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St. Louis Nut, Washer and Bolt Factory, R. H. Cole & Co.
| Name | St. Louis Nut, Washer and Bolt Factory, R. H. Cole & Co. |
| Ortssitz | Saint Louis (Missouri) |
| Straße | Biddle Street |
| Art des Unternehmens | Schraubenfabrik |
| Anmerkungen | Lage: Ecke Biddle und Second Street. Bezug zu "St. Louis Hot-Press Nut and Bolt Manufacturing Co." (um 1874) unbekannt. |
| Quellenangaben | [Taylor/Crooks: Sketch book of St. Louis (1858) 236] |
| Zeit |
Ereignis |
| 1844 |
R. H. Cole zieht von St. Charles nach St. Louis und beginnt als reisender Vertreter für 8 Dollar in der Woche in der Gießerei "Gaty, McCune & Co." zu arbeiten. |
| 1855 |
R. H. Cole erhält ein Patent für die Herstellung von gepreßten Muttern. |
| Produkt |
ab |
Bem. |
bis |
Bem. |
Kommentar |
| Muttern |
1855 |
Patent |
1858 |
[Taylor/Crooks] |
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| Schrauben |
1858 |
[Taylor/Crooks] |
1858 |
[Taylor/Crooks] |
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| Unterlegscheiben |
1858 |
[Taylor/Crooks] |
1858 |
[Taylor/Crooks] |
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| ZEIT | 1858 |
| THEMA | Beschreibung |
| TEXT | A few days since we passed a few hours in examining the St. Louis Nut, Washer, and Bolt Factory of Messrs. R. H. Cole & Co., situated on the corner of Biddle and Second streets, and in conversing with Mr. Cole we learned a lesson fraught with interest, and one which, with the reader's privilege, we will relate; first, however, giving a brief description of the Works and their capacity. These Works are owned by Messrs. R. H. Cole, Charles P. Chouteau and Jas. J. O'Fallen, and stand alone in grandeur and excellence - having no rival, fearing no competitor. The machinery of these works is driven by steam, for which purpose a large steam engine is kept constantly in use. The machinery consists in a Bolt Machine, five Nut Machines, two Washer Machines and a Bolt Screw Machine, which, when run with a force of sixteen men and eight boys, turn out the almost incredible amount of one ton of Washers, five tons of Nuts, and one ton of Screw Bolts per day. This is a small estimate, as the middle size Nut Machine is capable of turning out ten tons per week, while the larger ones perform their work in proportionate speed. The machinery and shop cost, it is estimated, about $30,000, and they are now making additions, which, when completed, will cost about 5000 more - making the total estimated value, 35,000. Mr. Cole crossed the Mississippi in 1836 with a light heart and a lighter purse - the sum total of his cash capital consisting of fifty cents. After spending his time up to 1844 in St. Charles, he moved to St. Louis and went to work as a journeyman for eight dollars per week, at Gaty, McCune & Co's Foundry, and labored hard for a time, at the end of which he commenced business for himself on Market street, with a capital of eighteen dollars, and often was he compelled to borrow three or four dollars from some friend, post off to the Levee and purchase iron, and carry it home on his back, and when it was worked up repeat the operation. While thus pursuing his laborious avocation from the fall of '44 to '54, he began to think there was a plan by which Nuts and Washers could be made much easier than by hand. Some parties in Pittsburgh were manufacturing a hot-punched Nut which was of a superior quality to the old style. Mr. Cole soon had planned a machine by which he was enabled to arrive at the manufacture of a Pressed Nut, but the means employed were payment. It was what he had been laboring for. He applied for and received a patent. The first patent was granted him in 1855, since which time he has made several improvements - one for a new mode of manufacturing Nuts, and received a patent for every one - making six that he has received for his Nut Machine during that period. He then set himself to work to arrange some plan by which he could apply machinery to the manufacture of Screws; here again success crowned his efforts. For this machine a patent is being applied for. By the arrangement greater speed is attained, and a Screw is made which is of a superior quality. He next turned his attention towards the invention of machinery for the purpose of making Bolts. In this he was pleased to find his most sanguine expectations realized by the accomplishment of his wishes. He laid his claims before the Patent Office and a patent has been issued to him for it. Mr. Cole has within the past few years received eleven patents for machinery used in his business, and has an application pending for another, and four in process of being applied for. His inventions are all of a very superior character, and of more importance than would at first be supposed. He has now in successful operation in England four of his machines for the manufacture of Nuts and one for Bolts. From a letter he had just received from the young gentleman whom he had sent out to attend to his interests, we learn that they have more orders for Nuts and Bolts than they are able to fill, although one man is constantly engaged in his endeavors so to do. He writes: "I sometimes wish no more orders would be sent forward till I have had time to clear up; as soon as one is filled another is received." Mr. Cole's son has taken one of these machines to Belgium and by this time must have it in successful operation. No invention of late years has been made that has deservedly attracted so much attention, where it has been known. Mr. Cole sold one-half of his right in the United States to Mr. Charles P. Chouteau, a few years ago; and last fall they sold one-third to Mr. James J. O'Fallen. They are now prepared to furnish the entire West with Bolts, Nuts, and Washers, on terms so advantageous as to defy competition, let it come from whatever source it may. Their trade at present extends to all parts of the country; but it is the intention of Mr. Cole to establish his machines in some of the Eastern cities; and had not the panic disarranged all monetary affairs, he would have consummated this intention last fall. Mr. Cole is one of those persons whose noble nature shines forth in good deeds; he is a firm friend, a shrewd business man, and calculated to win the respect and esteem of all with whom he comes in contact. No visitor should ever leave the Mound City without taking a look at the Works of Messrs. B. H. Cole & Co., for they will repay one the trouble, and are monuments to the mechanical skill and ingenuity of the inventor. |
| QUELLE | [Taylor/Crooks: Sketch book of St. Louis (1858) 236] |
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