Waterbury Democrat., 1903-01-06
A PROSPEROUS CONCERN.
The Scoyill Company Has Been in Elk
 istence One Hundred Years.

century old at the beginning of 1903. The concern has quite history and a very interesting one it is. Like many great men it started, it may be said from nothing. To-day it is a giant in the community and in the in dustrial world at large. For years it was at a standstill. It seemed to have attained its great development about ten years ago, when there was a change in the management and it bloomed forth anew in all directions. Additions were put on covering the large vacant area that surrounded the factory on every side, so that to-day the entire plant covers a great many acres. Everything in the line of brass and copper industry is made under its roofs. The original company con- sisted of Abel Porter, Daniel Clark, Silas Grilley and Levi Porter. The plant was situated then on Meadow street and great was the delay in starting the wheels moving. The em- ployes numbered nine, while each of the partners worked also. At that time they did not manufactu copper or brass. They went largely in the purchase of old metal or scrap" and the ingots were rolled in a mill in Bradleyville, and the power employed was horses. Various were the changes that took place during the ensuing few years and in 1911 the entire plant be- came the property of Dr Frederick Leavenworth, David Hayden and J. M. l.. Scovill. Success accompanied the new owners and James Croft, an Englishman competent in the business of brass and copper making, was en- gagged. He brought others with him.
 According to the History of Water bury, the firm was so successful that fin 1924 when the Marquis de Lafay- cite visited this country, they present cd him with a sample of their indus try, a solid gold button. The die from which the button was made is still preserved by the company.
 In 1927 the plant became the prop erty of J. M. l.. and W. H. Scovill. By this time other industries besides that of copper and brass were added and the plant greatly enlarged. The manufacture of buttons gradually be came the principal one and in 1880 the button factory was one of the largest in these parts. In that year also this branch of the plant was destroyed by fire, but very soon a larger building had grown in its place.
 About five years later the Scovill brothers established a factory in Oak vile where brass buttons and other brass articles were manufactured
 John Buckingham, a relative, had charge of this factory. In 1S42 new departure in the business was taken up Photography was in it's infancy then and known as the Daguerreotype. The concern entered largely into the manufacture of plates Wonderful success attended them, the product being equal to the best made in Eng land and superior to the average made by the French. The incidentals to the Daguerreotype were engrafted in the business and eventually cameras. so that before photography had reached anything. like it's present stage the product of the factory in supplies of this kind was enormous The firm not, only kept pace with the steps of science, but was ready to receive ev- cry innovation and invention.
 Meanwhile the firm name had gone through a series of changes. It was Scoyill x Buckingham, Scoyill & Ad- ans and Scovill & Go, until in 1850 every branch of the industries were merged under the name of the ScoviIl Manufacturing Go, with a capital of $2oO,OO0. Meanwhile, also, the firm had either extended it's plant to the present site, or had moved and built new factories there The records do not say which When the company began business under the present name a new button factory was built, steam engine of 125 horse power was installed and considerable water power added. In February. 1881. the new button factory was destroyed by lire, the loss, $14S,00O, almost covered Dy insurance. This was immediately rebuilt. The growth of the concern may be seen from the following fig. ures: In 1850 the number of hands employed was 100 horse power SO
 lS6O,. hands 193, horse power POO; 1870 hands POO, power 338; 1880, hands 399 power $40: 1892, hands 1,2O0, power 1,4O0. Rapid and wonderful as the growth of the concern was during thai ten years, it's growth from that time 10 tho close of it's Tooth anniversary was still more so. To quote from its record in the History of Waterbury
 The concern is noted for the Iengtf Of time during which it retains the services of individual employees Fol q good many years it has had men or It's list-and some women-whose peri ods of service have ranged from thirty to fifty years, and in few cases ever beyond that limit With the history of Hon F. J. Kingsbury, who was tht firms president for many years, few are unacquainted. In 1858 he wa! elected a director. From March 1862, to January, 1894 he was secre tary, and treasurer for the two sue ceeding years. Tn 1868 he was cho . sen president and until few year ago held that position, when he re tired for a younger man, Chaunce. Porter Goss, the present president Under Mir Goss' management the firn has attained wonderful success, evel as success is reckoned in these days q