Year: 1869

There is nothing which more illustrates
the civilization and progress of the time
in which we live, than the immense varie-
ty of labor saving machinery which the
inventive genius of our mechanics is con-
tinually devising, and which is continually
being applied in all departments of human
industry. We are all familiar with the
proverb which classes among the benefac.
tors OF his kind, him vino makes two
blades OF grass grow where but one grew
before. That the maxim is sound one in
political economy, there is no doubt, and
equally sound is the proposition corollary
thereto, that he who creates an appliance
by means of which one man may do the
work of two unaided thus, is practical
philanthropist, The name of those who,
in Agricultural implements alone, have SO
earned the title to the gratitude of the
world is legion.


Among the great names which have be-
come honored the world over, by being
connected with the invention of one or
another of the leading appliances of mod
ern husbandry, there is none greater nor
more worthy than that Of the originator
of the PITTS THREsHING MACHINE, Mr..
Hiram a Pitts. 1t is matter of laudablc
pride to every citizen Of Illinois that al
though this gentleman was a native of
Maine, and in that State made his first
crude machine, yet in our own State his
plans and experiments reached their full
maturity, and resulted in the production
OF the celebrated implement which bears
his name. Upon his sons seems to have
fallen the mantle of their fathers inven-
tive genius, and, since their coming TO the
proprietorship of the machine, they have
been constantly improving and perfectipg
1t, so as to make il keep pace with the de-
mands of the time, and maintain its posi-
ton in the front rank OF implements of its
class


These gentlemen, now associated to-
gether under the firm name of III. A. Pitts
Sons of Chicago, have been engaged for
the last eighteen years, in this city, in the
manufacture and sale of the Thresher.
They commenced operations here in 1851,
starting, as seems to be the common fate
of all inventors, with very little capital
save their own genius and skill, and by
the aid of the reputation already acquired
for the implement, and their own energy
and enterprise, they have succeeded in
firmly establishing, upon broad and en-
during basis, large and flOurishing busi-
ness. Their invested capital amounts to
100000, 100000 OF which constitutes
the working capital. Their main Factory
fronts upon three principal streets, in the
heart of one of our manufacturing locali-
ties, as follows: % feet on West RAN
dolph, Us on Jefferson, and rs on Wash
ington. 1t is substantially built four
stories in height. and is thoroughly fitted
up and arranged with view to the sue
cessful conduct of an extensive manu-
facture. One hundred men-including
some of the best and most experienced
working mechanics in the country-are
employed constantly. Three hundred of
the Threshers are turned out annually,
and the yearly receipts amount TO $500,
600. 500 tons of iron and $4,000 feet of
the best seasoned harl and soft woods are
used each year in the manufacture.


1t would be work of the sheerest su-
pererogation to laud the Pitts Threshing
Machines. Their praises find the best
practical expression upon the thousands
of farms where, after each harvest time,
their hum and whirr are heard. There is
no farming implement to which the spirit
of the old saw" Good wine needs no
bush" is more applicable than this; the
best advertisement of which it is capable
is the manner of work which il does.
That its proprietors feel an assured faith
in its excellence, is apparent in the writ
ten warranty which they give with every
machine they sell, and which is to the ef-
feet that the machine is made of good
material, finished in durable and work
manlike manner, and is capable of per-
forming thoroughly every function for
which It is intended, as well as, if not bet
ter than, any in use. This seems to state
the case about as emphatically, and com
pletely as any legal gentleman, ambitious
of bringing an action for breach of war
ranty against III. A Pitts Sons, could
fairly desire Iasuranc6 ClrOnicge