Their foundry and buildings cover about half a square of ground; they employ one hundred and twelve hands, and melt daily seven tons of iron. Their importation of tin plate reaches four thousand three hundred and fifty boxes. Copper, zinc, wire, sheet iron, &c., are also used in immense quantities. The latest novelty of this establishment is Chilson’s Air Warming and Ventilating Furnace for public and private buildings.
This foundry, begun by Meadows & McGrain, is another well known establishment. The castings made by these gentlemen bear an equally high reputation with those already noticed. The firm has since its commencement been constantly improving in the quantity of its manufactured articles, and has added many valuable improvements to the stock of the stove founder. Among these may be noticed three new styles of cooking stove, all of which have attained a deserved celebrity. These are called “The Stove,” “Durable Kentuckian,” and the “Queen Premium.” The first of these is suited to the wants of the city, being economical in the use of its fuel, and having attached to it a “summer arrangement,” which does away with the extreme heat of the ordinary cooking stove. The oven is also so arranged that both bread and meat may be baked at the same time without imparting the taste of the one to the other. The second stove, the Kentuckian, is particularly adapted to the wants of the farmers, being large, roomy, and of unusual weight and durability. All of these stoves have met the entire approbation of those who have used them. Large quantities of Hollow Ware, such as pots, kettles, skillets, ovens, odd lids, &c., are cast at this foundry, and sold as well to the city as to country dealers. The common stoves made at the Falls City Foundry, are of excellent patterns and unusual weight; it not being the custom of this establishment in any case to sacrifice utility to ornament. All the articles usually made by the tinner also form a branch of their manufactory. These gentlemen receive large quantities of job-work, which, as is well known, they execute in a superior manner.
This Foundry, although recently established, is under the charge of a gentleman who is well known as having been long connected with this business in the city, and as bearing a very high reputation as a master-workman. The details of this business differ little from those already noticed. The quality of the work which proceeds from the Hope Foundry is surpassed by none in any part of the country. The sole difference between this and the stove foundries, already noticed, is found in the fact that great attention is here paid to architectural and job-work. Mr. M’s skill in the operations of the foundry, and his constant presence and attention to all his work, recommend this establishment, in the highest manner, to all who desire to get up any novelty or to prepare any peculiar work. This foundry is as yet in its infancy, having been organized less than a year ago. It has already acquired an excellent business, and now finds ready sale for all the articles which can be produced. It is entirely safe to predict for it a speedy rise to great eminence. The factory is so arranged as to be readily extended to any capacity which may be desired, and the constantly increasing demand for this species of manufacture in the city, and its dependancies, will doubtless soon bring about this increase. It will be seen that Louisville is abundantly supplied with Foundries, and that the extent of work done in this line is of very great importance to her interests.
This is the largest establishment of the kind in the western country, and is alike a credit to its proprietors and an honor to the city. The machinery used is of the most perfect order, and the concern is indebted to its own inventive powers for a great part of its completeness. The proprietors are both practical workmen, and they give their constant attention to all the details of their manufacture. The consequences of this care and attention are shown in the widely spread reputation of their manufactured articles. The chief market of these articles is found in the southern States and in Texas. It is greatly to the credit of this factory that their articles are so readily taken up by the planters, for it is well known that inferior agricultural machines and implements find no buyers among this class of consumers. In Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Tennessee, the machines and implements of this firm are universally known, and possess an enviable reputation. Messrs. H. & C. have introduced machinery by which one man can produce as many iron axles in a day as can usually be made by thirty hands, and the article so made is far more perfect than the old and tediously constructed one. They have also a small and ingenious saw of their own invention, for cutting felloes, and for sawing crooked lines, which for rapidity and precision cannot be anywhere surpassed. They also manufacture on their premises every article and every part of every article, which they sell. Plows, wagons, carts, timber wheels, harrows, cultivators, and other articles are made entirely on the premises, from the raw material into the perfect and finished article. They employ thirty hands, and produce from eighty to one hundred thousand dollars worth of work annually. Beside this establishment there are four other plow manufacturers, and twenty-one other wagon makers.
It is a proof of the prosperity of a city when manufactories of so exclusive a character as the one before us not only exist but are handsomely sustained. Some five years ago Messrs. B. F. & D. H. Avery commenced the manufacture of the since celebrated Livingston County Plow. It was with difficulty that the prejudices of the agricultural community in favor of other instruments were overcome, but by dint of industrious exertion the plow slowly gained the confidence of the community until it now holds, in several of the Southern and Western States, the very first rank as a plow. It is worthy of notice, as a proof of the enterprise of this firm, that each year since it was first introduced they have been obliged to double the number of plows made the preceding year. A few months since Messrs. B. F. & D. H. Avery dissolved their firm and Mr. B. F. Avery has now sole charge of the establishment. He has recently made some valuable improvements upon his plow, which will make its utility still more general. The new plow is found excellent for after-cultivation, and in connection with the old one makes his stock of plows fully adequate to every variety of American soil. Mr. B. F. Avery has spent some twenty-five years in this species of manufacture, and his experience is alone a proof of the value of his invention. His business, though already very large, is growing rapidly every year.
