The Model Lisbon Pottery; Thomas China Company description of plant

Thomas China Co. Have High Aims

and Facilities To Attain Them

Lisbon, O., Oct. 21. - The new pottery of the Thomas China Co. is being pushed rapidly to completion. They were somewhat handicapped at the start by having to blast out almost the entire excavation for the foundation, and on account of the scarcity of workmen they were unable to make up lost time. The building stands on solid rock.

They have a plant here which the management consider an ideal on. They have adopted the most modern and improved ideas. The plan and arrangement of the various departments was designed and constructed with a view of convenience and economy in manufacturing ware.

The parties constituting the company are experienced and well-known potters, some of whom were formerly located at East Liverpool. Geo. W. Thomas is president; Geo. W. Bock vice president; A. G. Mason, secretary and treasurer; and W. F. Kestes, general manager.

The interior of the factory is being fitted up, machinery placed and put in shape as rapidly as possible to begin work. The north end of the plant, in which are they clay shops, is two stories. The clay is unloaded from the cars right into the clay tins. Three plunger mills, two 72-chamber presses and a horizontal pug mill will be the capacity of this department and most of the machinery is now in place. There is also one frit mill, three clay and two color mills in this department. There is a large clay cellar just to one side of this room.

From the pug mill the clay is carried by belt conveyor to the clay working room on the second floor. This room runs the full width of the pottery and is very large and commodious. Along one side and end will be the clay pressers - 40 in all; on the opposite side seven jiggers; and along the west end the turning lathes. On this floor and off to one side is the mold shop, which is separated from the clay shop by a partition. It will be ready for occupancy this week. Mr. Keates, the manager, says they are the finest mold making and clay working shops in the country. The clay shop has windows on all sides and a skylight runs almost the entire length of the room, so the room is excellently lighted in every nook and corner.

On the first floor and adjoining the clay room, is the sagger making room. Part of the machinery is now in place and they expect to put it in operation in about a week. The green room is also in the opposite end of this section, divided from the sagger room by partition.

Next to the green room is the biscuit kiln room. Three kilns are in this room. It is large and spacious - three kilns alone occupying space on which four are usually constructed - giving ample room for loading and drawing.

Adjoining the biscuit kiln room is the biscuit ware room and dipping room, fitted up in the usual way. This room also has skylight and windows at both ends, making it as bright as day. At one end of this room is the underglaze decorating department. Two printing presses will be in this department.

Next to this room is the glost kiln room, which is constructed on the same lines exactly as the biscuit kiln room, and has three kilns. The glost ware room is about four feet higher than the kiln room and is reached by steps. This room is large and roomy, and like all other parts of the factory, well lighted.

This end of the building is three stories, and also has a basement. The basement is used as a packing room, the second floor will be used for decorated ware room, offices and sample room, and the third floor for the decorating department. In one end of this building is an elevator from basement to top floor, ware can be loaded right on cars from the west end of glost ware room.

At the east end of the glost ware room are the decorating kilns, four in all.

The above departments practically cover all the space enclosed in brick walls, but there is a large frame building besides, which will be used as a store room, etc., now being used as a mold shop.

The clay working machinery was all furnished by the C. W. Raymond Co., of Dayton, O., and is of the most improved kind. Power is furnished by a 100-horse power engine. A 100-horse power boiler furnishes steam for engine and heating. The entire building will be heated by steam, and lighted by electricity, generated on the premises.

The floors throughout the factory are double, with felt lining between.

The company expect to get their first decorated kiln burnt by the first of the year. They will start their clay shops in about three weeks and the other departments as soon as convenient. They will manufacture fine semi-porcelain toilet and table ware, plain and decorated.

Mr. W. F. Keates, who will be manager, is a thoroughly up-to-date potter. He was born in England and spent 12 years in the potteries at Stoke-on-Trent. He has been in this country four years, and was first with the Mercer pottery in Trenton, introducing underglaze decorations, and succeeding admirably. Later he worked at the Wheeling pottery in Wheeling, W. Va., where he had charge of the manufacturing department in factory No. 2. He is now a member of the Thomas China Co. He has done some fine work in underglaze decoration while in this country, and the excellence of his work elicited favorable comment from pottery manufacturers and others familiar with this class of work. He is a born progressive potter in every sense of the word and familiar with its minutest detail.

They expect to put ware upon the market about the first of the year. Mr. Keates says they will continually put out a line of goods that are entirely original and the finest things in dinner wares yet produced in this country. One of the new lines they will bring out sometime next year is called the "Rex" ware. It is a beautiful shape, and the body is as fine as any made in America. The decoration of his line will be made a special feature. The embossing is done in the mold and being sharp and clear is suitable for specially rich treatment in decorating.

Another line is the "Regina." It is a sister set to the "Rex" ware and has a decidedly French effect, being plain body and will adapted for rich decorations.

This firm propose to strive for the best. Their motto is quality not quantity, and they are aiming to start right. They have already secured a force of expert workmen. Mr. F. B. Wright, an expert modeler, also an Englishman, and for years with the Mintons, of England, has engaged with the company, and is now at work on the new lines.

It is the purpose of the Thomas China Co. to elevate the art of potting - to rise above competition and to produce an article that will win its way and command the price - Brown.