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Old Insulator Company Photographs and Postcards |
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OLD PHOTOS
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R. Thomas & Sons Co. Page 3 of 6
Charles R. Thomas (left), my Dad, in his 1905
Franklin. Margaret Griffith (right) of Lisbon, OH at the wheel of
Charles Thomas’ 1905 Franklin. She
later was to become Margaret Thomas, wife of Charles R. Thomas, and my
mother. I had the good
fortune to have a couple of fine parents. (Charles R. Thomas,
Jr.)
A production scene from the East Liverpool plant
taken possibly in the early 1900’s judging from the style of the
insulators being produced. Carrying ware on ware boards was a practice inherited
from the dinnerware ceramic plants. Ware
boards were generally made of white pine and approximately 1’ x 4’. It was a common practice also to carry not only ware
boards full of ware but loaded saggers of ware atop one’s head.
The workers wore a little flat cap that stabilized the load.
Some of these people became very skillful with this balancing act. Head carrying of saggers was done primarily in
carrying ware into and out of upright kilns.
Continuous kilns obviated or lessened the head-carrying practices.
(Charles R. Thomas, Jr.)
The Machine Shop at R. Thomas & Sons Co., East
Liverpool plant around 1900. The manufacturing of many different sizes and shapes
of ceramic pieces required an extensive die-making facility.
General plant maintenance added to the need for a machine shop. My Dad, starting at about 14, served a seven-year die
making apprenticeship. He was
a fine machinist, die maker, general mechanic, electrician, and was very
knowledgeable of ceramic practices at the plant.
I have today in the basement of my home (formerly my Dad’s home)
a ¾ ton 14” x 4’ lathe, driven as originally by overhead belt system. I also have a smaller floor mounted drill press. (Charles
R. Thomas, Jr.)
East Liverpool Plant (Museum of Ceramics)
R. Thomas & Sons Co. at Lisbon, OH before
1918. (Charles R. Thomas, Jr.)
(Charles R. Thomas, Jr.)
Lisbon Plant (Museum of Ceramics)
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