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Small Farm Town
In the 18th century, Waterbury was a small farm town. Most of the world’s brass was being produced in England and Wales where there was an abundance of natural resources essential for industrial-scale metalworking. Waterbury had none of these resources.
Waterbury eventually turned to the brass industry because the soil was not good for farming. As John Hayward’s New England Gazetteer of 1839 said, “The surface of the town is generally rough, and the soil difficult of cultivation." -
Start of Manufacturing
In 1790, James Harrison started producing clocks and the Grilley brothers started making buttons. The clock-making business was established in the first decades of the 19th century, but button-making became more popular. The most successful clock-maker in Waterbury, Mark Leavenworth, retired from clock-making to go to button-making in 1835. -
Abel Porter and Company is established
Abel and Levi Porter joined Henry, Silas, and Samuel Grilley to form Abel Porter and Company. -
James Scovill purchases Abel Porter and Company
Scovill’s company hired James Croft who was sent back to England to get the latest machinery and hire experts to go to Waterbury. Competition from England was major challenge. The new machinery and improved techniques from Croft helped Waterbury remain competitive. -
James Croft sent to England
Scovill’s company hired James Croft who was sent back to England to get the latest machinery and hire experts to go to Waterbury. Competition from England was major challenge. The new machinery and improved techniques from Croft helped Waterbury remain competitive. -
A Factory Town
By the 1830's, Waterbury was clearly a factory town. The population was twice as large as 12 years earlier. 600-700 of residents were employed in brass factories. Workers worked 12-13 hours per day in the summer when there was more daylight and 9-10 hours per day in the winter -
Panic of 1837
America had financial disaster in 1837, the Panic of 1837, and 343 of 850 banks in the United States closed. -
Rapid Period of Growth
Despite the Panic of 1837 the 1840's became period of rapid growth for the industry. Copper became cheaper and more readily available because Lake Superior region had high supplies and additional mining operations became in Arizona and Montana. As a result, copper imports began to drop. -
The Naugatuck Railroad extends to Waterbury
The Naugatuck Railroad opened and extended to Waterbury. The railroad gave the industry a giant boost, as all previous shipments to and from Waterbury had been on foot, horseback, or carriage, limiting shipment abilities and quantities. -
Brass Manufacturers run the town
The town was run by brass manufacturers. Scovill Manufacturing, American Brass, and the Chase Brass and Copper Company made up the Big Three of brass production and made Waterbury the leading producer of brass in the world. -
Population Growth
The population grew from 5,000 in 1850 to over 100,000 in 1920. The population included many immigrants who were looking for work. -
Scovill starts to move west
Scovill purchased companies in Wisconsin and Michigan. -
Chase begins to move west
Chase began building a factory in Ohio. -
World Wars
As a result of the two world wars, by 1940, Waterbury’s manufacturing was dedicated to military contracts. Labor unions agreed to not strike until the war was over to boost production, and the federal government helped factories find additional workers to fill nonstop production. There was a mandatory 48-hour work week, but more jobs than workers. To get more employees, the Chase Brass and Copper Company created campaign to get women to join workforce. -
Brass Industry Declines
After the war, the brass industry began a downhill slide due to several factors listed below. -
Copper Shortages hurt American Brass
A shortage of copper, zinc, and nickel caused American Brass to reduce operations. They shut down factories due to “shortages of raw material, cutbacks in civilian production and not enough defense production to compensate for the loss of civilian production.” -
American Brass moves west
American Brass constructed factories in Indiana, Illinois, and Los Angeles. -
Copper shortages hurt Chase Brass Company
Chase Brass & Copper briefly let about 2,000 workers go due to copper shortages. -
The Great Flood of 1955
The Great Flood of 1955 hits. 85 businesses were destroyed, 4 out of 7 bridges over Naugatuck River were washed out, there was one week without electricity, $54 million in property damage, and 95 businesses in Naugatuck and Housatonic River valleys suffered $70 million in damages. Specifically, The American Brass Company sustained over $15,000,000 in damage to its Waterbury, Ansonia, and Torrington plants. -
Chase continues to move west
Chase moved its headquarters to Chicago. Glenn P. Bakken, president of Chase, was quoted in the Wall Street Journal (July 25, 1962): “In the present brass industry profit squeeze the expense of maintaining our Grand Street building in Waterbury no longer seemed justified.” -
Tornado
A tornado hits Waterbury. -
The End.
The last brass shops closed in the 1970's.
