THE CRADLE OF THE MODERN NAVY. 19 



under the name of W. & A. Fletcher Company, they still do a thriving business in 

 river boats, engines, boilers and miscellaneous engineering apparatus. 



John W. Handren left the DeLamater Iron Works in 1868 and with David M. 

 Ripley started the Albany Street Iron Works at Albany and Washington Streets. 

 Later Mr. DeLamater 's son-in-law, John N. Robins, bought Ripley's interest in the 

 firm. The Morgan Iron Works at the foot of East 9th Street, which built the en- 

 gines for the Providence and Bristol of the Fall River Line and many others; the 

 Novelty Iron Works, Avenue D and 13th Street, which built the engines of the Arc- 

 tic, Atlantic and Adriatic of the Collins Line and other early ocean steamers; and the 

 Allaire Iron Works of T. F. Secor & Company at 455 Cherry Street, which built 

 the engines for the Pacific and Baltic of the Collins Line, and others, were later com- 

 bined by John Roach and did a large business in ocean vessels. The Quintard Iron 

 Works at Avenue D and nth to 12th Streets became an important adjunct to the 

 engine and machinery manufacturing industry of the country, building the Ma- 

 chias, Castine, Bennington and other vessels for the U S. Navy. Tugnot, Dalley & 

 Company had a forge at 26th Street and First Avenue and made the wrought iron 

 shafts for these vessels under a 7-ton tilt hammer. 



John N. Robins established, in connection with the Albany Street Iron. Works, 

 a dry dock at the Erie Basin and started a development in that section of Brook- 

 lyn which has continued and become of international importance. 



Ericsson had an exhibit of drawings and models of all of his inventions at the 

 Centennial Exposition which attracted world-wide attention and brought the De- 

 Lamater Iron Works before the world in a way that no amount of advertising 

 could have done. 



The works had become not only nationally but internationally known by this 

 time and was a mecca for inventors and promoters and anyone who had an idea to 

 be developed. Many an impecunious inventor was welcomed, encouraged and the 

 difificulties under which he was laboring to accomplish his aim removed and success 

 brought to his efforts. To work there was a liberal education. In those days tech- 

 nical schools were in their infancy, they could impart only engineering theory at 

 the best, and students had to visit industrial plants during their course and, after 

 graduation, spend some time in them doing whatever work they could in order to 

 learn to apply practically the theories acquired. 



Students in the mechanical engineering courses of the School of Mines of Co- 

 lumbia College, the Sheffield Scientific School of Yale College and other similar in- 

 stitutions found an open welcome by Mr. DeLamater to come and spend time in the 

 shops under the supervision of their professors of engineering. Some of these classes 

 would spend a week there, giving a day to each of the departments, the draughting 

 office, pattern shop, foundry, boiler shop, blacksmith shop and machine shop, and had 

 to pass an examination afterwards on what they had learned. Many a graduate 

 from these schools obtained his practical experience there who would otherwise 

 have gone through the world only half as well equipped. To Mr. Roelker, chief 

 engineer, they were particularly indebted for the help he gave them and his patience 

 in giving it. 



