410 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



attempted to make an eye or shank button, and imported his ideas on the 

 subject, it is said, from across the Atlantic. Though he partially failed, 

 that kind of button is now successfully made at the two button factories 

 located in this town. Several persons followed Mr. Yale with varied for- 

 tunes; but to Judj^e E. M. Pomeroy is av/arded the praise of success in this 

 department of industry. Tliis man, recently deceased, is described as 

 remarkable for originality, independence and persevering purpose. He 

 would never throughout his life, his friends say, take advantage of other 

 men's inventions; but depend for success on his own powers. Twenty-nine 

 years ago he conceived the idea of making common suspender or four- 

 hole buttons from paper; and the purpose then formed was successfully 

 executed, although he encountered obstacles which would have discouraged 

 most men. His experiments involved much loss of time and money — he 

 was several times burnt: out; but perseverance finall}' brought him com- 

 plete success, and he was repaid fOr all his losses, aad found himself at one 

 time worth some forty thousand dollars. We are told what rude hand 

 implements wore us'^ed by him at first — how he invested improved power 

 machines — how he wrought day and night — how his funds were exhausted 

 in experiments; but his hope and courage never abated. 



THE TWO FACTORIES AND WHAT THEY MAKE. 



The first factory visited is carried on by Humiston & Pomeroy. They 

 employ ordinarily not more than half a dozen hands. They make paper 

 buttons varying from twenty line to forty line, or from vest button size to 

 overcoat size. They make some small buttons with eyes or shanks, but 

 mostly holed buttons. They also manufacture '* nail heads " of different 

 sizes, used in trimming carriages, trunks, etc. 



The other factory is a much larger establishment, and is carried on by 

 Hall, Miller & Co., whose goods are stamped " Pomeroy Manufacturing 

 Co.," after the style of the original firm. Here are emploj'ed at present 

 twenty-eight hands, of whom the greater portion are women and girls. 

 Here are made a great variety of paper buttons, and also several kinds of 

 metal faced buttons; also gun wadding. The sales of this establishment 

 the present year are estimated at twenty-five thousand dollars. On an 

 average one hundred great gross of paper buttons, twenty-five of metal 

 face, and ten gross of gilt face are made daily. About fifty tons of straw- 

 board will be used the present year; 150 gallons a month of linseed oil; 

 and two barrels per month of benzine. Both establishments manufacture 

 their own boxes. 



HOW PAPER KUTTONS ARE MADE. 



The buttons are first cut out of common coarse strawboard of the proper 

 thickness by power punches, which do the work witii surprising rapidity, 

 each cutting from five to eight hundred per minute. The buttons thus sim- 

 ply cut are placed in the hopper of a power press, which is ingeniously 

 contrived to f(!ed itself; a pipe leads from the iioppef perpendicularly — 

 revolving fingers keep this pipe filled — a single button is taken from the 

 bottom of the pipe ere it reaches the bed of the press, and carried under a 

 punch which presses it into the desired form, punches the required number 

 of holes, and if desired stamps it with the name of the manufacturing firm 



