New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-07-05
Property Was Formerly
Used by Columbia
Motor Car Co.
COMPRISES 10 ACRES,
HELD AT $350,000
Tract Purchased by the Billings
& Spencer Company, a
Local Concern.

The revival Of activity in the indus
trial division of the real estate market
is again made prominent by the sale
Of the Columbia Motor Car Company
plant at Hartford, Conn, by Joseph 7.
nav 20 the Billings & Spencer Com
NV for the manufacture of steel
OILS.
The Billings & Spencer Company has
.,.tarovn its present location, In the
srtrc Of Hartford, Conn. and VIII
80 nosscssion Of its new quarters I'M.
od;atelv. though the company VIII
,aovc gradually and IN the most
"e,ronic way. with no interruption 10
tv.;ness. In the new quarters the com
- will enlarge its manufacture OF
lrsrenches and tools and increase INC
ssnnt force Of one thousand men py
=, least one-third.
The property just sold was used iol
,,r,her If wears for the manufacture
- Columbia automobiles and mas
|rtaoo of .024 feet in Park ST. ana
%, feet in Laurel ST. and comprises
.Lort ten acres OF land. on which stand
80 fno buildings Of brick construe-
49,, having a total floor area OF -
o o. sopare feet. 1t is located on the
-, Inc Of the New York. New haven
y Hartford Railroad, with q spur track
,~,rnipc into the plant. Conditions u
i;rht and air arc of the ocst'
Thc original Columbia plant was
s..od nv the Pope Manufacturing
Comnarv about 1894 for the manu-
t.r.nre Of seamless tubes for oicycIc
fe.u.s Tho factory WAS in those days
-otorred 70 as the tube plant oil inc
pone Manufacturing Company oupSe-
auen,lv the plant became known as me
carriage department OF the coinpAh!'
HP Maxim had supervision OF tne en-
cheering department. Inc hsrtioIu
Tvnevriter Company at one time oo0u
1;ed the top floor. In the course OF
wants the motor carriage department
~ the Pope Manufacturing Compan!
-, called the Columbia Automobile
Comnanv. and later the name was
cs.rged 20 the Columbia and tlectrlc
T.h;cle COMPANY. Later the concern
hscanno known as the Electric Nehlcie
Company. passed through receiveT-
sbin and reorganization was erected
irhs Selden patent rights at that time
rsre regarded as a valuable asset.
Tn. concern continued 20 do ous'-
,..s after the reorganization UNDER
tbe name Of the Columbia Motor Gar Gar
comnany. In speculation the Maxwell
;,terest acquired possession oil inc
plant. u. Corranv.
IN which the Msxwells were prime
movers, experienced financial trouo!es'
md the local plant was included IN tne
assets. About year ago the mayoIis!
az the machinery was taken from ny
nlsnt and sold in small parcels Lanu
N the west Of Park River was oouen'
nv the Capital City Lumber CoHlpanS'
ana on this site the owners GoiIsLn,
81. .be erection of lumber mills When
= inc is favorable. The MaxWeii
comnanv had no use for the Hartford
sSone and. accordingly, they were put
on the market. .L
Joseph P. Day, the broker IN the
.rsn.er,;on. in discussing the SALE
"Tbs nnrchase Of the Columbia Motor
Ear Companv plant. located at hart
ford. Conn, by the Billings q spence
Ccmnany is one of the largest deal5
N he industrial division OF the rcs
es,o.e business that has been closed
IN .be New England section IN some
,;-,e. in fact, il is the largest Gcd'
.ince 7 sold the Providence, L. Is pam 1
~ tbe Maxwell Briscoe Motor Com
psnv 10 the Universal Winding ON ON.
NAM last December. The Coiumo.a
plant is one OF the finest located pla"''
in New England. C.orv
Tho Columbia Motor Car Company
nlsnt was orc Of the plants controlleu
e. the United States Motor COMPANY
= $40 0o0. 900 corporation which has
SeeY iiouidating its holdings, in the
nrocess Of which four large manufsc-
tbrsc Of which. including the Columbia
plant. have already been sold; so th ina
row there is only one Of the Ma%we FL,
,n the Fast and that is the Beekmsn
~. nlsnt. located in Tarrytown, \; \.
r6e property sold was held al
$4,000.