HomeMy WebLinkAbout1945-03-16179
BOARD OF APPEALS MEETING
0 March 16, 1945
A meeting of the Board of Appeals was held in the Selectmen's
Room, Town Office Building on Friday evening, March 16, 1945, at
8;00 P. M. Chairman Glynn, Mr. Locke and Associate Members, Redman
and Lynah were present. The Clerk was also present.
At 8;00 P. M. hearing was declared open upon the petition of
Rufus Crowell & Company for permission to operate, on the premises
located at 177 Bedford Stret, Lexington, a plant for the cold draw -
Ing and annealing of small metal tubing.
Mr. Donald Crowell, Mr. John P. Carr, Treasurer of the Misticke
Company, Mr. Fulton Brown and a Mr. Chadwick, members of the
Mistieke Company and owners of the building at 177 Bedford Street.
were present.
No persons appeared in opposition to the granting of the
permit.
Notice of the hearing was read by Mr. Lynah.
Mr. Carr informed the Board that Mr. Crowell was a prospective
purchaser of the building at 177 Bedford Street and that he would
explain the nature of the work to the Board.and answer any questions.
Mr. Crowell said that his company now has a substantial amount
• of war work, the operation of which is to pull the metal over an
anvil and cut it off at required lengths. This is accomplished
by electrically driven machines. He said that there would-be no
disturbing noises or odors and that the operation which, in its
inception would run from six to ten men, but the number of•em-
ployees would probably reach -eighteen orlwenty. He said that the
future of the business is of such a character that it would not
require metre than twenty or twenty-five men. Mr. Crowell said
that the work is exclusively for war purposes, but the drawn
tubing is a matter which will last beyond the war and that it
had existed before the war. He said that thepermit would not
be solely for war work. He informed the Board that his company
had signed a contract forthepurchase of the property conditioned
upon obtaining a permit from the Board of Appeals.
The Chairman asked how much power would be used and Mr.
Crowell &aid that at the present tinE a total amount of 40 h.p*
is being used and is brought in from the outside. He said that
it includes the operation of two electric furnaces and if the
business is moved to Lexington, one furnace will be discarded.
Mr. Crowell stated that the furnaces are entirely noiseless.
The Chairman asked Mr. Crowell to explain the operation
of the proposed work.
Mr. Crowell said that the operation is similar for all
metals. They purchase from the mills what is known as tubing
which is annealed and cold drawn on draw benches. It is like
a punch press, but will pull out to thirty feet in length. The
cold operation hardens the metal and it must be annealed after-
] • wards and then drawn to the desired size. The tube comes to
them one inch in diameter. He said that they run steel, nickel
and monel. The nickel is for electric work and the monel is for
some particular purposes where chemicals are necessary.
The Chairman asked for what purpose the furnace was
used and Mr. Crowell said that it was to soften the metal.
The Chairman asked if power were used for the pulling
operation and Mr. Crowell replied that electric power pulls
the tube, the distance of the length of the draw bench,
The Chairman asked if there would be any noise and Mr.
Crowell replied that this is a mechanical operation and noise-
less.
The Chairman asked if there would-be any chemicals used
and Mr. Crowell replied that some metals, after annealing,
the steel is pickled and that is odorless. Be said that sul-
furic acid is used.
The Chairman asked the volume of the work and Mr. Crowell
replied that, on steel, they would use a car load (40,000) lbs.
in about two and one-half months. He said that the nickel
runs in small quantities of 100 lbs., four or five being
purchased at a time.
Mr. Locke inquired as to how the lengths were cuts and Mr.
Crowell stated that the steel is out with a bracer cutter and
for some of the small work an ordinary razor blade is used.
The Chairman asked what size the largest tubing would be
and Mr. Crowell said that the maximum would be 3/4 of an inch,
outside diameter. He stated that the demand runs for smaller
sizes. He said that.after the war they would probably work
on such items as stainless steel hypodermic materials and
small type tubing used on various types of sporting goods.
Mr. Lynah asked if the business were conducted as a
partnership and Mr. Cromwell replied in the affirmative. •
Mr. Lynah asked the reason for the change in location and
Mr. Crowell stated that they r}eeded larger quarters.
Mr. Lynah asked how many people would be employed and
Mr. Crowell, said that they employ nineteen at present and would
not exceed twenty or twenty-five.
The group retired at 8:45 F. M.
The application was considered and discussed at length,
but inasmuch as all members of the Board were not present at
the hearing, it was decided to meet one week from tonight
before making a decision.
The hearing adjourned at 9:15 P. M.
A true record, Attest:
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