Akron Hi-Potential Porcelain Plant starts

BARBERTON NEWS

INSULATOR COMPANY

BEGINS OPERATIONS

Akron Hi-Potential Porcelain Plant Put late Active Operation

Thursday Giving Barberton Another Large Industry.

(Special to Beacon Journal)

Barberton, O. Nov. 1 -- Active operations were started today in what promises to become one of Barberton's largest industries.

This is the manufacture of porcelain insulators by the Akron Hi-Potential Porcelain company whose machinery was put into operation today for the first time. The company occupied the plant of the defunct Barberton Pottery company, located on the belt line at Tuscarawas avenue, some time ago, and since then has been engaged in the manufacture of the machinery worth in all $10,000, which will be various varieties and electric insulators. Skilled die makers and other machinists have been at work on this for the past six months.

There will be two separate factories, one for the manufacture of miscellaneous varieties of electric insulators and the other for making the high-voltage insulators similar to those which the Cleveland Construction company has been using for the high-tension wires through Barberton. At present only about 35 potters are at work but Manager Dyke announces that in 30 days more than 150 men will be employed and when the factory is running at the full capacity, which will probably be in about six months, 300 men will be the force.

Two Other Plants.

There are only two other factories in the United States producing the same kind of articles as the new company. The Barberton concern, however, will exceed these in size, making it the largest manufactory of electric insulators in the world. It is capitalized at $100,000, all the shares being owned by five stockholders, who intend to retain them. M. Otis Hower is the president. George H. Kile the secretary and treasurer, and A. L. Dyke the manager. The other two stockholders are Salem Kile and W. H. Kile. Mr. Dyke comes here from New Cumberland, W. Va., where he received his experience in the business with the Standard Porcelain company, of which he was one of the directors.

This field of industry is one in which there is no limit. The rapid spread of the electric transit system is making necessary the use of an enormous number of insulators for high-tension conductors. The wire which leads from the Akron power house to the beginning of the Wadsworth line west of Barberton required alone over $7,000 worth of this commodity.

Much is Used.

Hundreds of such lines are in the constant course of construction all over the world and the prospects are that the number will increase. An idea is given of the great demand for this article by the statement of Manager Dyke that the company already has enough advance orders to keep the factory busy for two years. When running at its full capacity the concern will turn out about ten cars full of the product per day.

The plant which was purchased from the Barberton Pottery company is unusually well fitted for the purposes of the new concern. It at present covers about five and three-fourth acres and will probably be doubled in size in the course of time in view of the demands of the market. These insulators are used not only for high-voltage feed wires, but also for light current conductors from such centers of power as Niagara Falls, and also largely for third rail systems in city and interurban traction lines. The insulators of the Akron Hi-Potential company are so made as to carry a voltage of 200,000.

The installation of the new plant adds one more to Barberton's list of "biggest-in-the-world" factories. It has had the largest match factory, the largest boiler works, the largest sewer pipe factory, the largest valve works and the largest soda ash plant in the world; and now is added to the largest insulator factory.