BRUSH MAKING IN TROY, N. Y.—Ten Large Plants Now Operated in North Troy, Formerly the Village of Lansingburgh.—Brushes produced in North Troy, formerly the Village of Lansingburgh, and now a part of the City of Troy. N. Y., are worth $1,000,000 annually, according to the Troy Times, which says:"If the old Village of Lansingburgh had never been annexed by the City of Troy it would have missed a great many improvements and lost a great deal of prestige, but it could still lay claim to the distinction of being the greatest Toilet Brush manufacturing center in the United States, if not in the world. There are ten large plants located in the three Northern wards of what is now North Troy, which turn out thousands of Brushes of all kinds every week, and these products are sent to practically all parts of the world. The annual output amounts to about $1,000,000, and the industry gives employment to about 2,000 persons. For that reason the Brush industry ranks second only to the collar business as a commercial asset to Troy."Why the Brush manufacturers all located in the Northern part of the city has never been satisfactorily explained, but the fact remains that the only Brush manufactory ever located in the central part of the city has long since gone out of business, while the Brush factories located in the Northern part of the city are now doing a thriving business. Whether that business will continue as well, will depend largely upon the length of the European struggle, as the Brush industry is probably the most affected of any in this country by the war across the sea."This is due to the fact that Bristles which form the all important part of Brushes are imported from Russia, Austria and Germany. When war was first declared, the price of Bristles jumped seventy-five per cent, above normal and were very scarce at that price. Gradually, however, the price has been dropping down untill now manufacturers say it is almost normal again. The supply is also sufficient to meet the demand, but just where the Bristles being sold now are coming from and how, is a matter of conjecture."Brush manufacturers are satisfied that the product being sold now is of the best quality and therefore must come originally from either Russia or Germany. The Bristles are obtained from wild boars which are raised only in those countries, all attempts at manufacturing or obtaining substitutes having failed. Horse Hair and Tampico Fibre are used in the manufacture of some Brushes, but for the better grade of Hair and Clothes Brushes they are not adaptable. The Horse Hair used in the industry is obtained principally from South America and Italy, but even this must be sent to Germany to be properly bleached. The Tampico Fibre is secured mainly from Mexico, and is used only in the manufacture of the coarser articles."Much of the wood used in the manufacture of the fancy articles is also imported. Ebony is secured from Madagascar and Ceylon, rosewood from South America, satin wood from India and olive wood from Spain and Italy. The red wood of California is also used while birch secured in the Grafton hills, East of Troy, is probably the most commonly used variety."All these woods are received by the manufacturers in log form and must be seasoned before they are used. The wood is then cut up into the various style Brushes manufactured. The variety and style of designs can best be judged from this list of Brushes manufactured by the Troy concerns: Hair, Billiard, Plate, Bath, Flesh, Shampoo, Dog, Dauber, Shoe, Laundry, Bath Tub, Bicycle, Barber Hair, Barber Dusters, Hat, Jewelers', Crumb, Radiator, Turkish Bath, Car Window, Cloth, Stiff Hat, Fringe, Water, Tailors', Nail or Hand, Carriage Cloth, Stove, Floor, Pad, Typewriter, Hearth, Button, Boiler, Fetlock, Refrigerator and Twisted Wire Brushes."The manufacture of a Brush presents a very interesting study and it is singular that the old-fashioned methods are still in use today as well as the modern machine work. Brushes are made in three different ways, the old-fashioned hand wire drawn method and the modern solid back and composition face methods."Much of the wire drawn work is done by families outside the factories, the workers taking the material to their homes where the work is done. In making this style of Brush the logs of wood are first cut up into Blocks and Brush Backs of the proper size and sent to the shaper. From the shaper the Block is sent to the borer who makes the holes in the wood. These Blocks are then sent to the drawer who inserts the Bristles and fastens them by means of wire drawn through the loop of the Bristles. After this is done the backs are fastened to the Blocks containing the rows of Bristles either with glue or screws and sometimes both. The article is then taken to the shaper who designs the style of the Brush and next the sandwheeler takes all the rough edges off the wooden part. The Brush is then ready for the paint shop where it is stained or varnished. It next goes to the trimmer who sees that the Bristles are cut evenly and the finished article is then wrapped and is ready for shipment."In the Solid Back Brush, as the name implies, the wooden part is all one piece. After the back is cut to the desired size the borer cuts the holes in it and specially constructed machines pound the Bristles into the wood and fasten them there by means of wire rivets with a single operation. After the Bristles are inserted the Brush goes to the shaper, sandwheeler and painter the same as the wire drawn style."The composition face Brush is the real product of modern methods. After the Blocks are sawed to the proper size they are routed, that is a recess is cut in the under side. Each style Brush has a brass pattern in which the block is placed and the Bristles are sifted through the holes in this pattern. A hot composition is then poured into the mold between the block and pattern and is allowed to harden, the cement forming a jacket for the Bristles and holding them. After the cement hardens the pattern or die is removed and the Brush is finished up in the same manner as the other varieties."The hand-made, wire drawn Brush is still considered the best type and the Brushes made in this way generally outlast the more modernly constructed styles. The Brushes made in Troy are shipped in large quantities to Canada and thence to England and her possessions, and also to South America, Philippines, Honolulu and Cuba."The village of Lansingburgh has been prominently identified with the Brush business since 1810, when William McMurray started a factory in Second Avenue, above [One Hundred] Eighteenth Street. From this factory and its employees grew the present industry, for many of the employees of William McMurray later branched out for themselves and established factories of their own. It was probably the fact that all the pioneer Brush manufacturers were residents of the old village of Lansingburgh and wanted their establishments near their homes that resulted in confining the business to the Northern wards as present day manufacturers admit they could do business more economically if located nearer the freight depots and shipping center of the city."John G. McMurray, a younger brother of William, was the first to engage in the Brush business on a large scale. He erected a large factory in [One Hundred] Seventeenth Street that covered almost a city block, and was considered the largest Brush manufactory in the world for years. In the early days all kinds of Brushes, including Paint and Tooth Brushes, were manufactured in Lansingburgh. but gradually the manufacturers began to specialize and as Toilet Brushes were their prize product it was but a matter of a few years when the Brush business resolved into the manufacture of Toilet Brushes exclusively. Some of the present manufacturers also deal in all kinds of Toilet articles that are linked with Brushes."Since the days of the McMurray brothers there have been dozens of firms engaged in the Brush industry in Lansingburgh, and at one time when the hand drawn variety was the only kind, it gave employment to nearly 5,000 persons."Among the early manufacturers, George Scott looms up as a conspicuous figure and is said to have been the only one who failed in the business and made good aciain. paying back every cent he owed on account of his failure. Mr. Scott was one of the graduates of the McMurray shop. He died more than twenty years ago."The dean of living Brush manufacturers is Charles Wood, of 645 Third Avenue, North Troy. Mr. Wood retired from active business a year ago after more than fifty years' continuous service as a Brushmaker. He is now eighty-five years old, and began in the business as a boy under his father, A. R. Wood, one of the pioneer Brush men of Lansingburgh. A. R. Wood was engaged in the business as far back as 1835 and Charles Wood worked in his father's factory as an apprentice. He later succeeded to the business and continued that business with a brother under the name of E. & C. Wood until a year ago when, because of old age, and the European struggle, closed his factory and quit the Brush making field."Among the present day Brush manufacturers in North Troy, one of the largest and oldest concerns is O. Dennin's Sons, with a large factory at the corner of Sixth Avenue and [One Hundred] Twentieth Street. This concern was established in 1874 by Owen Dennin and is now continued by his sons. William H. Dennin is President: E. A. Dennin. Vice President; Charles B. Dennin, Secretary and Treasurer, and Fred M. Dennin, Superintendent."Another old Brush concern still doing business is F. M. Hoyt & Brother. Marshall E. Hoyt is the present owner, but he runs the business under the firm name of F. M. Hoyt & Brother. This business was established in 1858 by Fred M. Hoyt and was controlled by him until 1886 when he took his brother, Marshall E. Hoyt, into partnership. The latter bought his brother out in 1906 and has since conducted the business alone."Other Brush concerns still flourishing in North Troy are the Alpha Brush Company at 33 Second Avenue; Flynn Brothers, 436 Fifth Avenue; Monarch Brush Company, 651 Third Avenue; Rensselaer Brush Company, 491 Sixth Avenue: A. L. Sonn Brush Company, 516 First Avenue; Troy Brush Company, head of [One Hundred] Seventeenth Street; Universal Brush Company, Second Street, and Diack Brothers, [One Hundred] Eighth Street and Second Avenue."Wooden & Willow-Ware Trade Review 48(6). November 25, 1915. 41-42, 48.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQQHH14I4QA"Bristles and Brushes (1926)." British Pathé. April 13, 2014.See also Brush Patents