[Newspaper]
Publication: The Cincinnati Daily Gazette
Cincinnati, OH, United States
vol. 61, no. 269, p. 2, col. 2-3
MATTERS IN AND ABOUT THE CITY.
THIRTEENTH ANNUAL EXHIBITION OF THE
MECHANIC'S INSTITUTE.
Entering the area on the second floor, the visitor will observe between the two stairways, a printing press, of Cincinnati manufacture, and a sample of curved quads newly got up by the Cincinnati Type Foundry. The merits of the invention, however, can only be appreciated by printers.
Ascending the stairways into Greenwood Hall, the principal exhibition room, we proceed to describe matters of interest in the order of observation. On the wall on the right, are some beautiful specimens of mechanical drawings, by Messrs. Knights, of this city.
One peculiarly striking, is a view of an apparatus for making refined sugar direct from cane juice, — the entire machinery and mode of conducting the business is shown in the drawing. Niles and Co., of our city, are the builders of the splendid and complicated machinery thus represented. Here is a fine drawing of the condensing steam engine and the pump now used in the Cincinnati Water Works.
Mechanics at home and in England have united in complimenting the superior combination of machinery by Cincinnati mechanics as being the most complete ever put up. A facsimile of this Engine and Pump is now being constructed and put in place by David Powell, Machinist, of our city. We are glad to embrace again the opportunity to draw attention to the skill of our artisans, although it has been to the loss of our city in one sense, for the city of Cleveland laid violent hands on Mr. Scowden, our former Water Works Engineer, gave him a large salary and a carte blanche to construct a similar one for a Water Works on a large scale in the Forest City. Honor and success we say to our unrivaled Cincinnati mechanics. The Lithographic Art has reached a high pitch of improvement in our city. The establishment of Onken & Co. here exhibit specimens of the New Presbyterian Church on Fourth St. and the business House of Harry Smith, or rather Beggs and Smith, the Jewellers, the interior of whose establishment is in Mechanics Institute itself.
There are other attractive views; the new Court House in our city being constructed under the Superintendence of Jesse Timanus and other Cincinnati mechanics, the Custom House and Post Office now being erected, an interior view of the Catholic Cathedral, of the Public Landing and its fleet of Steamers, the Hughes High School, view of Maysville, &c. These excellent Lithographs are extensively circulated abroad, and give a good idea of Cincinnati and her public buildings.
Here stands the well known Silk Merchant, friend Isaac Jones, with his case of American Silks. — These excellent samples of the perfection to which the Silk culture and manufacture has attained in our city should be examined by the visitors and extensively patronized by friends of Home Industry.
Following the tables on the right which are next to the wall, we observe quite an important article to furniture men, which is now extensively manufactured here by Bechman & Hoffman, we mean that infinite variety of moldings used by Cabinet Makers.
There is near it specimens of poplar and black walnut wood, made to bear all the distinctive marks of mahogany and rosewood, by the application of Baldwin’s Magic Stain. This can be applied to any light colored wood, and is said to be more substantial and far cheaper than veneering.
A patent machine will attract attention, said to be used profitably in plastering; its merits were not explained to us.
Moore, Anderson, Wilstach & Keys exhibited a case of splendidly bound books, indicating a great progress in this branch of the useful and ornamental arts.
The display made by our well known dealers and everything that relates to light, particularly in the chandelier line is brilliant indeed. It is a remarkable fact that all the ornamental work which a few years ago were entirely imported, is now made in the United states. This firm is a pioneer in this business, and are deserving of the extensive patronage which they have received.
The specimens of glassware by Gray and Hemingray, whose establishment is in Hammond street, in the rear of our office, will attract attention. In this branch of business, we are glad to say that Cincinnati can be relied upon to furnish No. 1 articles. A Mr. E. E. Telton, of this city, exhibits a novel brass musical instrument, called by him “Baritone Tuba,” which has some peculiarities of interest to musicians, as it can be modified by slight changes to produce different tones.
A branch of useful mechanical devices for those suffering from some of the diseases to which flesh is air to, has become an important one in our city. We allude to trusses, abdominal supporters, etcetera. Doctor Daniels exhibits a case of specimens of this kind of handiwork.
A model of Carpenter’s patent for setting boilers, the practical test of the superiority of which is making it generally popular, can here be seen.
Little things are often of great convenience, a simple contrivance of Messrs. Adams and Beckover, for use in offices and counting rooms, as a rack to place therein business cards, and letters, will be noted as one of much desert — its use will add much to the order and convenience of a well regulated counting room, or gentleman's office or study. The rapid growth of Societies, the Free Masons, the Odd Fellows, the Druids, the Red Men, Know Nothings, and numberless other orders, has caused the sudden growth of establishments to prepare the clothing used in their meetings and processions. Cincinnati furnishes a great portion of the Regalia used in the western country, and has sent large supplies to Oregon and California. For neatness and completeness of finish, in this branch ornamental art, our mechanics are equal, if not superior to those in the east or in France. William Addis furnishes a case of Masonic and Odd Fellows Regalia and clothing, which shows the progress of work in our city.
Some curious and ingenious person has had time, skill, and patience enough to construct quite a tower or monument out of some 15,000 pieces of pine wood, and this is done without the aid of glue or nails; it is called a Puzzle, and has been on exhibition before.
There are few improvements of so much importance as those made in the Seal Press; All will recollect the course, heavy, expensive and unhandy presses used by our fathers and by some of us in attaching the seals of a notary or clerk. But one simple invention has democratized the whole business; now everybody has a seal press stamping on his card, letter sheet, or envelope, his name and business. Five dollars now buys a man a cheap immortality, so far as a Seal Press can affect it. C. F. Hall exhibits various specimens of impressions made by this simple machine, the Seal Press.
Some Tapestire [sic] Tapestrie Carpet is here exhibited, but we are not advised of its being home manufacture. We are certain, however, producers need not go further than Cincinnati for the products of the loom, for our dealers so remarkably cheap.
A Mr. J. L. Tylor writes on cards with a pencil, and makes a good exhibition of some samples.
Within a few years Cincinnati has become famous at home and abroad for the manufacture of zinc and wooden washboards. Trifling as this article is, it is largely manufactured here and shipped to all points where people have any idea of keeping their clothes clean.
J. B. Holmes, one of our city fathers, who cleaned out the thirteenth ward at the late election, being right on the school question, no doubt, gave Platt a rub on his patent washboard, and thereby won, is a noted manufacture of the article, and his specimens on exhibition. So have Wayne, Bailey & Co.
People will have their pictures and portraits framed, and Mr. Wm. Holmes sends samples of how well he does that kind of business.
Messrs. Hanks & Wheeler, of the flat-iron ward, of our city, show that locomotive engine lamps can be manufactured in our city, and that the light reflected from Eastern made lamps is the “light of other days.”
We wondered what friend Stephenson sent a dozen tin cups to be gazed at by the public, but our wonder ceased when we learned that the magic circle of twelve were made in 38 1/2 minutes. The workman certainly was not in his cups.
Nelson A. Britt, one of our leading mechanics, displays a large quantity of planished block tin ware, which are gotten up in first rate style, and what is quite creditable to Mr. Britt is, that he has put the name of his workman on each article exhibited. He gives credit to whom credit is due. If proprietors would encourage the laudable ambition in their journeyman, excited by their devotion to their business, Young America would come out. However the young mechanics of Cincinnati, can't be kept back.
The whale ships of New England continue to sail through distant seas, and after long voyages bring home cargoes of oil taken from the monsters of the deep. But the prairie and corn fed whales of the West give an inexhaustible supply of lard oil, which, in a few years, has revolutionized the whole supply of oils for light and machinery. The perfection attained in this manufacture is very well exemplified in the samples furnished by Buckhardt & Co., who are also located in Hammond street. Who does not admire the clear and crystal clearness of this oil as contained in a miniature monument of glass, planted on a base of marble?
Here we have a new rat trap contrivance. The genius of Robert S. Craig has been exercised for the benefit of those troubled with rats. We give an imperfect description of a model of his invention, one of which for $5 he will furnish to any person having further curiosity. It is of wood, 6 inches deep, 18 inches wide, and 2 feet long. The rat enters a passage running through the trap; when midway he touches the ball, which closes a door on either side of the passage. Seeing a light, the rat goes out of the door and into a large chamber which may hold 50 rats. Entering, this door closes of itself, and reopens the passage for the entry of other rats. This is regulated by a weight, and appears to be an invention of some practical value to those troubled with this domestic annoyance.
J. F. Merrill exhibits house furnishing articles of the manufacturer of tin and zinc.
Merchants and others need good qualities of marking fluid, and Rhoads & Hunter exhibits specimens of their manufacture.
Davis & Roberts present specimens of how metallic ornaments may be constructed for ceilings, instead of Plaster Paris.
Edward Townley exemplifies by his patent bee hives, “how the busy bee improves each shining hour, and gathers honey all the day, from every opening flower.” The hives and honey are both on exhibition, the bees are not about.
Every variety of sugars and syrups, the products of our Cincinnati sugar refinery, are on exhibition, and are worthy of general observation.
The ladies interested in putting up fruit, will note the air-tight can contrivance displayed.
Cider and catawba vinegar are shown in perfection. H. Coenzler has brought this article to a point of excellence that promises to make Cincinnati the head quarters of the vinegar trade.
Who that writes does not thank the genius who emancipated us from the thraldom in which we forever had been bound by thick and indifferent ink. J. J. Butler, of our city has a good article which is well appreciated.
In this corner, L. P. Ball has displayed a very fine gallery of daguerreotype portraits. Here, and gilded frames, gaze upon people the well known faces of Rev. Dr. Root, Cassius M. Clay, Mr. Winter, Major Haskell, of Col. Kenentt’s regiment of citizen soldiers, P. S. Symmes, the Pioneer, Poet and punster, Caroline Brown, M. D., Capt. James Culbertson, H. Watkins, of the National Theatre, Miles Greenwood, Charles F. Wiltstatch, Dr. Chapman, Dr. Wright, and Charles Bett, the last five, prominent members of the institute, Peter A. Sprigman, one of the oldest merchants and firemen in the city, Rowland Ellis, the Banker, Fred. Douglass, Sidney C. Burton, J. S. McCormick. Two views of Niagara, and one of Wardle's residence, near Cheviot, are good specimens of the Photographic Art.
The Ben Franklin Printing Office exhibited some nice specimens of steam printing.
Entry No. 38 deserves some notice; It is David Rohans model Railroad shutter. This designation would not lead a person to believe that it had reference to the doors and windows of a store, but it has; Cincinnati has some as neat, fancy stores as any city. For economy of room and convenience some plan was needed to obviate the inconvenience of the ordinary doors and crossbar windows. Ingenious mechanics have designed and executed a complete contrivance to open and close the doors and windows of stores on our public streets. For a practical exemplification of the benefits of Rohan, see the admirable contrived doors and windows of the store of Peter Smith, Fifth St. and of Platt Evans on Main, opposite our office.
Housewives know, who have tried what merit there is in Bishopricks Baking Powders on exhibition.
Car Ventilators, by H. L. B. Lewis, should attract the notice of car builders.
John B. Mitchell, a lad of 15 years, has furnished a very creditable crayon sketch of a “Scene on the Wabash,” and a “Scene in the Catskill Mountains.” A promising boy.
A peculiar fragrance and beauty is added to the Hall by the splendid Boquets and Pot Flowers exhibited by Anthony Pfeiffer, the Ornamental Flower Gardner.
Close by these perishing beauties, the Roses and Verbenas, C. & L. Jacobs have something substantial in the line of eatables. Mr. John Kirfuss, one of the City Fathers, is engaged with those gentlemen and funishes specimens of Sugar Cured Hams, Spiced Tongues, and a superior article of Mess Beef. One of the half bris. of 100 lbs, which are furnished for $7, has a transparent glass head, and the metal gladdens the eye and makes the mouth water.
Anthony Erkenbrecker exhibits superior starch, an article for making which pure, Cincinnati has become famous.
Robinson, the well known collector of the mechanics institute, has a beautiful fashion plate.
The Oak Hall Merchant Tailor shop, turns out as good a suit as Eastern mechanics can. Tailoring is a branch in which the French may learn something to their advantage, from us.
The exactness and delicate perfection, required in making standard weights and measures, has been fully attained by a Cincinnati mechanic, as is beautifully illustrated, by the specimens shown by Wm. Huddart. Different States have borne testimony to the faithful workmanship of this worthy mechanic.
Mr. Herold has a sample of fly Nets and ear tips.
Louisa Killendale specimens of hair work.
C. B. Camp has a case of hats and caps, which will be admired for their beauty and elegance. — The same may be said of the boots and shoes, furnished by Jay. H. Defers. W. Z. Rees, who is noted for his excellent cutlery work, exhibits a case of surgical instruments. J. M. Pickering makes quite a display of silks and tassels.
We would be very glad to continue our description of the articles on the middle tables and that in the front part of the room, but must in consequence of the want of space, defer the remainder of our article until to-morrow. The interest in this exhibition, however, will soon subside, and we trust our readers will themselves attend and partake of the interest of all true hearted friends of the Mechanics of Cincinnati have in this Bezaar [sic] Bazaar of the products of our workshops.
