By Paul Lubienecki, PhD
In the previous BRHS newsletter we explored the Buffalo Weaving and Belting Company. In this second part we will detailed the manufacturing characteristics and production aspects of the company.
Black Rock’s industrial might was more developed through significant manufacturing enterprises and extensive factories. The Buffalo Weaving and Belting Company was one such business. Founded as the Chase and Mathewson Company in April 1891 it was rebranded as the Buffalo Weaving and Belting Company in 1903 as the company increased its product lines. The factory and office were located at 190-252 Chandler Street occupying a large tract of land in the industrial heart of Black Rock on a connecting spur to the Belt Line railroad yards. This location was perfectly suited for receiving rail shipments of raw goods and sending finished products to customers throughout the world. Eventually a secondary site was established at 36 Chandler Street.
The company initially manufactured webbings and webbed horse-goods, such as web halters, surcingle belts (a belt with a polished buckle), bridles, team lines and harnesses, webbed shawls and bag and trunk straps. These items were fabricated primarily from leather and wool. As the company’s production lines increased items such as cotton horse webbings and patented rubber belting, conveyor belts and pulley laggings were added. These conveyor belts were two to three feet wide and several feet long fastened in a loop. They connected to an overhead drive train that powered machinery.
Over the years, Buffalo Weaving and Belting manufactured civilian and military products, including woven items during peacetime and industrial rubber belting during wartime. It was located alongside the Belt Line railroad tracks enabling the delivery of raw rubber and chemicals and shipping finished product by rail. It occupied a continuous quarter mile long sequence of eight contiguous buildings, in the form of a single story horizontal work shed construction, unique in a time of multi-story factory buildings. The buildings were connected by brick-lined archways and a weighted pulley system, allowing efficient assembly-line production without multi-level hoisting. This design proved more efficient as product components moved along the assembly line much quicker by avoiding the time needed for hoisting goods over multiple levels.
The plant eventually expanded to a 240,000 square foot facility on 12 acres of land in 2003. They made the sled harnesses used by Admiral Richard Byrd in his first exploration of the Antarctic region in 1928. In the 1920’s, the company manufactured transmission belt linings for the Ford Motor Company’s Model T. In the 1930’s they produced the first seat belts for aircraft out of woven cotton webbing.
During the Second World War the company made parachute harnesses for the Army Air Force. In the 1960’s and 1970’s, it made the sheet rubber tread mats used during the Apollo moon walks. The company was noted for its switchboard mats, used as shock absorbers in high voltage factory areas and for a unique rubber conveyor belt utilized in high capacity mining operations.
On the factory floor mammoth rubber presses sat in pits to absorb operational vibration. The machinery layout in this location enhanced the manufacturing process. Belting, that is, a conveyor belt used to transport materials was made of solid woven cotton that did not shred or shift under the stress of rough or heavy load materials. The cotton was woven on company made looms, using polyester threads with maximum strength and minimum stretch which ensured that the belting was solid and inseparable. After being woven, the raw belt was inspected and then was infused with a rubber fill and covering to stabilize it.
The U.S. Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps were regular customers, buying products as woven nylon arrestor tape used to stop Navy aircraft landing on short runways such as aircraft carriers or on land. The company’s largest market was in mining. Buffalo Weaving manufactured custom made conveyor belts for underground mining operations where heavy loads needed to be sent to the surface quickly and safely. In the 1980’s and 1990’s the company expanded its production line by fabricating gaskets for washing machines and automotive engine mounts and lubricant sealing parts.
As America’s economy expanded the company responded with the production of specialty items. In 1977, the company filed a patent for a synthetic organic polymeric plastic sling protected by a vulcanized or cured laminated coating. In 1984, another patent was filed for longer lasting woven polyaramide belting used for high temperature applications.
As commercial industries expanded Buffalo Weaving was an innovator creating products to meet the needs of these unique clients. The company produced a special rubber product used in bridge and highway construction as a binder and joint sealer. Also new, was a product meeting specifications for a high temperature rubber for use in aerospace manufacturing. The company made slewing ring bearings capable of supporting heavy loads and plastic and latex moldings using the dip molding method and other coating specialties to support prototype production. Additionally, the company designed and installed custom material handling solutions for use in niche based companies.
At its peak over 200 workers were employed but due to local economic conditions, production eventually shifted to overseas facilities and Buffalo Weaving and Belting ceased operations by 2003. During its decades of manufacturing the company was an integral part of Black Rock’s industrial heritage and a significant partner in America’s economic growth.
