Watson Manufacturing Co.

Allgemeines

NameWatson Manufacturing Co.
OrtssitzPaterson (N.J.)
StraßeRailroad Avenue
Art des UnternehmensMaschinenfabrik und Eisengießerei
$AnmerkungenWm. G. Watson, Präsident; Jas Watson, Vizepräsident. This company manufactures iron bridges, turn-tables, roofs, and architectural iron, employing 800 men, 500 of whom are engaged inside and 300 more in erecting bridges. In addition, the company builds heavy and light machinery, steam engines, bolt cutters, and does general foundry work. The business of the works was not interfered with by the panic, the company having orders on their books amounting to over 600,000 in January, 1874. Seit 1860 in der Railroad Avenue, Ecke Grand Street.
Quellenangaben[Wiley: American iron trade manual (1874) 63] [Trumbull: History of industrial Paterson (1882) 88]




Unternehmensgeschichte

Zeit Ereignis
13.04.1815 William G. und James Watson beginnen mit dem Maschinenbau in der "Roten" oder Franklin, Mill mit nur zehn Mitarbeitern. Die Fabrik besteht aus drei Drehbänken, vier Schraubstöcken und einigen kleineren Werkzeugen
1847 Umzug in die "Henry Clay Mill", auch "Nightingale Mill" genannt, wo das Unternehmen 13 Jahre ansässig ist
1860 Umzug in die Railroad Avenue, Ecke Grand Street
1865 Eintragung als "Watson Manufacturing Company"
Okt. 1872 Das Werk wird teilweise durch Feuer zerstört und bald wieder aufgebaut
1873 Das Unternehmen erreicht mit 1.100 Beschäftigten mit einer Lohnsumme von $11.000 bis 12.000 in zwei Wochen. Der Wert der Ausstattung beträgt 90.000. Der Wert der Jahresprodukton beträgt 800.000 bis 1.000.000
28.06.1875 Ein Feuer legt den größten Teil der Fabrik in Ruinen




Produkte

Produkt ab Bem. bis Bem. Kommentar
Bauschlosserarbeiten 1874 [Wiley: American iron trade (1874)] 1874 [Wiley: American iron trade (1874)] Vorgabe: architectural iron
Dampfmaschinen 1858 um 1858 Corliss-Maschinen 1874 [Wiley: American iron trade (1874)]  
Dächer 1874 [Wiley: American iron trade (1874)] 1874 [Wiley: American iron trade (1874)] Vorgabe: roofs
Drehscheiben 1874 [Wiley: American iron trade (1874)] 1874 [Wiley: American iron trade (1874)] Vorgabe: turn-tables
Eisenbrücken 1871 Walkill Valley RR bridge 1874 [Wiley: American iron trade (1874)] Vorgabe: iron bridges. Die Walkill Valley RR bridge bestand aus Schmiedeeisen
Gußeisen 1874 [Wiley: American iron trade (1874)] 1874 [Wiley: American iron trade (1874)] Vorgabe: Iron foundry
Maschinerie 1874 [Wiley: American iron trade (1874)] 1874 [Wiley: American iron trade (1874)] Vorgabe: machinery
Schiffsdampfmaschinen          
Wasserturbinen          




Personal

Zeit gesamt Arbeiter Angest. Lehrl. männl. weibl. Kommentar
1874 800            




Allgemeines

ZEIT1882
THEMABeschreibung
TEXTWilliam G. and James Watson commenced making machinery in the old "Red," or Franklin, Mill, April 13th, 1815. At first only ten men were employed, the plant consisting of but three lathes, four vises and some minor tools. The fortnightly pay-roll at this time was from 150 to 200. After two years' occupancy the Watsons removed to the "Henry Clay," or Nightingale, Mill in 1847, where they remained thirteen years, when they established themselves in Railroad avenue, at
the corner of Grand street, their present location. Here they purchased thirteen city lots and built extensive works of brick. One year before this last removal seventy Lands were employed and the firm had just enlarged their facilities by the erection of a new foundry. The business at the Nightingale Mill was mainly tool-making, millwrighting and general jobbing. The firm was very successful during these years, their products being sent to all parts of this country, to Mexico, South America and other foreign states. About 1858 a pair of bevel wheels, nine feet in diameter, with four inches pitch, eighteen inches face, and weighing seven tons, were made for Higgins' carpet factory in New York, and attracted no little notice. A large Corliss steam-engine and many turbine wheels also were built by the Watsons about this time. Soon after the establishment of the firm on Railroad avenue 250 hands were employed. In 1865 the Watson Manufacturing Company was incorporated. In 1873 the climax of successful manufacture was reached, the company employing 1.100 hands, to whom was paid an aggregate of from 11.000 to 12.000 in wages fortnightly; the equipment of the extensive works was valued at 90.000; the finished product amounted to from 800.000 to 1.000.000 per annum. At this date, when the entire works were in full operation, the Watson Manufacturing Company was one of the first industrial establishments in the country. They had largely abandoned millwrighting and jobbing, and were engaged in bridge-building almost exclusively, their product in this line having become famous the country over. Among the enduring monuments of their bridge productions is that magnificent structure, the iron bridge across the ravine on the Wallkill Valley Railroad at Bosendale, N. Y., a stupendous work. The premises occupied in those more prosperous days consisted of a centre building, 50x75 feet, four stories high, used as a machine shop and for drawing-rooms and offices; a foundry, 200x75 feet, one story ; an L, 200x75 feet, three stories, two of which were occupied in making machinery and the third or top floor by E. J. Watson & Co., silk manufacturers. There was, beside, a pattern house, 100x50 feet, three stories, in which was stored an immense number of valuable patterns, afterward mostly destroyed in the fire of 1875; a blacksmith shop, 50x150 feet; an engine and boiler house, 30x75 feet ; upper bridge shop, 200x75 feet; also various other smaller buildings, the whole constituting a considerable industrial village, full of the cheerful bustle and sound of remunerative labor. Over 200 men were employed in the bridge works alone. Two lots of ground were enclosed for fitting together and setting up completed bridges before shipping them to their destination, whither they were accompanied, no matter how great the distance, by skilled workmen to erect them in their places. In October, 1872, the works were partially destroyed by fire, but they were speedily rebuilt, and there was little interruption to the manufacture. A still more disastrous fire occurred June 28th, 1875, which laid the greater part of the vast establishment in ruins. The company, which had met with some severe reverses in business about that time, became financially embarrassed soon after the last fire, a failure resulted, and a receiver, Watts Cooke, President of the Passaic Rolling Mill Company, was appointed. All operations were suspended for a time. The property passed into the hands of the First National Bank of Paterson, a chief creditor of the company, and was afterward sold to the Barbour Twine Company, the present owners. From beneath this cloud the undaunted men who had witnessed the accumulation of a thirty years' struggle largely swept away, without one thought of surrender, after a time emerged, and a portion of the works was leased, and again the busy hum and the sharp sound of iron smiting iron was heard on the old industrial battle-ground. One floor of the largest building was occupied, giving space 200x56 feet; from eighty to one hundred men were employed, to whom were paid about 1.500 fortnightly in wages; the value of the annual product was from 60.000 to 70.000; fifteen horse-power was used; the equipment was valued at from 10.000 to 12.000. The chief products were machinery and mill-gearing of all kinds. Since that date the status has not greatly changed, though there have been additions made both to the equipment and to the force employed. The product also is greater and more varied, the building of small steam-engines and bridge work having been added, and this phoenix-like company gives promise of
attaining to nearly or quite its former prosperity in the not distant future.
QUELLE[Trumbull: History of industrial Paterson (1882) 88]