Mr. C. B. McDowell-Carriage Manufactor 1878

MCDOWELL

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 4/12/2017 at 21:28:42

The Clinton Age, Clinton, Iowa, March 29, 1878

A reporter of the Age visited the mammoth carriage manufactory of Mr. C. B. McDowell, located on the corner of Second Street and Eight Avenue, running to the alley each way, and, with the permission of the gentlemanly proprietor, made a flying tour of observation through the various department of the gigantic institution, consisting of wood working shops, blacksmith shops, paint shops, gear room, body room, trimming room, four large stock rooms, and an elegantly appointed repository, occupying five large rooms.

Beginning with the woodworking department, located in the north building of the institution, our reporter watched the process of carriage making in the various stages as represented in each department. In this establishment are employed only experienced workmen, and nothing but strictly first-classed material are used in the work turned out here. Each department is under the supervision of a master mechanic thoroughly versed in the mutest details of his trade, and the whole concern moves directly under the strict surveillance of Mr. C. B. McDowell, whose mechanical eye and determination to turn out first-class work has given him the enviable reputation he now enjoys. Passing through the various departments the reporter arrived at the varnish room, where the vehicles received the twelfth coat, consisting of a superior quality of varnish laid on by artistic hands under the eye of Mr. Frank McDowell, who is, in the absence of the proprietor, general superintendent, and, like his parental relative a thorough mechanic. Entering the repository, carriages, buggies, with and without tops, phaetons, open, with top, and with canopy, road-wagons, sulkeys, and in fact everything in this line from the knobby light turnout of the fast young man to the elegant establishment of the millionaire.