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The Standard Scale & Supply Co. was started in Bellefonte in 1892 by William Burnside in a shop l2x14 which originally employed seven men. It slowly increased until in 1902 it employed about seventy men, sixty of whom are skilled workmen getting from $3.50 to 4.50 per day. It was said that the shop was equipped with the very best machinery for the manufacture of all kinds, and grades of scales. During it's life in Bellefonte, William Burnside acted as the general superintendent.
During 1900 an effort was made to move the industry, but William Burnside made a strong effort to have it remain permanently in Bellefonte, and to that end the citizens of the town offered to give them the glass works meadow and a bonus of $2,500 to the works to be free of taxation for a number of years. However, the offer was not accepted, but the facility remained at its old location, but it was anticipated that at some future time the offer would be accepted.
Like all growing industries, more capital was needed and during 1902, Pittsburg capitalists were brought into the firm. Subsequently a majority of stock holders thought that it would be advantageous to have the industry moved closer to their Pittsburg offices.
Since new facilities needed to be built in Beaver Falls to accommodate the manufacturing equipment, the scale works didn't actually move to western Pennsylvania until November 1903. It required twenty five freight cars to transport what had been hauled into the factory in one dray wagon in 1892.
The loss of the Standard Scale Works had the added effect of Bellefonte losing many families, as the majority of the Scale Works employees moved to Beaver Falls to continue their employment. The company paid their transportation and assisted in getting them located in new homes.
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