The Davies
& Thomas Co.,
CATASAUQUA, PA.
Published in GREATER AMERICA., Vol 3,
Jan. 1900
To the writer there was no
more interesting establishment, among the many important manufacturing concerns
of the Borough, than this splendid plant of the Davies & Thomas Co.
At a time in the not very
distant future the occupant of a parlor car will enter it at Washington, the
Nation's Capital, and leave it only when he has arrived in the very heart of
the metropolis of our western world, New York. He will not, as at present, have
to get out in Jersey City and suffer the inconvenience and delay of a transfer
by ferry to the other side of the Hudson, but be whirled under it in comfort,
with speed and safety. As he passes through this magnificent tunnel and glances
at its sides, instead of slimy, moss-grown masonry, punctuated here and there
with a sooty stalactite, he will see a clean, dry supporting circumference made
of corrugated cast iron plates impressing the passenger with its strength and
solidity, at the same time inspiring confidence in its ability to perform its
function. This practical improvement in tunnel and culvert construction is the
invention of Mr. Thomas and is one of the principal products of the Davies
& Thomas works.
Cast Iron Sectional Culvert, 15 feet span, erected at
Oakville on the N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R.
Made by Davies & Thomas Co., Catasauqua, Pa.
On these pages will be
found a number of cuts illustrating the application of this invention
practically and naming the places where it may be seen in service.
The Davies & Thomas
Company's achievements are the result of the close application by practical
iron workers during the past thirty-five years, to the great possibilities the iron
business at all times presents, and their many marked successes are well
merited. The history of this well known house may be of practical interest to
many of our readers.
In 1865, Daniel Davies and
William Thomas started in the Foundry and Machine business at this place. In
1868, William Thomas severed his connection with the firm and George Davies,
son of Daniel, entered it and the name of the firm was changed to Daniel Davies
& Son. In 1876, Daniel Davies died, In 1878, James Thomas entered the firm
and the name was changed to Davies & Thomas. In October, 1894, George
Davies died and in December, 1894, the Company was incorporated under the name
of Davies & Thomas Co. The capital stock is $100,000.00; President, James
Thomas; Vice President, Rowland T, Davies, Secretary and Treasurer, Rowland D.
Thomas; General Agent, Charles R. Horn. The principal office is at this place.
The New York office is in the Haverneyer Building, 26 Cortland Street.
Cast Iron Sectional Culvert, 15 feet span, erected on the
Naugatuck Division, N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R.
Made by Davies & Thomas Co., Catasauqua, Pa.
The site of the works
covers about 20 acres, upon which are the Foundry, which has 40,000 square feet
of floor room with cupolas that. have a capacity of 150 tons per day and is
well equipped with electric and hand cranes throughout. The Machine Shop has a
floor space of about 12,000 square feet and is well equipped with Lathes,
Planers, and all required machine tools of most modern pattern. The equipment
for handling heavy and light work, such as electric and hand cranes and
railroad tracks are all that can be desired. The Pattern Shop, Blacksmith Shop
are ample, in size and well supplied with the most improved tools and machinery
to expedite and do thorough work. There are Pattern Store Rooms, stable and all
buildings necessary for a complete modern plant. All of the Buildings are
lighted by electricity. The cranes and appliances for handling material are
driven by electricity, as are also, some of the machines.
The railroad tracks of the
Central Railroad of New Jersey enter the works with two tracks on the east
side, one on the west side and one in the centre of the works. They also have
facilities for forwarding by the. Lehigh Valley Railroad and the Canal of the
Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company.
Patent Cast Iron Sectional Railroad Tunnel Casing as
erected by the Davies & Thomas Co.
Taking all in all, there
is not a more thoroughly and well equipped up-to-date plant in the country for
doing all kinds of Foundry and Machine work, light and heavy. The products of
the works go to all parts of the United States and to Canada, Cuba and South
America. They are the most extensive makers of castings and appliances used in
underground Electric Railroad work, of machinery appliances for Gas Plants,
Columns and castings that are used so extensively in the modern buildings.
Patent Cast Iron Sectional Railroad Tunnel Casing as
erected by the Davies & Thomas Co.
The Company are the
exclusive makers of the "Thomas Patent Corrugated Cast Iron Lining,"
for tunnels and culverts. This lining is coming into general us and owing to
its superiority is superseding stone and brick for culvert arches and lining
tunnels, The jarring of the heavy railroad traffic does not effect it. This
Company supplied the cast iron lining for the Hudson River and East River
Tunnels at New York.
We have thus given in a
few word some idea of the development of the business and the magnificent plant
they have erected to enable them to meet the. demands of a rapidly extending
clientele.
It is almost unnecessary
to add that President Thomas, and his associates are loyal Catasauquans, alive
to its best concerns and ever ready to shoulder their share of labor necessary to
keep the Borough in the van as a live manufacturing and "Home" town.
A Patent Cast Iron Sectional Tunnel under the East
River, erected by the Davies & Thomas Co,
ADDENDUM
The following photograph appears in Lesley, History
of the Portland Cement Industry in the United States, 1900, p. 96. The text deals with Portland cement and
the myriad applications – here, apparently, is an example of a grouting
application.
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