Milford, MA Estabrook Mfg Fire, Feb 1882

VALUABLE MACHINERY LOST.

BURNING OF THE CLINCHING-SCREW FACTORY AT MILFORD, MASS.

MILFORD, Mass., Feb. 23.---The manufactory of Estabrook & Co., was burned last evening. The fire, the cause of which is unknown, broke out in the first story of the building, occupied by the owners for making boot and shoe machinery, by the Clinching-screw Company, and by J. E. Kimball. The total loss is nearly $50,000. The insurance is placed in the Milford Company on the building and contents, and $7,250 in the Ætna, North British, and Lancashire. The Clinching-screw Company had $5,000 in the Niagara and Continental companies. The boiler-house was partially damaged. Estabrook & Co. were employing abut 60 men. Several small buildings in the immediate vicinity of the factory were damaged. The Clinching-screw Company had five tons of nails ready for shipment---a total loss. A large amount of insurance is placed out of town. The name of one of the firms burned out is Estabrook. Wires & Co., manufacturers of patent clinching screw-nails for boots and shoes, boot trees, &c. The machinery used by them was all made especially for this work, and no duplicates are in existence. They had an extensive trade in countries, and their loss can scarcely be estimated in dollars and cents. The Clinching-screw Company was a stock company, with a capital of $1,000,000. Part of the building was also occupied by a company engaged in manufacturing machines for driving headed clinching screws similar to Estabrook, Wires & Co.'s screws. They also manufactured the nails to be used in their machines. Their machinery and the tools for making the machines, and also the nails, were special work; they are not to be found in the market, and were quite costly. The same remarks apply to J. E. Kimball, the contractor for the clinching-screw company, the other occupant of the building. The building burned was worth $7,500. This was a total loss, but the boiler and engine house adjoining was saved, in a somewhat damaged condition. The lumber sheds, containing a large stock of lumber, were saved, but badly damaged. L. T. Tougas, manufacturer of dies, in a building close by, probably loses several hundred dollars from damage in moving his goods and by water. He was insured. In addition to the losses as above stated the workmen lost the tools belonging to them individually, in many instances quite valuable, and few were insured.

The New York Times, New York, NY 24 Mar 1882
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Transcribed by Linda Horton. Thank you, Linda!