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W. B. DURGIN'S BLOCK.
The manufacture of solid silver ware has been conducted in this city for over thirty years by William B. Durgin, with whom for some time his only son, George F. Durgin, has been associated in business. The senior commenced business in Concord in 1854, with very limited capital; but with financial ability of the highest order, and strict and unquestioned integrity, laid the foundation of a great business enterprise. His trademark has always been regarded as reliable, as an index of intrinsic value, as the stamp of the United-States Mint.
No manufacturer in the country ranks higher than he; and he is often called upon to manufacture various articles, for public and private purposes, where only real merit would answer the conditions.
The three floors and the basement of his spacious block on School Street are occupied by his works. The bricks and bars of the precious metals, gold and silver, are mostly received from the government assayer, and are here rolled, wrought, hammered, and moulded into forms of exquisite beauty. Forks and spoons receive the first attention; and later, urns, vases, cups, pitchers, dishes for various uses, ornamental or useful, and jewelry are produced. Side by side are massive machines and delicate engraving tools, each operated by skilled workmen, directed by an active brain, careful to meet or forestall the wants of a critical and exacting public.
The office on the first floor is devoted to the exhibition of the manufactured goods. Here can be seen wealth in graceful shapes, pleasing to the eye. The goods find a ready market at home; but the demand is greatest in the great cities, centres of wealth and culture, where artistic merit is most appreciated, Philadelphia, New York, and Boston demand most of the products of the factory; although orders are received from every section, even from the cities of the Pacific slope and the far South.
This may seem somewhat surprising; but Mr. Durgin, during his business experience of more than a generation, has gained a reputation among the trade that is largely national in its character, and is such that any man might well be proud of.
It is interesting to watch the skilful workmen manipulate a bar of silver. It first goes through ponderous rollers, under trip-hammers, great stamping machines, and is cut like paper under massive presses. The very air in the room is loaded with gold and silver dust; and the sweepings of every room are carefully and profitably assayed, yielding during the year many hundred dollars to pay for the trouble.
From the mention above of a few of the articles made by this house, an
