Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-02-11
men AT
PLOW WORkS;SEE
GREAT INDUSTRY
First Trip of Inspection of Local
Concerns Proves Sue
cesSful.
TWO HOURS TOUR MADE
Visitors Conducted Through Various
Departments of Plant-Wili Be
Weekly Event.

Keener insight into one of Rock Is
lands industries was given yesterday
afternoon when 81 members of the
Rock Island Business Mems associa-
ton, headed by G. II. Kingsbury, secre-
tary, made a personal inspection of
the plant of the Rock Island Pillow
Works requiring almost two hours and
made possible by the courtesy of
General Manager ]. F. Lardner and
Assistant General Manager c: E.
Sharpe of the Rock Island Pillow
Works. Due to lack of time the party
was unable to visit the sister indus
try. the Rock Island Stove Works.
We're certainly pleased with our
trip" said one of the members OF, the
party when the party returned to the
main offices of the company.
The trip to the Rock Island Pillow
works was the first of series to be
made to all of the citys industries.
Next Tuesday Mr.. Kingsbury said the
Rock Island Soap works would prob
ably be visited.
Street cars conveyed the business
men to the Rock Island Pillow works
after they had assembled on call of
Business Mems association in the
Safety building. c. Z. Sharpe and J.
F. Lardner met the men on arrival and
an inspection began Immediately. The
men observed the industry from the
melting room through the various de-
partments until the finished product
was set on exhibition in the display
room.
Go Through Plant.
Pillow parts, in some cases yet to be
assembled, were inspected on the first
floor of the main building. Also on
this floor the manner of shipment was
Cars to take the finished
goods occupied a siding alongside the
store room doors and no time was lost
it was apparent, in getting the plows
into cars for r3elivery. On the first
floor also, thef men got their first idea
CT the system OF moving plows from
one part of the building to another.
The various parts of the pillow are
punched. suspended on large hooks,
and pushed along tracks. These tracks
form a complete net work of all floors
ON which pillow parts are handled.
On the second floor OF the main
TIE Re dStd " {
lower and raise pillow parts was OBJ
served in operation. The incline is /
operSted by an immense gear wheel, .
run by 10 horse power engine, and is
used in carrying those iron parts for
which an elevator Is rather light.
On Fifth Floor.
Continuing an inspection on the .
fifth floor the dipping room was visit
I'd There the process OF painting and .
furnishing the pillow was shown. The /
different parts are first dipped I'm a
arge tank for the so-called paint coat.
When this coat has dried the varnish
,oat Is applied by the same method.
If we had to hire men to paint In
lividual pillow parts our product would
market so high that II would be I'M
aleable." said Mr.. Lardner In explain
ng the method.
When a tour OF the main building
lad been completed photographer
TODD ready at n rear entrance TO snap
he picture OF the party OF men. Form
ng a slight semi-circle the picture was
aiken. after which the inspection OF
he foundries, wood room, iron store
Dom. melting works, polishing works
nd shaping rooms we're made, Red
ot FORCES seen on every side indieat-
d the processes through which the