I am working on putting together a Centennial themed room in my house, and was thumbing through a book about the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia in (of course) 1876. A photo of the exhibit by Brown and Bliss, New York clearly shows our dining room table, which is pretty exciting - although this revelation will mandate that the leaves come out and it now goes in the Centennial room.
Does anyone have information on or knowledge of the firm of Brown and Bliss? The New York Times archives reveal that the company suffered a terrible loss from a fire in 1880 when they occupied space in a building shared with the Schrenkeisin factory. They moved to another location in NYC and suffered another devastating fire in 1882. Can't seem to find much more info than that.
Brown & Bliss, New York - Dining Room Furniture Manufacturer
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Victorian Furniture thread on victorianforum.com · started August 18, 2008 by vaillancourt_antiquities · 2 posts · discussion in 2008.
I am working on putting together a Centennial themed room in my house, and was thumbing through a book about the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia in (of course) 1876. A photo of the exhibit by Brown and Bliss, New York clearly shows our dining room table, which is pretty…
A few random discoveries for you that should help. I'm assuming the Brown and Bliss to be the same between the foundry business and the Canal street furniture business.
340 Brown & Bliss 169 Canal street New York NY 0ining room furniture extension tables sideboards etc. Special manufacturers and exporters of dining room furniture suite including extension tables of every description with patent slides and patent screw leg corner block also sideboards and side tables with leaves of extension table enclosed within.
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CHARLES P. RYTHER was born at Evans Mills in 1833. His father was Peter H. Ryther, a noted mechanic of Evans Mills, who removed to Theresa about 1845, and there, Chas. P. reached his majority. He came to Carthage in 1868, where he has since resided. Soon after coming to Carthage he purchased an interest in the firm of Brown & Bliss. In 1871 Mr. Pringle was received into partnership, when the firm became Brown, Ryther & Pringle. Subsequently the Brown interest was purchased by the other partners, and the firm became Ryther & Pringle. The business is general machinery. Mr. Ryther has been quite a politician. He has been president of the village. At the time of the Carthage fire he was made chairman and treasurer of the relief committee. His labors were onerous, but he gave general satisfaction--a thing hard to accomplish under such trying circumstances. Mr. Ryther has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Mary M. De Groat, and she died in 1889. He married Mrs. Georgiana Stevens in December, 1890.
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Furnace Island. -- The first inception of opening up of business upon this little spot grew out of one of the numerous necessities of that indefatigable man who, in his day, might well be styled the Napoleon of Carthage. When Hiram McCollom began to build his rolling-mill and nail works in 1845, and the draughts for the necessary machinery were being made, it became apparent that no foundry at that time in operation in Carthage was of sufficient capacity to produce the immensely heavy castings which would be required for the works. He therefore entered into an agreement with James P. Hodgkins, who immediately went to work, and the same, year, 1845, erected a foundry on what has since been known as Furnace Island. The main purpose for which this foundry was built was to mold and cast this machinery. Some of these castings were immensely heavy, weighing tons. The fly-wheel was a huge affair, put together in segments, and contained an enormous amount of iron. Mr. Hodgkins carried on the business until 1852. For about eight months Seth R. King was a partner in the concern. Mr. King was the mechanical engineer of the nail works and rolling-mill. In 1849 or 1850 Ezra Hodgkins became a partner, and in 1852 the connection of James P.
Hodgkins with the foundry ceased, and the firm became Hodgkins & Fuller. About a year after this partnership was formed Levi Wood bought Fuller out, and the firm became Hodgkins & Wood. This partnership lasted about two year. They put in a lathe and planer, and thus inaugurated that part which has since grown to such large proportions---the machine shop. The island and all its belongings were now purchased by George M. and Alexander Brown, who conducted the business until 1860, when the firm changed its name to that of Brown, Winch & Bliss, William Winch and Jacob A. Bliss coming from Watertown and taking up their residence here. Mr. Winch sold his interest to the remaining partners and returned to Watertown in 1865, where he died a few years later. He was an expert founder, and an upright and respected citizen.
Upon the formation of the firm of Brown, Winch & Bliss the business became more extensive than ever before. Mr. Winch had charge of the foundry, while Mr. Bliss, who was an experienced machinist, assumed the management of that part of the business. G. M. Brown managed the finances of the concern. Mr. Brown was an exemplary man, and won and retained the highest regard to those with whom he was most intimately associated. He died in February, 1868. Mr. Bliss then sold his interest to Mrs. Alexander Brown. In 1868 C. P. Ryther bought a half interest, and the firm continued with the name of Brown & Ryther until 1871, when James Pringle became associated with Mr. Ryther, under the firm name of Ryther & Pringle, who are the present owners and managers of this large and prosperous business. On the destruction of the shops and foundry in October, 1884, they rebuilt the works on a much larger scale and with greatly improved facilities, putting in a large amount of the best machinery, sparing no expense necessary to make the plant what it now is---one of the largest and best conducted works in Northern New York. The Ryther Manufacturing Company also carry on their business here. The machine shop is two stories high, and covers an area 140 by 50 feet. The foundry is 40 by 80 feet, and the blacksmith shop 40 by 44 feet. The firm employs from 20 to 30 men.
340 Brown & Bliss 169 Canal street New York NY 0ining room furniture extension tables sideboards etc. Special manufacturers and exporters of dining room furniture suite including extension tables of every description with patent slides and patent screw leg corner block also sideboards and side tables with leaves of extension table enclosed within.
***
CHARLES P. RYTHER was born at Evans Mills in 1833. His father was Peter H. Ryther, a noted mechanic of Evans Mills, who removed to Theresa about 1845, and there, Chas. P. reached his majority. He came to Carthage in 1868, where he has since resided. Soon after coming to Carthage he purchased an interest in the firm of Brown & Bliss. In 1871 Mr. Pringle was received into partnership, when the firm became Brown, Ryther & Pringle. Subsequently the Brown interest was purchased by the other partners, and the firm became Ryther & Pringle. The business is general machinery. Mr. Ryther has been quite a politician. He has been president of the village. At the time of the Carthage fire he was made chairman and treasurer of the relief committee. His labors were onerous, but he gave general satisfaction--a thing hard to accomplish under such trying circumstances. Mr. Ryther has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Mary M. De Groat, and she died in 1889. He married Mrs. Georgiana Stevens in December, 1890.
***
Furnace Island. -- The first inception of opening up of business upon this little spot grew out of one of the numerous necessities of that indefatigable man who, in his day, might well be styled the Napoleon of Carthage. When Hiram McCollom began to build his rolling-mill and nail works in 1845, and the draughts for the necessary machinery were being made, it became apparent that no foundry at that time in operation in Carthage was of sufficient capacity to produce the immensely heavy castings which would be required for the works. He therefore entered into an agreement with James P. Hodgkins, who immediately went to work, and the same, year, 1845, erected a foundry on what has since been known as Furnace Island. The main purpose for which this foundry was built was to mold and cast this machinery. Some of these castings were immensely heavy, weighing tons. The fly-wheel was a huge affair, put together in segments, and contained an enormous amount of iron. Mr. Hodgkins carried on the business until 1852. For about eight months Seth R. King was a partner in the concern. Mr. King was the mechanical engineer of the nail works and rolling-mill. In 1849 or 1850 Ezra Hodgkins became a partner, and in 1852 the connection of James P.
Hodgkins with the foundry ceased, and the firm became Hodgkins & Fuller. About a year after this partnership was formed Levi Wood bought Fuller out, and the firm became Hodgkins & Wood. This partnership lasted about two year. They put in a lathe and planer, and thus inaugurated that part which has since grown to such large proportions---the machine shop. The island and all its belongings were now purchased by George M. and Alexander Brown, who conducted the business until 1860, when the firm changed its name to that of Brown, Winch & Bliss, William Winch and Jacob A. Bliss coming from Watertown and taking up their residence here. Mr. Winch sold his interest to the remaining partners and returned to Watertown in 1865, where he died a few years later. He was an expert founder, and an upright and respected citizen.
Upon the formation of the firm of Brown, Winch & Bliss the business became more extensive than ever before. Mr. Winch had charge of the foundry, while Mr. Bliss, who was an experienced machinist, assumed the management of that part of the business. G. M. Brown managed the finances of the concern. Mr. Brown was an exemplary man, and won and retained the highest regard to those with whom he was most intimately associated. He died in February, 1868. Mr. Bliss then sold his interest to Mrs. Alexander Brown. In 1868 C. P. Ryther bought a half interest, and the firm continued with the name of Brown & Ryther until 1871, when James Pringle became associated with Mr. Ryther, under the firm name of Ryther & Pringle, who are the present owners and managers of this large and prosperous business. On the destruction of the shops and foundry in October, 1884, they rebuilt the works on a much larger scale and with greatly improved facilities, putting in a large amount of the best machinery, sparing no expense necessary to make the plant what it now is---one of the largest and best conducted works in Northern New York. The Ryther Manufacturing Company also carry on their business here. The machine shop is two stories high, and covers an area 140 by 50 feet. The foundry is 40 by 80 feet, and the blacksmith shop 40 by 44 feet. The firm employs from 20 to 30 men.