Aetna Iron Works

Allgemeines

FirmennameAetna Iron Works
OrtssitzNew York (N.Y.)
StraßeGoerck Street 104
Art des UnternehmensEisenwarenfabrik
AnmerkungenAuch die "John Roach & Sons" (s.d.) haben teilweise den Zusatz "Etna Iron Works" [Dayton: Steamboat days (1925) Internet], Bezug unklar. Anzeige Crane Bros.: in Irontwon, Ohio (Ort unbekannt).
Quellenangaben[Wiley: American iron trade manual (1874) 98] [Bishop: History of American manufacturers 3 (1868) 143]




Unternehmensgeschichte

Zeit Ereignis
1852 John Roach kauft die Fabrik von John Glass




Produkte

Produkt ab Bem. bis Bem. Kommentar
Baugußeisen 1874 [Wiley: American iron trade (1874)] 1874 [Wiley: American iron trade (1874)] Vorgabe: Architectural and ornamental iron work for buildings




Betriebene Dampfmaschinen

Bezeichnung Bauzeit Hersteller
Dampfwinde vor 1874 Crane Brothers Manufacturing Co.




Personal

Zeit gesamt Arbeiter Angest. Lehrl. Kommentar
1874 300        




Allgemeines

ZEIT1868
THEMAFirmenbeschreibung
TEXTThese extensive and justly celebrated Works, like most of the other noteworthy establishments in this country, had an humble and unpretending origin. The original building was erected by Mr. John Glass, on a single lot of ground, twenty-fire by one hundred feet, and designed for the purpose of making small castings. In 1852, Mr. John Roach purchased the premises; and though his cash capital in the beginning was limited to the insignificant sum of two hundred dollars, he has achieved a most remarkable success, for the Works in some respects are now without an equal on this continent in capacity to construct heavy machinery expeditiously. The building that occupied a single city lot, has grown under his proprietorship, until now the establishment covers a whole block, four hundred and ten feet long by one hundred and ninety-eight feet deep-bounded by four streets - and is four stories in height. When his capital from the legitimate profits of the business had increased sufficiently to justify the undertaking, Mr. Roach resolved to f supply a great national want by the erection of an establishment provided with facilities for constructing larger Marine Engines than any heretofore built in this country. With this object in view, he in 1860 despatched a confidential agent to Europe with instructions to examine all the most extensive Works abroad, and note everything that he saw new or likely to be valuable. Having himself been an employee in several of the best Marine Engine Works of this country, and having obtained from the report of his agent a knowledge of the facilities enjoyed by European establishments, he was enabled to availhimself of all advantages in arrangement and selection of machinery. Among the many excellent tools with which these Works are equipped, there are at least two, that in size are not equalled by any in this country, namely, a planer that will carry a hundred tons weight, and work four cutting tools at a time - and a lathe, that is how capable of boring a cylinder of a diameter of one hundred and twelve inches, and can be easily altered to swing twenty-eight feet in diameter. In fact, the facilities of the establishment are such, that, it is conceded, more work can be executed here in a given time, than can be done elsewhere, either in this country or in Europe. An engine, from the time the castings are made until its completion, is pushed forward through the various processes with an ease and celerity truly remarkable; and payments, which, in the construction of engines, as of houses, are usually made at certain periods, according to the progress of the work, are reached with a rapidity wholly unprecedented in similar establishments. During the past few years there have been employed in these Works from nine hundred to fifteen hundred workmen of all grades, including some of the most skilful and accomplished that the offer of the highest wages could obtain. The whole establishment is controlled by a superintending engineer, Mr. T. Main, directly responsible to the proprietor; while the foremen of the various departments are absolutely supreme in their own sphere, yet responsible to the superintendent, from whose decisions there is no appeal. By this means a single controlling intellect is felt in the most minute details; ana the consequence is a most thoroughly disciplined workshop, with a Napoleonic method of rewarding fidelity and skill when found a characteristic of a workman. To the Etna Iron-Works belong the credit of having cast and finished some of the largest steam cylinders ever made. The United States Government steam-ram Dunderberg's two engines were built here, each having a diameter of one hundred and twelve inches, or nine feet and four inches, with twelve feet stroke of piston - which are among the very largest steam-engines that were ever built. Yet the workmen had little or no more difficulty in finishing these immense castings than if they had been of the usual size of ordinary marine engines. The engines of the Bristol and Providence, for the Merchants' Steamship Company, each having a cylinder one hundred and ten inches, were built here. So, too, were those of the Rising Star, the Warrior, and the engines and machinery of the "United States Government double-end gunboat Winooski, and the steam frigate Neshaminy. The Etna Iron-Works are not only creditable to the enterprise and skill of their proprietor, but they represent well the progressive character of the American people, whose patronage has sustained them. It is of course impossible to foresee the future wants of a rapidly growing nation, but it seems probable that these Works are prepared to anticipate any demand for still heavier machinery that may be made upon them for the next quarter of a century. Besides her Marine Engine Works, New York is famous for the number of her ship yards, and the eminence of her ship-builders, though to notice them we shall be compelled to digress from the plan limiting descriptions to establishments, and trespass upon the province of biography. The department in which the ship-builders of New York have especially achieved eminence, is in the construction of steamers.
QUELLE[Bishop: History of American manufacturers 3 (1868) 143]