New Works of the Bucyrus Steam Shovel and Dredge Company

3/5 ( ratings)

This article, originally published on November 16, 1893, by the editors of the American Engineering and Railroad Journal, describes the layout of a new plant for the Bucyrus Steam Shovel & Dredge Company at South Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In the article they discuss how Bucyrus has built the new plant to replace the old plant at Bucyrus, Ohio, as the old plant had been added onto as business grew and, because of these incremental changes, it did not efficiently serve the needs of the now larger and still growing company. Apparently the new plant was designed for both current efficiencies as well as having an eye towards future growth.

Written in what might be called the third wave of the industrial revolution, here is an example of an American manufacturer looking at their physical plant for increased efficiencies. They make a point of showing how they have used electricity for everything, “powered by two multi-polar generators of 150 horsepower each , driven by a Corliss engine.”

Included are two line illustrations of the new plant, one of the overall grounds and a cross section of the main building; and two black and white pictures. The first picture is of one of their steam shovels at work in railroad construction, and the second one is one of their dipper dredges in use by the Montreal Harbor Commission.