Bristol Instruments

Bristol Manufacturing Booth Chicago World's Fair 1893

This of course predates Bob's wonderful pictures and documents showing the 1904 tragedy at the Bristol Co. RR Crossing.  We are both finding that our Fathers saved everything and it is amazing to put pictures to our knowledge of this history.

Probate Certificates, 1905

Howard's Probate Certificate

Carlton's Probate Certificate



Franklin II's Probate Certificate

 

These probate certificates are from July 1905 (click on images to enlarge). In June 1905, Uncle Will had assumed guardianship of three of Franklin I’s children after Franklin's death in November 1904. By that time, Howard was aged 17, Carlton was 14, and Franklin II was 4. The fourth brother, Sam, was aged 20 and therefore was not considered a minor. Although Uncle Will did not have any children of his own, this generous act probably brought the family closer together and must have fostered a great loyalty towards him.

 

Automobile Plate, 1904

This small brass plate has a sad story. The plate measures 1.5 x 3 inches and is stamped with the words “Licensed under Selden Patent No. 549,160, Patented November 5, 1895.” My grandfather (Franklin II) had written on the outside of the envelope: “plate acquired by employee of the Bristol Co. at time of my father’s death – when his car was struck by RR train at the Bristol Company plant in Platts Mills – early 1900.”  The “early 1900” may refer to the “early 1900s.” His father (Franklin I) was returning from the Bristol Company on Monday evening, November 21, 1904, when he was killed by a train. I have posted an obituary with more information on this incident under this separate entry. 

In doing some research, George Selden claimed to have invented the first commercial gasoline engine in 1895, although Henry Ford strongly disputed this claim. Nonetheless, several automobile manufacturers at that time took out licenses under Selden’s patent and mounted this plate near the engines of their cars.

Franklin I Obituary and Automobile, 1904

This is the obituary for Franklin I, who was born on July 14, 1860 and died tragically on Monday, November 21, 1904. I think most of us have heard pieces of this story over the years, but it must have been a real tragedy for the family at that time.

According to this information, he had driven back to his office at the Bristol Company to get the newspaper on a Monday evening after having dinner with his family at their home on Platts Mills Road. While returning home, he was struck by a passenger train heading southward from Waterbury.

The article notes that he was driving a Stevens Duryea, such as the one below. Interestingly, the Bristol family was reported to have nine automobiles in 1904, which seems quite remarkable during that time of the automobile’s infancy. Because the family was full of engineers and inventors, they must have been fascinated with this new technology.

The first addition of the “Interstate Automobile Register and Tourist Guide” (provided by David, Jr.) was published in 1905.   According to this information, there were only 2,084 registered automobiles and motorcycles in Connecticut at that time. The listing included seven vehicles for the Bristol family: Edgar H. Bristol, Oldsmobile and Rambler; Frank B. Bristol, Cadillac; B.H. Bristol, Knox; B.B. Bristol, Ford; F.B. Bristol, Stevens-Duryea; and William H. Bristol, Stevens-Duryea.

Original Bristol Company Building

Like many successful companies (i.e., Apple, Google, and HP) it turns out that the Bristol Company was started in a garage! Here is a photo of the original carriage barn near Platt’s Bridge in Waterbury where Uncle Will and his brother Franklin I started the business in 1889. Uncle Will was also a professor at Stevens Institute of Technology at that time, while Franklin was probably working at Platt's Mills.

On the back of the photo is written “F.B. Bristol’s barn in which the Bristol Company was started.” According to an article in the Waterbury American from August 1934 (which I will attach in a future posting), before they could begin work, they had to move the horses and carriages to one corner of the building and mortgage the house to finance the necessary tools and equipment.

Two of Franklin I’s sons, Sam and Howard, can be seen standing in front of the building. Sam would later become secretary while Howard would become president.

The business reportedly remained at this location until 1892, when it was moved to its more permanent location with access to the railroad and more room for expansion.

Photo of Franklin I and Family from 1902

 

This family photo is from around 1902. According to a card on the back of the frame in my father’s (Franklin III’s) handwriting, from left to right the people are: Howard (1886), Cora (1862), Franklin II (1901), Carlton (1891), and Franklin I (1860), and the photo was taken by Sam (1885).

 

I am always struck by how formal their clothing was back then, even for a picnic! Papa is wearing a dress which was apparently common for boys up to two years old.  A fifth brother (Harold) was born in 1886 but unfortunately died within his first year.