A millstone pickmaker

Chronicle of the Early American Industries Association, Inc., The, Jun 2003 by Hall, Elton W

During the nineteenth century, the United States had a remarkable number of specialized factories turning out tools of every description. Today it is often difficult to learn anything about them. One such manufacturer was John C. Higgins of Chicago, who began the manufacture of millstone picks in 1865. The Directory of American Toolmakers includes him, referencing but one secondary source without date or location. The chance discovery of his annual circular for 1883 provides some interesting information about the business (Figure 1).

In this his nineteenth annual circular, he respectfully called the attention of his numerous friends and patrons to, "the following conspicuous points in my extensive business." His business had so increased that he had to add substantially to his factory, producing, "the largest capacity and finest facilities for the manufacture of Mill Picks in this country...." He reported his picks had earned a gold medal in the international exposition in Melbourne, Australia, which showed his picks to be not only the finest in the country but the "Champion Mill Pick of the World!" He was the only exclusive manufacturer of mill picks in this country, bought only the best English cast steel from Sheffield, and employed only competent and careful workmen whom he personally superintended. He offered a thirty- to sixty-day trial, and would charge nothing if his product was not found superior to any others produced in this country. He also offered custom work and provided instructions for ordering. New picks were priced at seventy-five cents per pound. He charged thirty cents for dressing old picks and one dollar for pick handles (Figure 2).

Almost half of the leaflet is occupied by testimonials from his customers, who spanned the country from Maine to Oregon, with one from Australia and one from Canada. Not surprisingly all of the testimonials, to the selection of which Higgins no doubt also tended personally, refer to his picks in superlative terms.

Elton W. Hall is the executive director of EAIA.