trical contractor.
5.QOQ-KVA Power Transformer installed at Harrisburg Steel
Corporation Plant.
N. E. Abel was born in Manchester, York County,
Pennsylvania, May 8, 1896, son of I. B. and Maggie
(Boyd) Abel. His father, also a native of Manchester
Township, followed agriculture during the early part
of his life, but later operated the first oil plant in
York, Pennsylvania. Still later in life he entered the
grocery business which he continued until 1913. In
1913, he with son, Normal E. Abel, went into the
electrical contracting business from which he is now
retired. This partnership continued until December,
1934, when I. B. Abel retired from business, and the
business was taken over by Norman E. Abel at a
new location at 35 North George Street, for electrical
engineering and construction, from which place the
company is now operating as I B. Abel - Son.
The Abels first were engaged in selling all kinds
of electrical appliances, but upon the retirement of
the father, Norman E. Abel became proprietor, and
he has devoted all his activities to electrical con-
struction work. He wired the City Hall, eighty-five
Ail-Steel Switchboard.
Incoming Power Entrance installed at Special Ordnance Plant,
York Sate & Lock Co.
per cent of all the churches in York, a number of
schools, fifty per cent of the banks, eighty-five per
cent of all stores in York, and has met the Public
Works Administration requirements. At the present
time. Normal E. Abel has over $267,000 worth of con-
tracts under way, including the wiring for the York
Safe and Lock Company, the York-Hoover Corpora-
tion, and General Electric Plants.
Mr. Abel has taken justifiable pride in doing the
electrical work for the York Agricultural Society for
the last thirty years, having wired for both lighting
and power the many attractions at the York Inter-
state Fair.
Starting with but two employees in 1913, there are
now over one hundred and fifty men employed.
110
ALLOY RODS COMPANY
Stainless and Alloy Welding Electrodes
The organization of the Alloy Rods Company at
the beginning of 1940 was the fulfilment of the am-
bition of Edward J. Brady, who was one of the pio-
neers in the technical development of stainless steel
arc welding electrodes. He was one of the very few
men in the country who had the vision to foresee
the value of these electrodes in industry.
Mr. Brady associated himself with W. D. Himes,
C. B. Wolf and O. H. Heckert, all of whom are expe-
rienced in business and in finance. The new com-
pany started in a modest manner and established
its plant in rented quarters. With his customary en-
thusiasm and drive, Mr. Brady succeeded in putting
the plant in operation and was producing welding
rods in less than three months. From the start the
product was highly satisfactory and enthusiastically
received by the users, and demand developed rap-
idly among commercial customers.
The impact of demand for the product created by
the war challenged the ability of the management,
and the challenge was met with phenomenal suc-
cess. The record of the company in war work was
outstanding. Both research and production were de-
veloped and expanded side by side so that this com-
pany was first to develop and announce stainless
steel electrodes that could be used with both AC
and DC current; it was first to develop a complete
line of extruded tool steel electrodes; it was first to
produce a complete line of three distinct electrodes
with Lime, Titania and AC-DC coatings; each for
their individual application.
As a result of this aggressive research and pro-
duction development, the company became the larg-
est producer of stainless steel electrodes in the world.
To adequately meet peacetime demands and re-
quirements. Alloy Rods Company is now building,
on a site it acquired west of York, a complete labor-
atory and production plant. This will be occupied
and in operation before the end of 1945, and will
afford the facilities to enable the company to keep
in the forefront of its industry in both technical re-
search and development and in low-cost production
of all types of arc welding electrodes. Mr. Brady has
surrounded himself with an organization of young
and aggressive men, each of whom has proven his
ability and standing in the industry, so that the
future of the company is bright.
The new Alloy Rods Company Main Office and Manu/acfuring Plant located on the Lincoln Highway just west ot York.
AMERICAN CHAIN & CABLE COMPANY, Inc.
A Short Story
About a mile behind the front lines in Germany
two American soldiers were sprawled out in a make-
shift overnight shelter. Like all GIs, they were happy
to find they were from the same hometown. Both
were York boys and buddies on sight.
"So you're from York," slowly remarked Bill, the
one with blond hair.
"Yeh, and I wish I was there right now!" answered
Ken, a short stocky boy. "Say, what did you do in
York?"
"Drove a truck. What did you do?"
"I worked over at the American Chain," Ken
replied.
Bill lifted himself onto his elbow. "They have quite
a plant in York. Make a lot of tire chains, don't they?"
"Buddy, they make plenty of products for war and
for peace, too, and ..."
"You know," interrupted Bill, "I'm interested in
Acco. My father worked there for a long time. Tell
me, did you ever hear how they happened to pick
out our town as the big chain city?"
"Well, the way I got it, the present American
Chain plants started from a small chain shop that
was opened about 1870 by a man named Addison
Shaffer. His shop was on South Pershing Avenue,
right off Market Street. About nine years later J. C.
Schmidt built a new chain plant on East Walnut
Street and hired Addison Shaffer as his foreman.
Around 1889, Mr. Schmidt built a larger plant. You
may have heard it called the Schmidt Plant. It's still
standing near State Street, alongside the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad. A few years after this Mr. Schmidt
imported the first electric welder and mechanical
former for making chain. At first, he had a lot of
grief with this new development, but after a lot of
experimenting he made it work. And, buddy, that
About Acco
sure made a big difference in chain-making."
Bill butted in and asked, "How come you know
all this?"
"I ought to know something about it, my father
and grandfather worked for American Chain," was
Ken's answer.
"Go ahead. I'm listening."
". . . well, Mr. Schmidt's business got so big he
became interested in plants in Carlisle and Brad-
dock, Pa., and Columbus and Mansfield, Ohio. Then,
he formed the Standard Chain Company which did
a lot of business with the Weed Chain Tire Grip
Company. That's the company that was started about
1905 by W. B. Lashar. In 1912, Mr. Lashar organized
the American Chain Company, Inc. Shortly after,
about 1916, American Chain bought the Standard
Chain Company, including the Schmidt Plant in
York and the other plants in Pennsylvania and Ohio,
and built the big E. W. Plant at East Princess and
Charles Streets. That's when my dad went to work
there. As a matter of fact, he worked in the Malle-
AMERICAN CHAIN & CABLE COMPANY, Inc.
A Short Story
able Foundry that was built out in East York about
1919. You know they use a lot of malleable castings
in the chain business."
"But, how about the Wright-Manley Plant?" asked
Bill. "I used to make deliveries out there with my
truck."
"Oh! they came into the picture in 1927 and 28.
The Manley Manufacturing Company located in
West York was acquired by the American Chain
first. About a year later, the Wright Manufacturing
Company, of Lisbon, Ohio, was acquired and moved
to York in 1928 to their present location. In August
of 1938, Manley production was moved over from
West York and consolidated with Wright; thus the
Wright-Manley Plant. That is where they make
Wright Hoists and Cranes and Manley Garage
Equipment . . . ," Ken paused, raised his hand and
grinned broadly.
"Huh! What's the matter?" asked Bill, surprised.
"Look," smiled Ken, "You probably think I've been
trying to sell you the American Chain. Let's turn in.
I'll tell you more the next time."
"Well, O.K., but it sure seemed good to get back
to York for awhile and I learned something about
American Chain."
Acco Products for War
The two York boys over there on the other page
discussed the history of the American Chain & Cable
Company at York. But even they probably didn't
realize the wide variety of vital products made by
Acco for war and for peace. For instance, right in
the kit of those soldiers there probably were several
hand grenades. In each hand grenade there is a
tiny cotter pin that is an important part of the gre-
nade. That is made at York.
Chain is doing many war jobs. Tire Chains kept
American and Allied armies moving toward Ger-
many through snow, mud and ice. In the South
Pacific, Weed Chains did duty on many formerly
Jap-held islands.
On Sea, On Land and In the Air
The winning of a battle really begins at home. In
America's factories a prodigious job of production
has helped the man at the front to beat a tough
enemy. Acco has helped these factories, these Amer-
ican plants with products such as Wright Hoists and
Cranes and Acco Sling Chains which keep war
goods moving along the production lines. Once the
product is made, it's necessary to get it to the fight-
ing fronts FAST. That's where the Merchant Marine
and Naval Supply comes in and they use such Acco
products as Topping Lift Chain which is used on the
rigging that handles the cargoes and Cargo Slings,
Hatch Beam, Cargo Net and Deck Lashing Chain.
About Acco
All types of Naval Combat vessels are equipped
with Acco Chains and Wright Hoists. For example,
here are a few: Anchor Chain, Guard Rail Chain,
Debarkation Chain Ladders, Bunk Chains, and Para-
vane Chains.
Wright and Ford Crane and Hoisting Equipment
is being used for the handling of bombs, torpedoes,
heavy shells, aeroplanes and for maintenance ser-
vice aboard ships in practically all branches of our
Marine service, as well as on field trucks and in
munition dumps.
Many of the principal shipyards in all parts of our
country have been equipped with Wright cranes
which are being used for the building of ships of
the "big battle wagon" down to the P.T. type.
The Acco Malleable Foundry has contributed
immeasurably to the war program through the fur-
nishing of critical castings to many of the leading
industrial concerns engaged in war contracts.
One of the perplexing problems of the Navy was
solving the problem of lifting heavy bombs into
planes. Here, the Manley Division at York worked
right with the Navy and developed a portable bomb
hoist, and bomb trucks. This is one of the production
accomplishments that helped to earn the coveted
Army-Navy "E" awarded to all divisions located
in York.
Acco Products tor Peace
It's interesting to note that while York-made Acco
products are vital during war years, they are equally
important during peace times. Let's start with the
basic industries. Coal mining, metal mining and
quarries must have chain for their operations.
Many kinds of animal chains such as tie-outs,
halter chains, pump chain, log chains, are used by
farmers in their daily work.
Constructing America's roads and buildings takes
a lot of chain, too.
America's automobiles and trucks are serviced
with Manley garage equipment such as jacks,
wrecking cranes and presses.
Nearly every kind of an industrial plant uses Acco
Chain, made in York. Wright Hoists and Cranes also
serve America's industries. Often chain and malle-
able castings become part of the product made in
that plant. Sling Chain is used for material handling
in moving items along the production lines.
The American Chain & Cable keeps pace with
modern developments through highly developed re-
search and experimental facilities. Just as in war
Acco's experience and skill was devoted to the prob-
lems of our fighting forces, they are ready to resume
their service to peacetime industries.
Acco's diversified products are vital in war
essential in peace.
AMERICAN INSULATOR CORP.
Molders of Plastics
Typical of York County's progressiveness was the
foresight and initiative of a group of businessmen,
whose efforts to find an industry to be housed in an
idle manufacturing plant, led to the founding of the
American Insulator Corporation at New Freedom,
Pa., in 1916. This organization is engaged in the
manufacture of plastic parts for widely diversified
uses in all branches of industry.
The American Insulator Corporation popularly
known as "Aico" from its trademark name manu-
factured cold-molded plastic parts exclusively from
1916 to 1928. Emile Hemming, who introduced cold
molding into this country in 1908, was president of
the corporation during its early years. It is to Mr.
Hemming that American industry is indebted for the
development of cold-molding materials and the cold-
molding art.
Starting with only a few molding presses, the cor-
poration expanded rapidly and steadily. Molding of
other plastic materials was introduced in 1928. The
present plant, in both war and peacetime, employs
500 men and women and molds plastics by com-
pression, injection and transfer methods. Present
presses range from 5-ton to 1,400-ton capacity. Plant
facilities also include a modern, well-equipped lab-
Aico has an aggressive sales organization and
maintains branch offices in Boston, Bridgeport, Cleve-
land, Detroit, New York and Philadelphia.
In wartime, Aico supplies plastic parts to prac-
tically all branches of the service the Navy, Army
Ordnance, Quartermaster and Signal Corps, among
others. Peacetime manufacture is devoted largely to
the automotive, radio, stove and electrical fields.
Aico plastic parts are custom molded from such
plastics as Bakelite, Beetle, Durez, Ethyl Cellulose,
Lucite, Lumarith, Resinox, Vinylite, Plexiglas, Poly-
styrene and Nylon.
The Widening Field for Plastics
War requirements presented a variety of problems
to the plastics industry, and the solutions to these
problems opened the way for many new peacetime
uses for these wonder materials of modern chemistry.
From plastic capsules for enclosing messages
transmitted by carrier pigeon to equipment for battle-
ships and airplanes, the plastics industry contributed
thousands of parts for war use. And, in almost every
phase of daily living, some form of plastics is en-
countered oven door handles, steering wheels,
telephone handsets and water tumblers. In colors
oratory for experimentation and for checking each
step of manufacture; modern finishing and inspection
equipment, and a mold-making department, where
molds ranging from the simplest to the most intricate
are designed and tooled by Aico's precision-mold
makers.
The organization is staffed and equipped to give
expert engineering, laboratory, molding, finishing
and inspection service on all types of plastic appli-
cations. It also manufactures several kinds of cold-
molding materials. The plant covers 70,000 square
feet of space and has direct rail communication with
the large industrial centers of the East.
varying from end to end of the spectrum ... in
opaque, translucent and transparent materials . . .
these plastic parts are fabricated, in the most accu-
rate of steel dies, from powders, resins and com-
pounds which are derived from coal, air, gas, wood
flour and other elements and substances.
The plastics industry is one of the most important
and most rapidly growing industries in the United
States today. And the American Insulator Corpora-
tion, as a part of this great enterprise, is contributing
its bit to York County's bid for fame in the industrial
world and its reputation for diversity of manufactur-
ing plants.
ft A
AMERICAN WIRE FABRICS CORPORATION
Subsidiary of Wickwire Spencer Steel Company
The American Wire Fabrics Company was founded
in 1912 by a combination of the American Wire
Cloth Company, Clinton, Iowa; The National Wire
Cloth Company, Niles, Michigan, and the Penn-
sylvania Wire Cloth Company of Mt. Wolf, for the
purpose of manufacturing insect screen cloth and
industrial wire cloth.
The Mt. Wolf plant was built in 1914. Frequent
additions to the weaving equipment and warehous-
ing facilities have brought this plant to its present
capacity and position of leadership in the industry.
In 1922, the American Wire Fabrics Company was
reorganized and became the American Wire Fabrics
Corporation. Properties at that time also included
the New Freedom Wire Cloth Company established
in 1900 in New Freedom, and the Glen Rock Wire
Cloth Company at Glen Rock, Pennsylvania. These
properties and assets were purchased in 1922 by
the Wickwire Spencer Steel Company for the pur-
pose of continuing the manufacture of insect screen
cloth and industrial wire cloth.
During World War II, almost the entire output of
the plant has gone to the armed services. Large
quantities of American and Clinton brand of screen
cloth are used in the South Pacific.
The Mt. Wolf plant is considered one of the indus-
tries' most modern manufacturing facilities. Distri-
bution is national through sales offices in key cities
throughout North and South America.
ANDERSON GRAIN & FEED CO.
Manufacturers of Feeds, Distributors of Grains and Feeds
The Anderson Grain & Feed Company is the out-
growth of a business which began January 1, 1905,
at 146 East Princess Street, York, Pennsylvania, when
two brothes, W. L. Anderson and J. T. Anderson,
entered the wholesale and retail grain and feed
business under the firm name of Anderson Brothers.
The business continued to grow and expand until
November 1, 1921, when the brothers purchased their
present property at Philadelphia Street and Carlisle
Avenue and formed the Anderson Grain & Feed
Company. This company continued as a partnership
until April, 1928, when it was incorporated without
change in ownership or name.
The company specializes in the making of poultry,
dairy and stock feeds; these feeds are distributed
by its dealers throughout Eastern Pennsylvania, New
Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, the busi-
ness extending over an area with a radius of more
than two hundred miles.
Since the purchase of the property at Philadelphia
Street and Carlisle Avenue the plant has been re-
modeled and enlarged to more than double its orig-
inal capacity. It is now equipped with modern ma-
chinery for the unloading of grains and feeds, as
well as their cleaning, grinding and mixing. The
plant has a capacity of approximately ten carloads
daily and operates with a personnel of sixty to
sixty-five persons.
The brothers claim to have pioneered the mixed
feed business in York County. It is their belief that
they offered the first complete mixed feeds manufac-
tured in York County and that they were the first
in the East to use cod liver oil in poultry mashes.
They began to mix feeds in 1909, and since then they
have tried to keep abreast of changing conditions
in the mixed feed business and up-to-date in the
science of feed mixing.
tic
GEORGE S. ANDES
Manufacturer and Retailer of Fine Furs
George S. Andes began his career in furs as a
trapper in the north country, and then worked as a
traveling fur buyer for some of the largest com-
panies in America. After completing a course in de-
signing and manufacturing fur garments, he located
in York in August, 1930. He opened a small one-room
factory and showroom on the corner of Beaver and
Market Streets on the second floor of the Koch Build-
ing. The business soon outgrew this location and Mr.
Andes purchased a much larger property at 237
East Market Street.
Here he set up one of the most modernly equipped
fur-retail manufacturing plants in the State of Penn-
sylvania. Located on the premises is a 6,000-coat
capacity refrigerated fur storage vault.
In Conewago Township, York County, Pennsyl-
vania, Mr. Andes maintains an experimental fur
farm where he is undertaking a study of fur-bearing
animals.
Andes Furs also operates a raw fur receiving
warehouse at 237 East Clarke Avenue where raw
furs are bought direct from trappers and dealers.
Andes Furs enjoys the patronage of retail custom-
ers in practically every State in the Union as well
as in Canada.
CARL BEASLEY COMPANY
Ford, Mercury, Lincoln Sales, Parts and Service
On May 4, 1904, J. W. Richley brought the first
Ford car to York County a two-cylinder, chain-
drive vehicle and subsequently established forty-
five subdealers in York and four surrounding coun-
ties. In 1923, Dr. J. F. Klinedinst and Walter Spongier
took over the Ford franchise. The spacious building
at 722 West Market Street was built by R. C. Keller
in 1926 and later purchaser by Beauchamp and
Burwell Smith who carried on the Ford dealership
as the "York Motor Sales and Service" until it was
purchased in 1939 by Fred R. Beasley, of Athens,
Ohio, and Gordon Davis, of Oil City, Pa., and oper-
ated under the name of "Davis Motor Sales."
Carl Beasley, formerly of Athens, Ohio, took over
in September, 1941, and has improved and expanded
the organization which now has twenty-two affiliated
dealerships in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Vir-
ginia. Wholesale distribution of Ford, Mercury, and
Lincoln parts to five surrounding counties necessi-
tates a large, active and prompt delivery service.
Normally employing fifty-five, the force of me-
chanics and salesmen is now about forty. This loss
has been partially neutralized by the recent instal-
lation of the most modern motor analyzers, wheel
and axle balancing and aligning machines, etc. The
company's used car center at South George Street
and Country Club Road facilitates the purchase and
sales of used cars and trucks.
During these war years it has been the policy of
the Carl Beasley Company to concentrate on the
purchase of non-essential cars and trucks and re-
sell them to essential workers requiring dependable
transportation. This policy has been costly because
many cars, idle or little used, have required expen-
sive and time-consuming rejuvenation.
The company has also installed a complete paint,
body, and upholstering department where it em-
ploys a full force of trained mechanics for this type
of work which is so important today due to the aver-
age age of cars now on the highway.
ANDREWS PAPER HOUSE OF YORK
Division of S. Walter, Inc.
The Andrews Paper House of York, division of
S. Walter, Inc., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, estab-
lished a business in York, September, 1916, at 27
North Beaver Street.
York was selected for this new enterprise by virtue
of its strategic location, because of its need for an
aggressive paper distributor, plus the fact that it
had the reputation of being one of the most progres-
sive industrial communities in Pennsylvania.
Within a year, the rapid growth of the business
required the procurement of larger facilities. The
business was moved to 121 North George Street,
where increased floor space and a larger ware-
house facilitated the processing and storage of the
company's products. During this first year, with an
organization of three, approximately one hundred
accounts were opened in York and vicinity.
Today, the Andrews Paper House, now located at
33-49 North Pershing Avenue, provides paper ser-
vice to approximately two thousand commercial and
industrial firms located within a fifty-mile radius of
York. Nationally known paper mills supply the com-
pany with both fine and coarse papers which are
processed in modern shredding, rewinding and slit-
ting, cutting and padding departments. In addition,
the company operates a converting department
where paper products of various types are converted
for the convenience of its customers.
Products of the Andrews Paper House include all
types of fine and coarse papers used by printers,
offices, stores, State and Government institutions; all
types of bags, containers, and wrapping papers used
by food processing firms, including wrapping and
packaging materials for frozen foods. For over thirty
years, this company has provided paper service to
all Commonwealth of Pennsylvania institutions.
The Andrews Paper House operates and main-
tains its own fleet of delivery trucks. Overnight, side-
walk delivery, as far as one hundred miles from
York, has been in effect for twenty-five years. Eight
salesmen cover territory in Pennsylvania, Maryland,
and Virginia.
Sample Room.
In addition to the main office and warehouse in