The sturdy pressman’s frown I now may scoff,
Revised, corrected, finally wrought off.
[17] We are indebted to a friend for the following sketch of the origin, progress, and present condition of the world-famous house of R. Hoe & Co.
Robert Hoe, the founder of the present house of R. Hoe & Co. of New York, was born at Hose, in Leicestershire, England, in 1784. His father was a well-to-do farmer in that pleasant, sequestered district; but, as the family was large, Robert was apprenticed to a carpenter in a neighbouring town. His attention was early attracted and his mind impressed by the prosperity of the people of the United States; and, being a republican at heart, and conscious that the institutions of his own country presented almost insurmountable obstacles to the advancement of the working classes, he purchased his indentures from his employer, and in 1803 emigrated to New York.
On his arrival he made the acquaintance of Grant Thorburn, who, becoming interested in him, received him into his family, and with great kindness nursed him with his own hands through an attack of the yellow fever, which was then raging in the city. He soon established himself in his trade, and, by his industry, integrity, and enterprise, became advantageously known to the public. At the age of twenty he married the daughter of Matthew Smith, of Westchester Co., New York, by whom he had three sons and six daughters. For a time he was in partnership with his brother-in-law, Matthew Smith, Jr., a carpenter and printers’ joiner, who, on their separation, associated with himself his brother, Peter Smith, who was educated at Yale College, and was the inventor of the well-known hand-press bearing his name.
On the decease of these two brothers, Robert Hoe, in 1823, succeeded to the business, which was then in its infancy, giving employment to only a handful of men, and being conducted in the middle of the block bounded by Maiden Lane, Pine, William, and Pearl Streets, in some old buildings to which access was gained by an alley running from Maiden Lane to Pine Street. Here the business, under the style of Robert Hoe & Co., grew rapidly; but the extension of Cedar Street made necessary its removal to the present location in Gold Street. About this time, the flat-bed cylinder press, for newspaper printing, was introduced into England; and Mr. Hoe sent an intelligent mechanic there to examine it, and it was soon brought into use here, with valuable improvements. In 1832, Mr. Hoe’s failing health obliged him to relinquish the business to his eldest son, Richard M. Hoe, and Matthew Smith, son of his first partner. In the following year he died. Shortly after his decease, the firm erected extensive buildings in Broome Street, in the eastern part of the city, where the greater part of their manufacturing has since been carried on. They also commenced making cast-steel saws, which had previously been exclusively imported from England; and this branch has steadily increased in importance.
Matthew Smith, a man of uncommon ability and business talents, died in 1842. The business was then continued by Richard M. Hoe, with his two brothers, Robert Hoe and Peter Smith Hoe,—the eldest, as before, taking charge of the mechanical department, in which his industry and fertility of invention are attested by the number and value of his patents. In 1837, he patented here and in England his method of grinding circular saws, by which the thickness of any part of a saw can be regulated with accuracy. In 1846, he brought out the so-called “Lightning Press,” or Type-Revolving Printing Machine, described in the text,—the greatest innovation on the routine of the printing craft since the days of Gutenberg. This press entirely superseded all others for fast printing, and was introduced into the principal offices, not only in this country, but in England, Scotland, Ireland, and Australia.
In 1858, the firm purchased of Isaac Adams, of Boston, Massachusetts, his entire patent-rights, together with his establishment for the manufacture of his bed-and-platen book printing presses, and various machines for binders’ use, which they continue to conduct there, though with increased facilities and many improvements. Their works in different places now cover thirty-five city lots, or about two acres, and give employment to nearly six hundred hands. The office and warerooms of the house in England are at 13 Salisbury Square, Fleet Street, London, one of the partners, being a resident in that city, attending to the business there.
[18] While publisher of a paper in Catskill, he produced within a week, aided by some village mechanics, a press for his own use. With the exception of a stone bed, the principal parts were made entirely of wood. It was a flat-bed press, having a series of impression cylinders connected by an endless chain, by means of which they passed over and around the bed continually. He called it the Chain-running Press. It was employed by Frank Leslie to print an edition of his Illustrated Newspaper.
[19] R. Hoe & Co.’s Catalogue.