The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-10-14

when the chase braSS ana OOp~ per Company receives four Army Navy "E" pennants for excellence in production tomorrow, 1t will be the proudest moments in the history of a firm whose name has lQng been associated with that of Waterbury. The Chase Company has grown and fIourished with the city, and the community will join with the com- pany and it's employees tomorrow in feeling of pride that it has been singled out for special honors.
 From the beginning in small frame building on North Main street, employing 37 men, the Chase Company has grown steadily and sturdily, until now it ranks with the greatest brass fabricating companies in the world. It has one room, one at it's Waterville plant, which has an area of more than 10 acres. It has the largest chain of brass and copper warehouses in the world.
 Here is a brief summary of the history of the principal Chase Con- pany units:
 Waterbury Manufacturing Go.
 This is the original Chase Brass and Copper Company plant and it was founded in 1887. and operated under various names until 1876 when it was acquired by Chase in- terests, and incorporated as the Waterbury Manufacturing Company. In those days much of the business was in brass buttons, harness trim mings, brass bedsteads, gas chan deliers, and small metal novelties. When electricity was first used, cleo trio light sockets for the bulbs were made here.
 Before the war, the Waterbury Manufacturing Company plant was making plumbing fixtures and light ing fixtures, and brass and copper giftWares, which were sold through out the country. Today, this busl- ness has been changed and the plant coveted to manufacturing war materials. Tn normal time, over 30,O00 different articles, and 100000 different parts are made by this plant.
 Chase Rolling Mills
 Tn 1900, the Chase Rolling Mill Plant was built to manufacture the brass and copper, sheet, rod, wire, and tube that the Waterbury Man ufacturing Co. plant needed. Gradu- ally the Chase Rolling Mills plant entered the market with it's products. It was in this plant that the Chase Companies got it's beginning and experience in manufacturing brass, bronze, and other metal alloys.
 Chase Metal Works Plant
 In 1910, a second brass mill, the Chase Metal Works, was built. This mill is now one of the largest and hest equipped brass mills in the country. When this mill was first constructed, the power house was put so far away from the rest of the buildings that there were many criticisms heard about 1t being so far away from the main plant. Now this mill stretches for almost a mile long. It Is one of the largest mills in the world under one roof. One room is more than 10 acres large, and the power house Is now in the direct center of the mill, and the mill buildings have been built far beyond it.
 When the first World War broke out, this Chase Metal Works plant had to be enlarged, and to make room for expansion, the Naugatuck River, which runs alongside the plant, was moved out of the way. A channel 100' wide at the bottom was dug for more than 1-2 miles, and over 40 acres of land were re- claimed, and over 26 acres of con- crete and steel buildings were con- structed on the ground that was formerly cut of by the river.
 Grand Street Office
 This was built in 1917 of limestone and marble. This beautiful admin istration office is across the street from the City Hall, and is often mistaken as a municipal building. People sometimes come in, thinking they are in the city hall or court building.
 A large stained glass window at the turn of the stairs from the foyer to the second floor offices carries the quotation of Abraham Lincoln, "Go forth without fear, and with manly heart"
 The Chase Brass G Copper Co. operates the largest chain of brass and copper warehouses in the coun- try. There are Chase warehouse stocks in 19 key cities and sales offices in large manufacturing cen ters.
 KennecOtt Copper Corporation
 The Chase Brass & Copper Go. is a subsidiary of the Kennecott Copper Corporation, the largest producers of domestic copper in the country, and with mines in Utah. Nevada,