and lead
pipe This partnership was soon dis
solved Mr. Washburn continuing the
manufacture Of lead pipe, and when
the demand for wooden machinery in
creased, Mr.. Washburn took as q part
ner Mr.. Benjamin Goddard, and they
We're soon able to employ thirty men,
finding II necessary TO increase their
facilities for business. Having sold
the entire interest in the manufacture
Of wooden machinery. Mr.. Washburn
and Mr.. Goddard began in 1881 to man
ufacture wire and wood screws at
Worthwhile. Worcester. The water
power was furnished by a privilege
owned by the Hon. Frederick W. Paine.
Within three years the business had
=
were obliged to remove where more
power was obtaiuable. Mr. Washburn
made arrangements with the Hon.
Stephen Salisbury's property on Grove
street a dam was thrown across the
stresm on Mr.. SalisbuTy's land, and
the present location Of Grove street
east Of Salisbury's pond is over the
dam then built. On the removal from
Worthwhile to occupy the new mill on
Grove street, MI Washburn and Mr.
Goddard dissolved partnership The
wire works on Grove street have there
fore been in continuous operation since
1884 or for siEty-fOur years Mr.
Washburn's partner for three years,
beginning with 1885, was his twin
brother. Charles. In 1870. six years
after the establishment Of the mill on
Grove street Mr. Washburn pur-
chased the mill privilege and adjoining
property at South Worcester and this
he ana his associates continued to use
and occupy until 1857. when the plant
at South Worcester was burned In
1sz2 the partnership between the
brothers, Ichabod and Charles Wash
burn, which had terminated in 1898
was resumed and continued until 1919
IN 1917 one Of the mill privileges on
the river at QuinsigamODd was pur-
chased by Mr. Washburn. and "A COM
pany was organized 10 roll rods and
draw wire on that site In 1S47 Philip
/. Moen came TO Worcester as a mem
Der Of the firm which had commenced
business at Quinsigamond. In 1850 Mr.
Moen became JCint partner with his
father-in-law Ichsb9d Washburn. In the
conduct Of the business previously
owned by Air Ichabod Washburn. 10
whom the Grove street and South Wor-
csster properties belonged I'm 1857
Charles Washburn and Charles f
Washburn. his son, entered into a
partnership. and continued the rolling
OF rods and making Of wire at Quinsig-
amond Thay were associated until
1885. In 1859 Mr.. Tchabod Washburn
and Mr Moen incorporated their bust
ness under the name OF the T. Wash
burn & Mosn Wire Works In that
year the partnership at Quinsigamond
became corporation, Of which Mr..
Moen was president, William L. Rice
the trea surer ana Charles +. Wash
burn Sc rotary. In 1853 the two cor
poratiops consolidated under the title
of the WashbuIu & Moen Manufacture
ing Company, which title is preserved
to this day. The first officers Of the
company were: Ichabod Washburn. pres
ident; Philip L. Moen, vice president:
William f. Rice. treasurer and Chas.
r Wasnburn, secretary Each year
since the establishment Of these now
vast works improvements and addf-
tons have been made, until today the
entire plant which is divided into
many different departments is. indeed.
the most complete Of its kind in the
world. covering in its entirety many
acres Of land. Entire plants. already
established with a commanding, nosi-
ton in the trade have been purchased
ana added to the original plant, in
cfeaslng largely their facilities and
their lines Of production. these now in
Guiding every kind of Wire in use in
the country at the present time. Be
sides the plants in this city, they Sc
cured a favorable location in Wauke-
gan, H., and erected in 1891. an extern
siye plant for the manufacture Of wire.
10 which they have added a chemical
ana color department, wherein thew
manufacture Venetian red, iron oxides.
copperas and other chemicals This
entire plant, consisting Of a number Of
mills was started and finished within
a year, the rolling mills, five in number
and all the wire drawing machinery.
having been constructed at the local
plants and sent to Waukegan. The
erection and equipment of these works
cost nearly $1,000, 000 In June, 1895.
the company purchased the cable ma
chinery and goodwill of the California
wire works and are now doing an ex-
tensiVe business in the manufacture Of
street railway cables, mining ropes. log
ging and transmission ropes in the
plant acquired by them in California.
for their Pacific coast business. This
acquisition will prove undoubtedly a
point, in economy in transportation
charges, as did the erection Of the
Waukegan plant In all their different
plants are the most modern appliances
and the latest improved machinery.
many special pieces having been de-
signed and erected by their own me
chanics, being specially devised for
some certain lines Of work. No plants
in the country are better protected
from fire, although there have been
several large fires at different times at
some OF their plants, destroying entire
buildings, which were at once rebuilt
upon larger and more modern plan.
the different plants have regularly or
ganized fire departments, under the
command Of experienced men, having
reels Of hose attached to hydrants
ready for instant use in the various
buildings. There are also steam pumps
connected with the water mains and
3. private signal whistle by which they
can notify the city fire departments.
Ihe yards are traVersed by tracks. re-
gambling net work each department or
Building being connected with the main
line by means of switches. furnishing
the best OF shipping facilities. This
company are manufacturers of electric.
telegraph, telephone, trolley, coppered.
galvanized timed, market, spring
fence. insulated and feeder wires. wire
rope for street railways hosting, haul
age, rigging, transmission, tramWay,
fiat, supervision bridge hawsers, strand.
filler, poultry netting, window screen
cloth, barbed wire, music wire crinoIine
wire. card, weaving and hundreds Of
other kinds of wire, all of them Of the
best material and the finest Of work
manship. The company furnish the
large telephone and telegraph compa-
MES Of this country with galvanized
wire, hundreds Of thousands Of miles
d their wire heinz In 71ea F,vt thu.