Franklin County over the years has had some very distinct manufacturers.
Brothers James E. Taylor and George A. Taylor bought a couple manufacturing companies and, with commitment and hard work, went on to develop equipment for the industrial and agricultural needs of America.
These brothers submitted their first patent in 1874, and on April 15, 1875, the patent was approved for the Taylor portable steam engine.
The Taylor brothers had a manufacturing plant located at Westminster, Md., but they moved to Chambersburg in 1882 to meet with the representatives of the Franklin County Agricultural Fair Company. The brothers purchased a tract of land in the south end of Chambersburg and drew up the necessary plans to build a manufacturing plant.
Taylor Manufacturing Co. opened its doors for business in 1884.
The main building was in the shape of a cross. Within the main building was the foundry, a machine shop and a forge shop. The new plant had the luxury of having two railroads -- the Cumberland Valley Railroad and Western Maryland Railroad -- for the services of shipping and receiving of materials and the finished product.
The business was located next to the Waynesboro Road (now Wayne Avenue), Lincoln Street (now Derbyshire Street,) and the road to Greencastle (South Main Street). It was during their seven years of production in Chambersburg they were able to build approximately 3,000 pieces of equipment.
Some of the fine items built were boilers, small steam engines, saws and logging machinery. Taylor Manufacturing Co. always advertised that they built the best portable farm engines in the world. They also claimed their engines had more power with less water and fuel that their competitors. At one time the company had the largest selection of engine patterns in the United States due to the fact that they were the successors of the Utica Steam Engine Company.
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There were numerous pieces of equipment made at the Chambersburg plant that were unique and exceeded the expectations of the customer. The Tiger portable engine could be purchased with a horsepower ranging from two to ten for operation. This successful portable engine was also able to be placed on skids for stationary work.
This engine won numerous awards at Mount Holly, N.J., Raleigh, N.C., and Louisville, Ky., for its simplicity, durability, workmanship and the quality of material.
Another popular piece of equipment made in Chambersburg was the class “B” center crank stationary engine.
Taylor Manufacturing Co. noted it was made at a higher degree of excellence than their competitors' equipment: The crank shafts were made large in size and of forged steel, the connecting rod was finished in the locomotive style and there wasn't any comparison in the workmanship or the material used in its construction. The center crank stationary was a huge success in the industrial market. This stationary engine could produce 90 horsepower.
A very unique item that was patented in 1884 and made in Chambersburg by the Taylor workforce was the ice machine. This machine was easy to operate and after you charged the freezing system you were able to make ice and ice cream at the same time. Ice began to form within two hours and was quite a necessity for hotels, steamboats, ice cream factories, breweries and butchers. This machine was very cheap to operate and made a high profit.
Some of the other items Taylor Manufacturing Co. produced in Chambersburg were the clipper vertical steam engine, climax portable engine on skids, vertical tubular boilers, circular saw mill, iron frame rip saw, self-fed lathe machine, and the self-fed shingle machine that could cut between 5,000 and 8,000 shingles a day.
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During the World's Exposition held at New Orleans in 1884-1885 the company was awarded five top award medals for the first-class quality and operation with the portable engines and the related equipment displayed by the company. The company had the reputation of being known as an innovator of unusual and modern equipment for the Agricultural and Industrial application.
The company also proudly advertised that they could furnish duplicate parts on short notice that were guaranteed to fit accurately.
All good things must come to an end. As business declined, Taylor Manufacturing Co. ceased operations in 1891. However, manufacturing did not end at the Chambersburg facility. Bond holders of the Taylor Manufacturing Co. contacted William H. Derbyshire who, after examining the property in July 1897, made an offer and obtained a charter in November to begin operations as the Chambersburg Engineering Co.
M.L.“Mike” Marotte III is an author, historian, and journalist who writes about the rich History of Franklin County. Read more of him at www.vintagefranklincountypa.com
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