| TEXT | One of the most important and creditable manufacturing interests of New York is that of which Mr. R. Dudgeon is the active representative. He is one of the most capable business men of the metropolis, and his talents are of a high order in the perfection and manufacture of some very valuable classes of hydraulic and other machines. He is the original inventor of hydraulic Jacks and punches for raising heavy weights, such as locomotive boilers, guns, heavy machinery for wrecking purposes or stationary pressing, pulling, proving chains and ropes, setting up rigging, pulling stumps, punching and shearing iron, etc. Mr. Dudgeon is also the only manufacturer of the patent roller tube expanders, and direct acting steam hammers, rotatory engines, etc. He is a native of Scotland and came early in life to this country and is now in the prime of manhood. Being of a strong mechanical turn of mind, and with ample acquired experience, Mr. Dudgeon turned his attention to his present field of enterprise, and with results of the most satisfactory character. Commencing the manufacture of his specialties about thirty years ago, he now occupies a fine factory seventy-five by one hundred feet in dimensions, at Nos. 24 and 26 Columbia Street, where he gives employment to an average of sixty skilled and experienced artisans. The factory is a brick building four stories in height and fully fitted up, the machinery being driven by an eight horse-power steam-engine. The jacks made here are light and portable, of easy application and yet of immense strength. A jack that will raise four tons with ease weighs not more than fifty pounds, while one raising sixty tons only weighs about two hundred pounds. They are all worked by the labor of one man, who is capable of raising ten tons through a space of one foot in one and a half minutes, or sixty tons the same height in ten minutes. The best proof of the remarkable achievements of these jacks is that they are used and strongly approved of by such great concerns as the Rogers' Locomotive Works; Fletcher, Harrison & Co., of New York; John Roach & Son, of New York; Quintard Iron Works; Pennsylvania Railroad Company, Pittsburg; Cincinnati and St. Louis Railroad Company; W. Adams, Locomotive Superintendent North London Railway; New York Floating Dry Dock Company; Merrit Wrecking Company; Erie Railroad, etc., etc. Mr. Dudgeon is also the patentee and manufacturer of the best hydraulic punch in use. This is simple in its construction, being without valves, and the force pump, in common use in all other hydraulic punches, and has entirely superseded the old screw article. His patent roller tube expander is also a remarkably useful invention, as by its use tubes can be expanded without striking a blow on them, thus rendering them far less liable to crack. Mr. Dudgeon has perfected his jacks, etc., by several recent improvements, so that they are now generally admitted to be the best in existence, and in his well organized works their manufacture steadily progresses. Under the capable management which it obtains, the highest standard of excellence is always maintained, and the machines in every instance are warranted to give entire satisfaction. Mr. Dudgeon is as enterprising as he is practical, and has introduced his machines into the European markets, his headquarters in England being at No. 114 Fenchurch Street, London. His energy and integrity need not be recounted here, since his merits are fully recognized, and New York may well be congratulated on the possession of such an important manufacturing interest as that of Mr. Dudgeon's has proved to be. |
