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Bement & Dougherty
| Firmenname | Bement & Dougherty |
| Ortssitz | Philadelphia (Penns.) |
| Straße | Callowhill Street |
| Art des Unternehmens | Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik |
| Anmerkungen | Lage: Im Quadrat Callowhill street und Pennsylvania avenue und Twentieth und Twenty-first streets |
| Quellenangaben | [Bishop: History of American manufacturers 3 (1868) 35] |
| Zeit |
Ereignis |
| 1851 |
Mr. Marshall verbindet sich mit den Herren William B. Bement und Gilbert A. Colby, ehemals von den "Lowell (Massachusetts) Machine Shop", unter der Firma "Marshall, Bement & Colby". |
| 1853 |
James Dougherty wird Mitglied der Firma. Unmittelbares Ergebnis ist die Errichtung einer Gießerei. |
| 1855 |
Marshall und Colby ziehen sich zurück, und George C. Thomas tritt ein. |
| 1857 |
Bement, ein Ingenieur von seltenen mechanischen Fähigkeiten, und Dougherty, ein erfahrener Eisengießer, werden Alleineigentümer. |
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Kommentar |
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| ZEIT | 1868 |
| THEMA | Firmenbeschreibung |
| TEXT | Save attained a national celebrity, by reason of the very superior class of Machinists' Tools, which have been produced in them, and distributed to all parts of the United States and to foreign countries. They are located on the square, bounded by Callowhill street and Pennsylvania avenue, and Twentieth and Twenty-first streets, and cover nearly the entire block. The main Shop has a front on Callowhill street of three hundred and seventy-two feet and, with the exception of the office, is two stories in height. The aggregate floor room of the various shops, including Smithery, Brass and Iron Foundry, is about sixty-five thousand square feet, which, with the contemplated extensions, is equivalent to a one story building, eighteen hundred feet in length by fifty in width; with yard room for storage of Coal, Iron and Flasks sufficient for all the requirements of the business. The location is peculiarly advantageous for obtaining Coal and Iron, which are delivered by the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, from branches entering the premises. Seventeen years ago, a single stone shop of a somewhat imposing aspect, stood in nearly the centre of the square now occupied by these imposing structures. This was owned by Mr. E. D. Marshall, who carried on the machine business, in connection with the engraving of rolls for printing Calicoes and other Fabrics. In 1851, Mr. Marshall associated with himself Messrs. William B. Bement and Gilbert A. Colby, formerly from the Lowell (Massachusetts) Machine Shop, under the firm of Marshall, Bement & Colby. Under somewhat unpromising circumstances, the new firm started out in a comparatively new branch of the Machine business, the manufacture of Machinists' Tools - coming at once into direct competition with older, and by no means unsuccessful, establishments - with the single object prominently in view, of turning out the best Tools that skill and genius could produce. In 1853 Mr. James Dougherty became a partner, the immediate result of which was the erection of a Foundry; his experience in this line, in a number of first-class establishments, having peculiarly fitted him for taking charge of this department. In 1855 Messrs. Marshall and Colby retired from the firm, and Mr. George C. Thomas entered it, though his connection with it was of short duration, and in 1857 Mr. Bement, an engineer of rare mechanical skill, and Mr. Dougherty, an experienced Iron Founder, became sole proprietors, and under their management the Works have grown until now they are scarcely second in extent and importance to any in the Union. Among the remarkable Tools in these Shops is a Planer that will take in and plane a piece forty-five feet long, ten feet wide and eight feet high; a horizontal and vertical Planer that will plane twenty-four feet wide and twelve feet high; a Radial Drill with a swinging arm projecting ten feet; a Boring "Mill to swing eight feet diameter; all heavy and massive Tools. At convenient distances, throughout the shops, are powerful Cranes attached to the columns of the building, that move with ease and safety the heaviest pieces to any required position. The Foundry is fitted with two improved Cupolas, designed by Mr. Dougherty, capable of melting, the one twelve thousand and the other eighteen thousand pounds per hour. All the modern improvements are here combined to produce the heaviest work of the best character. A Corliss Engine of ninety horse power drives all the machinery, including fans for Foundry and Smithery. The character of the work done at this establishment will compare favorably with that produced by any similar one at home or abroad; not only in its usefulness but its general appearance. The Works are represented by their productions, in nearly every State in the Union, as well as in Cuba, South America, France, Spain, Austria and Russia. Their growth and success, however, have not been due to any great or peculiarly striking invention, though inventive genius has not been sparingly applied in the production of the model Tools and appliances that have given the establishment its reputation. Among the most noticeable of Mr. Bement's improvements may be mentioned a Patent Cotter and Key Seat Drilling Machine now used extensively in Machine Shops; a Patent Pulley Turning Machine; a Patent open, ing Die Bolt Cutter; and the Patent Adjustable Hanger and other bearings with Ball and Socket Boxes, which are not excelled by any in use. As an illustration of the ready adjustment of these Hanger Boxes it may be mentioned, that a shaft that had become accidentally bent, was found to run without heating for some time, the box accommodating itself to the irregularities of the bearing with every revolution. Among the specialities of this firm's manufactures may be mentioned the Vertical Railway and Elevator now in use in the Continental Hotel, in Philadelphia. Standing on a substantial foundation, in the basement, is a Rectangular Cast Iron Column, thirteen by seventeen inches in diameter and eighty-nine feet in height, made in six sections, accurately planed and bolted together, and connected by massive Iron Girders to the floor timbers of the building. Two iron rails, also planed, are bolted to the Girders, one on either side of the column, and parallel with it, which serve as guides for the car in ascending and descending. Attached to the column by appropriate bearings, is the screw, composed of seven sections, permanently coupled, making one continuous spiral of eighteen inch pitch, from the basement to the roof. The diameter of this screw, exclusive of the thread, is twelve inches, with the thread, seventeen inches, turned and polished the entire length of eighty-four feet. The thread forms a smooth inclined spiral two and a half inches wide up and down, which the nut travels; direct contact being avoided by the introduction of numerous friction rolls of brass. To this nut the car is suspended, or forms a part of the same, with guiding wheels that press against the Parallel Rails on either side, to steady the car and prevent oscillation. A heavy weight attached to the car by a wire rope passing over a pulley counterbalances it, and so smooth and regular is its motion, that one hardly feels it when seated within the car. The finished weight of the screw is fifteen thousand pounds, and it rests on a step of peculiar construction, so arranged that no difficulty is ever experienced in the wearing or heating of the surfaces in contact. The entire finished weight of the different parts is as follows: Main Column, 17.870 pounds; Parallel Tracks, 11.815 pounds; Screw 15.000 pounds; Girders and other work, 61.517 pounds; Total 106.232 pounds, or over fifty-three tons. But the reputation of this firm does not rest upon specialties of patented improvements; it stands on the enduring foundation of general good workmanship. In their Machine Tools, all the modern methods of producing perfect joints, such as scraping, using surface plates and working to gauges and making the parts of similar machines interchangeable, are practiced, and no pains or expense is spared to secure absolute accuracy and perfection in the articles manufactured to adapt them to their required purpose. About three hundred and twenty-five hands are employed in their Works at all times, and the value of the annual product exceeds a half million of dollars. |
| QUELLE | [Bishop: History of American manufacturers 3 (1868) 35] |
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