The works of the Washburn & Moen Manufacturing Company are located in two different parts of this city. The most important part is in the northern section, while the rolling-mill is some two miles further south. The works are under the management of Philip L. Moen, President, Charles F. Washburn, Secretary, William E. Rice, Treasurer, and the business consists in the manufacture of wire of every description. To turn out such an extensive assortment of goods, of course requires an extensive establishment. "The works," as they are styled in the city, occupy two full squares, or about three acres of ground. The entire flooring of both factories covers an area of perhaps 1.3 acres. There are about eight or ten distinct brick buildings, the main one being 600 feet long by 70 feet wide, and four stories high. This building is built entirely of brick, in our latest style of modern factory architecture, and presents avery fine appearance. It is surmounted by a tower, from which the surrounding country can be viewed to advantage. A portion of the main building is devoted to the necessary offices, stockholders� rooms, parlors, and superintendent�s offices. These departments are fitted up in beautiful designs of laid woods, mostly oak and walnut, the whole presenting an appearance of comfort that compares favorably with any of our metropolitan residences. The amount of capital invested in this concern amounts, we believe, to millions of dollars. The various manufacturing departments are under the general superintendence of Mr. C. H. Morgan, a gentleman of large experience. One of the departments of time works is called the patent rolling-mill room. In this there is one of Siemens�s regenerative gas-furnaces, in which the blooms and billets are heated by means of gas generated in the furnace. Attached to this furnace is the patent car rolling-mill, which handles the wire automatically from one to another until it is wrought into marketable shape, all except cleaning and drawing. This concern possesses the exclusive right to use this furnace for this special purpose in this country. From this room the wire passes to the drawing-room, where it is drawn through different gauges, and whence it is again distributed into different departments for all sizes from 22 gauge to that of the finest hair. Various delicate machines are used in the manufacture of this wire, which we regret we have not space here to describe. The processes of annealing, hardening, and polishing, and the various methods employed for tinning the wire that is used for fine work, by piano manufacturers, etc., are very interesting; but for the same reason we must forbear describing them. We can not, however, refrain from mentioning one little contrivance which is especially noteworthy because of its extreme simplicity, considering the importance of its duty. It is well-known that this wire used for carding purposes must necessarily be perfectly straight. Of course, when first drawn, it will conform to a circular shape, and be inclined to curl; but by the simple process of passing it through a series of six or eight pegs covered with leather set thus, ' . ' . ' . ' . the wire is relieved of all irregularities, as well as its tendency to curl, and is left perfectly straight, so that if a coil be uncovered it would differ perceptibly from a horizontal or vertical line, be it either extended or suspended. The various tempering methods amid this pointing-machines also deserve notice, but space does not permit. In connection with the works there is a machine-shop, carpenter-shop, and blacksmiths-shop, used exclusively for improving and repairing this machinery used in the works. The iron-mill department is furnished with power by a duplex Corliss engine of 600 horse-power. The steel wire department is driven by a "Greene condensing engine" of 300 horse-power, built at Providence. All the buildings are fitted up with fire-proof doors, and every precaution is taken againt accident from fire. Each floor is supplied with a hydrant and the necessary hose, pipe, hooks, etc. The steam for running the rolling-mill, before mentioned, also for this engines, and for drying and heating purposes, is furnished by fifteen boilers, ten of which are 15 feet long by 4 feet in diameter, and 50 horse-power each. In the department where crinoline wire is made, about 2500 spindles are run, which work up some 1000 pounds of single cord yarn per day. Women are chiefly employed in this department. The entire works give employment to perhaps 1000 intelligent operatives. Elevators run from one floor to another in the main building, to facilitate the transportation of goods between the various departments. During the last year, the concern has furnished 3000 ton of common fence-wire alone, while the entire amount of wire used by many of our large card manufacturing companies is exclusively supplied from these works. As a finishing touch to the completeness of these works, there is a telegraph route from the north to this south works, whereby this superintendents can instantly communicate with each other. This is but a feeble description of this extensive amid flourishing manufacturing establishment, but we hope sufficient is given to convey some idea of this rapid growth of American industry.
The first wire machine that Washburn ever saw was arranged with a pair of self-acting pincers which drew a foot of wire and then had to let go and take a fresh hold. By this machine a man could make fifty pounds of coarse wire in a day. He soon improved this machine so that the pincers drew fifteen feet without letting go ; and by this improvement alone the product of one man's labor was increased about eleven times. A good workman could make five or six hundred pounds a day by it. By another improvement which Washburn adopted the product was increased to twenty-five hundred pounds a day.
He was now in his element. He always had a partner to manage the counting-room part of the business, which he disliked. "I never," said he, "had taste of inclination for it, always preferring to be among the machinery, doing the work and handling the tools I was used to, though oftentimes at the expense of a smutty face and greasy hands."
His masterpiece in the way of invention was his machinery for making steel wire for pianos, - a branch of business which was urged upon him by the late Jonas Chickering, piano manufacturer, of Boston. The most careless glance at the strings of a piano shows us that the wire must be exquisitely tempered and most thoroughtly wrought, in order to remain in tune, subjected as they are to a steady pull of many tons. Washburn experimented for years in perfecting his process, and he was never satisfied until he was able to produce a wire which he could honestly claim to be the best in the world. He had amazing success in his business. At one time he was making two hundred and fifty thousand yards of crinoline wire every day. His whole daily product was seven tons of iron wire, and five tons of steel wire. (James Parton. "Ichabod Washburn, Wire-maker." Captains of Industry, Houghton, Mifflin & Co, Boston. 1884)