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"About
a half a mile beyond these works are the malleable iron-works
of PRATT & LETCHWORTH, in which Mr. Pratt is also largely
interested. These works are only second in importance to two
or three other establishments in the city, PRATT & LETCHWORTH
being the largest manufacturers of saddlery hardware in the United
States.
They are located on a tract of land of thirty-eight acres, lying
between the central Railroad and the Scajaquoda Creek, which
runs into the canal, immediately adjacent to the depot. The works,
which are of great extent, (they give employment to five hundred
men,) have been greatly added to, and for the most part reconstructed
in the last few years. Every new appliance in molding, casting,
malleating, and finishing, is brought into use in the works as
soon as it is given to the world, and no expense is spared to
sustain the high reputation of the goods manufactured there.
The business is mainly confined to the making of saddlery hardware,
rings, buckles, trees, hames, & c. The process of malleating
is simple, though it is one requiring great care. The rings and
bucklers are cast in quantities, united together by a small connecting
band which easily breaks off with the touch of a hammer. They
are then carefully sorted, and all imperfect ones thrown aside.
But the castings are brittle, and it is to render them tough
and ductile that they are made malleable. They are tightly packed
in an iron vessel in layers of oxyde of iron the scale
which flies from iron in the process of rolling which has
been allowed oxydise, or become rusted by exposure, and are then
subjected to the heat of the furnace for an average period of
twelve days, according to circumstances. The combined action
of the heat and the oxyde of iron produces the desired effect,
and, after having gone through the revolving cylinder to take
off any little roughness or attached particles, they are ready
for the burnisher and the silver plater; even the band-plating
and the electro-plating being carried on in the works.
But there is one feature in the works which Mr. LETCHWORTH the
acting spirit of the concern, has very wisely introduced. The
workmen are considered apart from their producing powers. It
is intended to erect comfortable cottages for their especial
occupation, with the right of purchase of the house and lot,
on the lands of the firm; a part of the unoccupied land has been
planted and converted into a succession of flower gardens, that
part nearest the water having, in Summer time, the appearance
of a small park; and, lastly, a cozy little reading-room, well
warmed, well lighted, and well supplied with newspapers has been
opened for their use. A library will shortly be added to it.
It would be a good thing if more large employers of labor were
as thoughtful.
The business store of the firm, which is adjoining that of PRATT
& CO, on the terrace, is an emporium of such a countless
number of articles that it impossible to enumerate them. Suffice
it to say that the saddler and harness-maker can more than fit
himself out without stepping out of the store. Everything that
is sold is, even when cheap, made of the best material and workmanship,
no inferior goods whatever being kept in stock.
The business of the firm extends all over the State of New York,
through the entire West to St. Paul and Sand Francisco, and South
to New-Orleans. Orders from Europe, South America, and Mexico
are not unusual."
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