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Wiens Brush Factory
103 West Cady
Standard Brush Co. of Watertown
PRE 1874
Click
to enlarge
View, pre 1874, from Main
Street Bridge, of Cady Street before bridge was constructed in 1874
c.1875
JOHN B. MAY PHOTO
c.1895
-- -- 101 WEST CADY, ADJACENT TO WIENS BRUSH FACTORY
apparent pigeon coop at
rear of building
1903
02 21 BRUSH FACTORY NOW ONE
OF CITY’S INDUSTRIES
To Commence Operations as soon as possible
Good work by the Advancement Association
The A. R. Wiens Dustless Brush company of Milwaukee today became the owner of the old Bennett foundry property on First Street owned by the E. Kunert Manufacturing company, paying therefore S4000. An amount of S2000 was raised by popular subscriptions in this city as a bonus with which to remodel the present buildings, the donors being secured that the factory will remain at least five years.
The Advancement Association, which had the matter in charge and by whose efforts the plant was secured, may justly feel proud of the success which attended their efforts as it was only by dint of hard work on the part of the officers that this plant was secured for the city.
Mechanics have already begun the work of overhauling the buildings with a view to installing machinery at once and actual work on the manufacture of brushes will begin just as soon as the new help can be broke in sufficiently to turn out a first class article.
The company has been operating a factory in Milwaukee for several years, but wished to secure more room with less expenditure for rent and other expenses incurred in a large city. John Chapman of this city will have an interest in the new concern. It is expected to have forty men employed here before the close of the year and more will be added when the trade demands.
1889 Watertown City Directory
1905
09 13 COMPANY SEEKS EMPLOYEES
There is
considerable idle capital in this city which might be profitably invested in
the erection of dwelling houses for rental purposes and the city benefited by
an increase of population and trade.
Only recently, the A. R. Wiens Brush company lost two of its high
salaried employees because they could not secure houses in which to live with
their families. The same company has an
opportunity to secure a large contract involving many thousands of dollars
which would add at least a half more to its operating force, but the company
hesitates to take the contract for fear of failure to secure expert workmen. Some idea of the benefit to the city may be
gained from the fact that the A. R. Wiens Brush company pays out $2,000 monthly
in wages which would be increased a half more if there were dwellings for the
housing of workmen. As has already been
said, there is much idle capital in this city which could be made to pay a good
dividend if used as has been suggested, and there should be a loosening up of
the purse string and a little local civic pride demonstrated. WR
09 20 SPEAKING OF BUSY MEN
A. R. Wiens of Milwaukee, president of the A. R. Wiens Brush
Co., was in the city Tuesday looking after matters at the factory and as busy
as a ward politician at a municipal election.
10 18 Quite extensive improvements are in progress at the flouring mill of the R. P. Koenig & Co., on S. First Street. A concrete flume, 140 feet in length, is being constructed to replace the old flume which is going to decay. A box flume is being constructed to convey water to the A. R. Wien's Brush factory. The improvements indicate that the Koenig Co. and the Brush factory are prospering.
1908 60-inch & 30-inch TURBINES
The lower dam [Globe Mill dam] was reconstructed three or four years ago, the present concrete dam replacing an old style timber structure . . . On the left bank are located the R. P. Koening Company flour mill and the A. R. Wein Brush Company factory with an installation of 60 inch and 30 inch turbines respectively.
1909
04 02 KOENIG & CO. WIN CASE. In the county court at Jefferson last Friday R. P. Koenig & Co. won their case against the A. R. Wiens Co. and were awarded damages of $98.16. Repairs were made in the mill race on the east side and Koenig & Co. claimed the defendants should pay a certain percentage of the costs. Otto C. Hahn appeared for the plaintiffs and Kading & Kading for defendants. WG
05 16 WIENS BRUSH FACTORY SOLD
At sheriff’s sale Tuesday afternoon the A. R. Wiens Brush Company factory on First Street was sold. Nathaniel Greene of Milwaukee bid it in for the sum of $9550. It is probable that it will be occupied by another factory in the near future. WG
1915
-- -- BIG BRUSH ORDER
Lee B. Skinner Brush Co. interior (assumed)
RESEARCH NOTE <> Unidentified print in our collection. Assumed to relate to entry in Watertown Gazette of 01 22 1914:
BIG BRUSH ORDER
Lee B. Skinner of
Dunedin, Florida, has placed an order for “10,000 feet of orange brushes” with
the Standard Brush Co. of Watertown.
(patented
Skinner device with brushes used to clean fruit)
c.1915
History of Watertown, Wisconsin