The Davies and Thomas
Foundry
Source:
Roberts, et al, History Of Lehigh County Pennsylvania, 1914.
Davies
and Thomas Foundry is situated in the Third ward,
along the main thoroughfare, and the extensive plant
covers 20 acres of ground, with the Catasauqua creek
running through the premises.
This
great and successful enterprise was started in 1865 by Daniel Davies, and
associated with him were his son, George, and William Thomas, who traded under
the firm name of Davies, Thomas & Co. In 1868, the Thomas interest was
purchased by his partners and they carried on the business until the father
died in 1876; then James Thomas (a brother-in-law of George Davies) purchased
this interest in the works and the partnership of Davies and Thomas Co. was
formed for the continued manufacture of general foundry and machine work,
vertical and horizontal engines, car castings, and appliances for furnaces,
mills, and mines. The plant comprised a number of brick buildings, covering a
floor space of 35,000 feet. Five vertical engines were required to supply the
motive power; the employees numbered from 175 to 200; and to facilitate its
extensive shipments it was connected with the Central R. R. of New Jersey.
In
1894 the business was incorporated with a capital of $300,000. The estimated
value of the plant in January, 1914, was $500,000, and in a general way the
buildings have become four times what they were in 1876, with the employees
numbering from 250 to 500, depending upon the. conditions of the trade. Their
productions are sent to all parts of the United States and to Canada.
This
company is recognized as the pioneer in the manufacture of iron plates for
lining tunnels under rivers by the shield method. Since 1905, it has supplied
the extensive tubes for the sub-aqueous tunnels which have been put into
successful operation from New York City to Jersey City, to Long Island City,
and to Brooklyn; and it is now engaged in supplying the plates for a very
extensive sewer at Brooklyn in the Corona District. These tunnels are
admittedly marvelous accomplishments as great pieces of engineering; but this
company in supplying the tunnel-plates is equally worthy of special
recognition, because their production required the most exacting manipulation
of materials, besides the nicest discrimination in successfully meeting the
extraordinary demands of the contract; and this success secured a great
distinction for the borough of Catasauqua.
In
this connection it may be mentioned that the foundry was not fitted for such a
great undertaking, but had to be changed to suit the occasion. These changes
were designed and made by James Thomas, and he was encouraged in the new
enterprise by the children of his deceased partner, George Davies, which
evidences the superior and courageous spirit of the company, and their complete
success merits all possible praise.
The
directors and officers of the company are:
Leonard
Peckitt, president.
Harry
E. Graffiti, secretary and treasurer.
Hopkins
Thomas, general manager.
George
Davies,
Rowland
D. Thomas.
Of
these George Davies and Harry E. Graffin (his brother-in-law), are the
successors of George Davies, deceased; Hopkins Thomas and Rowland D. Thomas are
the successors of James Thomas, deceased, and C. R. Horn, general agent at New
York City, is a son-in-law.
George
Davies died in 1894; James Thomas died in 1906.
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