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John Foley
| Name | John Foley |
| Ortssitz | New York City |
| Straße | Astor House, Broadway 2 |
| Art des Unternehmens | Federhalterfabrik |
| Quellenangaben | [New Yorks great industries (1884) 152] |
| Zeit |
Ereignis |
| 1835 |
Mr. Hawkins überträgt alle Rchte auf Aaron Porter Cleveland in New York |
| 10.1836 |
Simeon Hyde wird Teilhaber |
| 1848 |
Gründung |
| 1848 |
Gründung |
| Produkt |
ab |
Bem. |
bis |
Bem. |
Kommentar |
| Federhalter |
1884 |
[New Yorks great ind. (1884)] |
1884 |
[New Yorks great ind. (1884)] |
Manufacturer of Gold Pens |
| ZEIT | 1884 |
| THEMA | Firmendarstellung |
| TEXT | It was in 1848 that Mr. Foley laid the foundations of what has grown to be the leading business of its kind in the United States, and justly so in view of the talent, energy and perseverance of the subject of this sketch. The first practical experimenter with gold as a substance adapted to the manufacture of pens was a Mr. Hawkins in England, the first gold pen with an iridium point being made by him in 1834. The third pen of the kind which he made he sold in April, 1834, to Mr. Vine, an eminent London merchant engaged in the Russian trade, and who soon procured several orders for the pens from St. Petersburg for the use of the czar and others. Thus began the manufacture and sale of these invaluable articles, though they were then crudely made and bore bnt a faint resemblance to the beautiful and reliable " Diamond-Pointed Gold Pens" now manufactured by Mr. Foley. In August, 1835, Mr. Hawkins transferred all his right and title to his process of gold pen manufacturing to Aaron Porter Cleveland, of New York, for the sum of three hundred pounds sterling, and a percentage arising from the sale of the pens. Mr. Hawkins intended retiring from the business and to settle at Bordentown, N. J., and pursue his profession of a civil engineer, but Mr. Cleveland induced him to continue making the pens in London, while he (Cleveland) proceeded to New York and founded the business in America, and in which Mr. Simeon Hyde took part in October, 1836, Mr. Cleveland taught Mr. Levi Brown how to make the pen. In Mr. Brown's employ were Mr. George Barney and other ingenious workmen, who thoroughly learned the art and contrived several labor-saving tools, much improving all the processes of manufacture. Mr. Barney and other workmen from time to time left Mr. Brown, and began working upon their own account, and in 1848 Mr. John Foley, possessed of ample practical experience, founded his present universally known establishment. Out of fifteen houses engaged in manufacturing gold pens in New York in 1849, Mr. Foley's is the only one still in existence that confines itself to the original branch of trade. Mr. Foley from the start spared no pains or expense to secure the utmost perfection of workmanship. He employed none but the most skilful and progressive workmen, constantly exercised the closest personal supervision, and with the most satisfactory and enduring of results he has invented, or brought into his factory, all the improved and perfected labor-saving machinery in existence in this trade, and it is the best equipped of any to produce the finest and most reliable pens. His enterprise has found numerous collateral channels for its manifestation, and he has published a magnificent quarto volume, profusely illustrated, and which gives a complete and accurate history of gold pens, who invented them, when and where, and to which we are indebted for all the facts embodied in the first portion of this sketch. The book likewise contains a complete and detailed description of " Foley's Diamond-Pointed Gold Pens," telling how they are made, about the machinery used, what the diamond (iridium) points are, their great value, and how applied. The whole being profusely illustrated, containing nearly five hundred splendidly executed engravings, and the whole work printed as it is on wide margin plate paper cost the enterprising publisher several thousands of dollars. Mr. Foley's factory is conveniently situated in Ann Street, a few steps only from his eligible office and store, which are located at No. 2 Astor House, Broadway, and directly central to the most important business section of New York. He here makes the finest and most magnificent display of gold pens in the world, and which are the best ever manufactured, their superior value having been tested by all the leading business and professional men in the United States during the past thirty-six years. Our leading bankers, brokers, merchants and insurance men all join in expressing their high opinion as to the merits and permanent usefulness of the Foley pen. The judges at the American Institute Fair awarded Mr. Foley their prize medal for the best gold pens and pencils. Mr. Foley manufactures a full line of goods, including his famous " Bank " gold pens, his patent diamond-pointed stylographic pen, his new patent iridium-pointed fountain pen, and a full line of novelty pencils in solid gold, plated, ivory, pearl, silver, rubber, and celluloid mountings. Mr. Foley's trade has developed to proportions of magnitude worthy alike of his energy, enterprise and integrity. Mr. Foley was the first tax-payer -who had the moral courage and the force of character to beard the notorious Tweed ring in its stronghold, commencing his ever memorable fight against the corruptionists when he was elected to the board of supervisors in 1869, and which he never ceased till he had secured the downfall of Tweed, and rescued the civic treasury from further plundering. Mr. Foley was the first and only man to discover and expose the great frauds of Tweed and his ring, which he did in a letter published in August, 1871, and his facts and figures, as sworn to in his famous injunction suit, were the foundation of all the subsequent legal proceedings, both civil and criminal, against the late W. M. Tweed and hia thieving supporters. Mr. Foley pressed the good fight with great pluck and perseverance. He presided at public meetings, fearless of the hosts of Tammany and Tweed's backing, and sound public opinion supported him. The supreme court granted the injunc- tion, and Comptroller Comolly was forced to resign, being followed soon after by Tweed and other leading officials. It is but just to remark that Mr. Foley was the only citizen of New York fearless enough to incur the great risk and grave responsibility of instituting proceedings at law declaring that Tweed and his gang were thieves, and winning the most magnificent victory for justice and honor ever on record, saving millions of dollars to the struggling rate-payers and earning the everlasting thanks of all right-minded, honest Americans. He has never failed to speak out fearlessly, as becomes the honest and intelligent private citizen, and advocated not only purity in municipal politics, but such great measures as rapid transit, increased water-supply, etc. The first man to kick against the Tweed Ring, he is possessed of intuitive common sense, and his remark to the Herald interviewer in 1876 is as forcible and appropriate now as then. He was speaking of Mr. S. J. Tilden's splendid qualifications for the presidency and remarked: "The cry of reform is heard on all sides, and it cannot be repressed either." These words are as true and applicable to-day as in 1876, and Mr. Foley is still the true and tried reformer of that class which is, alas far too small in our midst. His integrity is unsullied, his talents undimmed. and his mentality as keen as ever, and he well deserves the meed of praise and honor silently and universally accorded him by his fellow-citizens as a faithful manufacturer and a public spirited American, and an honest man. |
| QUELLE | [New Yorks great industries (1884) 152] |
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