1835 Ames’s Shovel Works in Massachusetts

From THE FRIEND, MARCH 7th 1835, PHILADELPHIA, PA
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Ames’s Shovel Works in Massachusetts

There's a great deal of Yankee enterprise in old Massachusetts. Perhaps no state goes before her in the extent and variety of manufactures, compared with the amount of population. There are many instances of individuals in that State starting from small beginnings, and rising to wealth and eminence by their enterprise in manufacturing establishments. A striking instance of this kind is found in the shovel works of Oliver Ames. A correspondent informs us that he commenced the manufacture of shovels when young, and carried on the business in quite a humble style. When he had finished a few dozen of shovels he would pack them into a one horse wagon and carry them off to market. Now he has three extensive shovel factories, one at Easton where he resides, one at Braintree, and one at West Bridgewater, and gives employment to three four-horse teams to carry his shovels to market. He has in his factories nine tilt hammers which weigh about four tons a ‘piece, and each cost from $1500 to 2OO0. His works turn out about forty dozen shovels a day, and that is not sufficient to supply all the orders he receives. He employs about sixty work men constantly. Each shovel goes through about twenty different hands. He pays his workmen from twelve to fifty dollars a month. His works cost upwards of $75,000. His profits are probably from to $15,000 to $20,000 a year. So much for individual enterprise.