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A. G. Coes & Co.
| Name | A. G. Coes & Co. |
| Ortssitz | Worcester (Mass.) |
| Art des Unternehmens | Schraubenschlüsselfabrik |
| Anmerkungen | Um 1868: "L. & A. G. Coes" |
| Quellenangaben | [Wiley: American iron trade manual (1874) 37] [Bishop: History of American manufacturers 3 (1868) 357] |
| Zeit |
Ereignis |
| 1845 |
Kauf eines Gebäudes, einer ehemaligen Textilfabrik, in New Worcester |
| Produkt |
ab |
Bem. |
bis |
Bem. |
Kommentar |
| Schraubenschlüssel |
1874 |
[Wiley: American iron trade (1874)] |
1874 |
[Wiley: American iron trade (1874)] |
Ausschließliches Produkt |
| Zeit |
gesamt |
Arbeiter |
Angest. |
Lehrl. |
männl. |
weibl. |
Kommentar |
| 1874 |
40 |
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| ZEIT | 1868 |
| THEMA | Firmenbeschreibung |
| TEXT | In New Worcester, is one of those peculiar manufactories that can rarely be found outside of New England. It is a large and important concern, that has made fortunes for its proprietors, though devoted to the manufacture of a single article, with only seven different sizes. It owes its origin to the invention of one man, a house-carpenter, who conceived the idea that it would be an improvement upon all former methods of manufacturing wrenches, by having the screw or rosette, for moving the sliding-jaw, maintain the same relative position, at all times, to the handle. Described in the technical language of the patent of April 16th, 1841, Mr. Loring Coes claimed, as his invention, "the moving the sliding jaw by a screw, combined with, and placed by the side of and parallel with, the bar of the permanent jaw and handle when the required rotation for sliding the jaw is given by the head or rosette, which retains the same position relatively to the handle during the operation; and also moving the sliding jaw by a screw combined with, and placed by the side of, and parallel with, the bar of the permanent jaw, in combination with a rosette or its equivalent, retained in its position relatively to the handle." At that time, both the inventor and his brother, who became associated with him, were so entirely without means, that they had difficulty in procuring the malleable iron, requisite to manufacture the original sample. Overcoming the obstacles, however, incident to a want of capital, they succeeded in introducing a few of their improved wrenches into the market, when their superiority was at once recognized and acknowledged, and orders flowed in upon them; so that, in 1845, they were enabled to purchase a building in New Worcester, formerly a woollen mill, and fit it up as a manufactory. The original building was one hundred feet long by thirty-five feet wide, to which they have since added another of the same size, and a blacksmith shop, seventy-five by fifty feet. At this time, they employ, in these buildings, about fifty hands, who produce, by the aid of the best machinery, ten thousand wrenches per month. The processes of manufacturing screw-wrenches, as conducted in an establishment like this, are very interesting. The bars and shanks, which are of wrought iron, are drawn under trip-hammers; though this firm have invented and patented a machine for rolling them. This machine, which, however, is not yet in use, consists of a pair of peculiarly-constructed rolls, with a novel guide for holding and directing the bar in an oblique or inclined position, as it is drawn through the rolls. The heading of wrench-blanks is done in this establishment with astonishing rapidity, by means of a machine invented and patented by L. & A. G. Coes. It consists of a combination of an anvil-block, side-dies, gauge and hammer, the gauge being arranged so as to define the relative position of the several parts, with regard to the blank, for the purpose of paring down the thin part of the jaw, and the hammer being provided with a tripping-arm, so that, when tripped, the hammer will not fall upon the cam; and also with a foot-lever or treadle, in combination with a hinged catch, for catching and holding the hammer. After the blanks are headed, they are passed through milling machines, then the sliding jaw is put on, and they are then ground on grindstones. This firm have invented a novel and ingenious machine for holding the wrench to the grindstone, and in such a manner, as to wear the stone evenly. The handles are made of apple-tree wood, and turned in a machine, by the aid of which, one man, it is said, can finish eight hundred in five hours. The wrenches, when finished, are put up, six in a package, and twelve packages in a box. They are of seven different sizes, ranging, in length, from six to twenty-one inches, and classified as "bright" and "black", the former being brilliantly polished. This firm have adopted, as their trade mark, a ball governor in a triangle, which is placed upon all packages. Coe's wrenches are now a standard article in the stock of hardware merchants throughout the United States, and are sold largely to Cuba, Australia and California. The Messrs. Coes, by their inventive genius and business talents, have accumulated handsome properties, and are owners of nearly one half of the village of New Worcester, with large tracts of adjacent land. Both have filled, creditably, the positions of Aldermen and members of the City Council, and Mr. A. Gr. Coes is now a member of the Massachusetts Legislature. They have been prominent, also, in establishing the Mechanics' Association of Worcester, and are directors in various companies, organized for the public benefit. |
| QUELLE | [Bishop: History of American manufacturers 3 (1868) 357] |
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