Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-10-29
HUMAN INTEREST
STORIES BACK OF
LOCAL FACTORIES
Product of Each Based at Some
Time Upon Development
of an Idea.
SHOWN IN THE 1900 BLOCK
Some Of the Smaller Concerns Illus
trate Manner in Which Larger
Ones Have Grown.

why. l did not know they made
those things here"
Isn't that beautiful never
thought there was such q concern
here. did you?'
These remarks are typical of many
which are made by visitors in the 1900
block. where this week the produ rs
manufactured by Rock Island concerns
are on display in the show windows
OF the merchants.
And there is a general lack of knowl-
edge on the part of the public of this
city as to Rock Islands manufactor-
les. This. of course. does not apply
SO much to the large factories, which
have advertised their products widely.
( but is especially true of the little con-
Germs, and those which have started in
operation within the last few years.
But IL must be remembered that
! these big factories were once small
and had to grow to where they now
we. They were not always conduct
ing their business on the same large
scale. Once they were concerns just
the exhibitors in the 1900 block And
SOAAAt n.y. w. AuGS8
may be big. Therein lies Rock Is
lands hope for the future.
Back Of most of these concerns Is a
story. 1t is story of man with in
genuity and who worked upon one
idea until he had perfected it. 1t may
have been only 4 dream" to his.
friends. but he did not think so. and
today he is turning that idea into
something tangible that the world has
use for. He may be working on a
small scale, but some day he is going
to work his business into a big one
and he will assist materially in main
tanning Rock Island On the map, and
seeing that il secures a more promi-
nent place among cities.
That is why the 1900 block exhibit
this week is a good one. l. acquaints
the people of this city with what is
being done here. 1t opens their eyes,
and fosters local pride. And further
mere it imbues them with the desire
TO trade at home and TRY Rock Island
First"
New Idea in Player.
On exhibition in the big window g.
The Argus counting room is the Fro
duct OF a Rock Island concern. which,
while not a newcomer here. is among
the less well known. The product re-
ferred to represents a new idea and
one Of great possibilities. 1t is the
Petite" player-piano. manufactured
by the Bennett Organ company, Forty
fourth street and Fifth avenue. In
placing this instrument in the field
he ha
TO do for the player-piano business
what Henry Ford did for the automo-
bile business. and while the possibili-
ties are not so great they are sufficient
~ large to deserve the cooperation of
everybody who wants to see Rock Is
land grow.
The Petite player-piano. now on
view for the first time before the pep
PIE of the city is a model of simplicity
and low cost. II has no keyboard. and
is strictly a player-piano, constructed
neatly and durably. with a sweet tone,
rivalling that of the most expensive
instrument II is built for the den. as
well as the parlCr and II comes in two
prices. both exceedingly low.
The Bennett Organ company con-
ceived the idea sometime ago of con-
structing a player-piano at a price so
reasonable that II could reach into the
homes c. people who can enjoy really
fine music. but who cannot AFFORD to
ray the prices of the average make. !
TIE company made I wondrous sue |
cess II opened an office in Chicago. |
and after advertising the new product !
has changed its policy. and is now sell |
ing direct from the factory here to the I
home. Incidentally. with the closing /
down of the Chicago Office. the price /
of the player was lowered considera- |
bly, until now Il might be termed bed |
rock" That Is one of the manufac- /
tured articles in Rock Island with 1
which all the people are not entirely |
familiar. There are others.
Ball Joint Fixtures.
The Franks Manufacturing COM
pany. 1924 Fourth avenue. is a con- !
Germ which has grown from floor /
space of IS BY % feet in 1900 to one ,
80 by $50 feet at present.
Adjustable ball joint electric light /
light fixtures. different from the other |
kinds. is the output of his concern. An |
officer Of the Rock Island arsenal was /
largely responsible for the invention /
By w L. Franks.
Four years ago Mr.. Franks, then in !
the electrical business. took a cord
light over u the island. II worked no !
and down. but the officer said he want I
ed a light which could be moved TO \
any position. Mt. Franks told him
thar he would manufacture one, AMI .
Immediately set about on the idea In
a short time he had one made and
presented IL to the officer for his criti-
cisn. When the arsenal man saw how
II worked he replied that it was upon
that very idea that he had been labor
inc for soma time, but had never been