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Title: |
1901 Article-Gardner Governor Co., Factory View |
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Source: |
Railway Age, V31, 12 Apr 1901, pg. 428 |
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Insert Date: |
11/10/2018 9:32:26 PM |
The accompanying engraving gives a birds eye view of the new manufacturing plant just erected by the Gardner Governor Company of Quincy, Ill., for the manufacture of governors, steam pumps and air compressors. It is nearing completion and will be ready for occupancy about the middle of the present month. The quarters now occupied by the company have become entirely inadequate for their increasing business, and the crowded condition rendered necessary the enlarged facilities obtainable in the new works.
The plant consists of three separate -buildings, all of substantial stone construction, built on the 1-story plan, well lighted and with conveniences incident to an up-to-date manufacturing establishment. The main building is 300 feet long by 120 feet wide, and will contain the machine shop, erecting room and offices. There is a 40 by 40 addition on the east of this building for boiler room. This main building is equipped with a traveling crane of large capacity for the convenient and rapid movement of heavy materials, etc. The building is magnificently lighted, the windows being of prism glass, throwing the light in diffused rays the entire length and breadth of the shops. The center building is the foundry, and measures 150 feet by 100 feet. It will also be provided with large traveling crane and will be equipped with the most modern devices known in good foundry practice. The front portion will be utilized for core room, while the west section of the building will contain cupola room, cleaning room and brass furnaces. The iron and coke will be elevated into the charging room by an air lift.
The building on the extreme left is the pattern shop and storage building. The front half contains a complete outfit of machinery, while the rear half is used for pattern storage. These divisions are separated by a 24-inch stone wall, extending 5 feet above the roof to insure fire protection. The power plant consists of a 200-horsepower water tube Erie City boiler, a 14 by 18 Inch Chandler & Taylor engine, Gardner pumps, Erie heaters and Austin separator. The whole plant is heated by the Sturtevant hot blast system.
The electrical equipment was purchased from the Westinghouse Company and is of the 220-volt system, which is used both for light and power. The pattern shop, foundry and part of the machinery are driven by slow-speed motors. A narrow gauge industrial railway runs through all parts of the buildings, facilitating the handling of the material.
The offices and draughting rooms occupy the entire front portion of the main building in the second story, 120 by 30. They are excellent in all appointments and in keeping with the rest of the plant.
The plant is located on the main lines of the Wabash and Burlington systems, and there are three spurs running on the premises and into the buildings. This gives adequate railroad facilities, insuring the prompt handling of all freight. All buildings are thoroughly equipped with automatic fire sprinklers, with two sources of supply—the city water mains, with pressure of 90 pounds, and a tower 80 feet in height.
Buildings and grounds together present a 400-foot frontage and there is ample yard room for storage and expansion. Electric cars run to the very doors, making the plant accessible for workmen and all connected with it. There are but few shops so well equipped as these, and none better. The reputation gained by the company for making high-class goods will certainly be maintained in the new works. They will be able to turn out a larger quantity, and, with improved facilities, of better quality, than ever before. The company intend to open the plant to friends on the evening of April 15 (1901) Immediately thereafter moving operations begin. |
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1901 Gardner Governor Co., Factory View
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