MAILING MADE EASY

Dick's Mailer 
A Great Labor Saver, 

Invaluable to Publishers and Others

Rev. Robert Dick

   Born in 1814 in Bathgate, Scotland, Robert Dick's family immigrated to upper Canada in 1821. He became a Baptist minister, journalist, reformer, and inventor. In connection with preaching and publication of books, Mr. Dick, in 1854, commenced to publish a pamphlet in Toronto, the "Gospel Tribune," an inter-denominational Journal, the monthly editions of which soon increase to 8,000. It was in wrestling with the recalcitrant subscription list that Dick hit on the inventions that made him a fortune. Frustrated by the time required to write addresses on wrappers and to check the currency of subscriptions, he devised ways of speeding both processes. He invented an addressing machine which could fix thousands of prepared labels in an hour and act as a ledger and running record at the same time.  

    Superintending everything and helping everywhere, necessity made him groan under the burden of seemingly unavoidable blunders, the mental exactions, and the wretched slowness of the mailing work; for these, he exclaimed, "there must be mechanical relief!" As search revealed none, he then said, "it must be created!" and almost instantly he formed the conception of "Web Wheel," "Paste Fountain," "Pasting Belt," and "Label cutting and Stamping Blades." But as there could be no lessening of his editing and publishing taxation's, it took four years of his scraps of time to put his conceptions of his "Typographical Book-keeping and Mailing Machine" into patentable form. Dick moved permanently from Toronto to Buffalo, N.Y., in 1859, probably so that he could establish his patent in the United States. In later years he refined the patents for the “Union Mailer” with its ancillary processes and added patents for locking type in printers’ forms. By 1868 he claimed that over 300 papers and journals in North America used his system under patent; the 12 in Canada included the Toronto Globe and Leader. 

Dick's Seventh and Best Mailer

     Dick died of pneumonia in 1890, survived by his wife and a widowed daughter. His patents passed to his brother and business partner, Alexander, who had moved with him to Buffalo; Alexander himself made improvements to the “Matchless Mailer,” as Robert’s invention was now known, and was a patentee in his own right of the “Fairy Nest Cradle,” a suspended basket for babies which was

rocked by means of a foot treadle.
  

For Dick's 1887 Seventh Mailer and Best.
Impossible with any other: --With a Dick Mailer one man has addressed three papers in one second, 182 in a minute, 7,334 in one hour, and 45,000 in one day. No Agents, but write to the inventor, Rev. Robert Dick, Buffalo N.Y., unreservedly. With his send off, success is reached at once.

TESLA, Power to the People

TESLA'S  DREAM - 1893

   Nicola Tesla, writing of the future of Buffalo in 1893, said: "The energy of Niagara Falls is equal to 5,000,000 or possibly 6,000,000 horse power, while 4,000,000 horse power economically directed, would run all the machinery, drive every steamship, run every railroad, heat and light every store and house in the United States.  I believe that it will soon be possible to carry such energy 1,000 miles with slight loss, an that eventually it will be transmitted without any wire. I believe that in thus claiming the waste water power of the world and sending it's energy broadcast, lies the future usefulness of electrical science.  No achievement that can be thought of compares with the possibility of emancipating all that army of laborers which now toils in mine and forest to supply the nation with fuel, and the other army that is needed to transport, distribute and use it."  

.. [As a youth] I was fascinated by a description of Niagara Falls I had perused, and pictured in my imagination a big wheel run by the Falls. I told my uncle that I would go to America and carry out this scheme. Thirty years later I saw my ideas carried out at Niagara and marveled at the unfathomable mystery of the mind.”  

Power to the People, Tesla's Current Reaches Buffalo

Run by Falls Power

Street Cars Operated by the New Current

SUCCESS OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETELY AND FULLY 

DEMONSTRATED YESTERDAY-USED ON THE MAIN 

AND EAST FERRY STREET LINES

Buffalo Express/Commercial Advertiser Nov. 19 1896

    The cars of the Buffalo Railway Company began yesterday to move by water-power. The mighty energy of Niagara Falls, harnessed to turbine wheels, and transmitted over copper wires to Buffalo, supplied the force that turned the wheels of traffic and brought nickels to the coffers of the street car company. The success of the transmission of the power was completely and fully demonstrated.

  There has not been at any time since the first dynamo began to revolve at the falls, any doubt that the energy could be brought successfully to Buffalo.  Never-the-less, the experiment was the greatest ever attempted in conveying such a volume of power to such a distance, and cautious people waited until yesterday, when the first practical application of the power in Buffalo was made, before crowing too much over the new force that is to revolutionize business and bring mills and factories and people to the Electric City.

   At 10 o'clock in the morning Niagara Falls power was turned on to the system of the Buffalo Railway Company and all the cars on Main Street between Ohio Street and Cold Spring Barns were operated by Niagara Falls Power, also the cars on East Ferry Street and Kensington Ave. 

   The test was made in this part of the city in order that the general public might have an opportunity of observing the test of running the cars by electricity generated at Niagara Falls, conveyed to Buffalo over long distance wires from the power house of the Cataract City.  In every respect the test was satisfactory. Motormen had no difficulty in running their cars smoothly and on time. There was no hitch. There were no delays. The experiment was an experiment no longer. It was a complete success. Not many of the thousands of passengers who rode through Main Street, knew the cars which they rode were propelled by power generated 26 miles away, and borrowed from the worlds mightiest cataract.

   For years the eyes of the whole world were on Niagara Falls and Buffalo.  The transportation of power from the mighty cataract to the great city at the foot of the lake was an event that called for the world-wide interest of electricians, scientists and businessmen. It meant the revolutionizing of industry.  

   Today the mighty waters of Niagara revolved the wheels of the street railway system of this city, proving beyond a doubt that the power can travel, that the wheels of factory and of mill can be turned miles away from the cataract by the power generated at Niagara Falls. It is a great day for Buffalo, a day to be made memorable by the successful test of one of the greatest electric feats known to the world. 

     There was no ceremony at the turning on of the power, but at the power house were a number of officials who closely watched the test. One of the officials of the Buffalo Railway Company, who closely observed the testing of the power as it was tried for the first time this morning, said:   "It is like the work of an expert watch maker.  Every part of the intricate mechanism of the watch must be closely inspected, every minute detail closely observed. We are regulating the mechanism and the power much as a watch-maker regulates a watch. We will let the cars run for several hours by Niagara Falls Power, observing it's action carefully, then switch it off and make use of our observations. Presently we will have everything just right and then the new power will be used continuously. Todays test has been very satisfactory. That is all that can be said at present.”

 Following the line along the river bank, for a distance of about 26 miles, the electric current travels to Buffalo. Today the people of this city have the opportunity to observe the practical and successful working of the energy generated at Niagara Falls.

The Edward Dean Adams Power Plant,  the first power plant at Niagara Falls, the ‘father’ 

of the modern electric power plant. This plant opened in 1895. Was the first big plant to 

generate and transmit current by means of Tesla Polyphase System."

              

The "AERO-AMPHIBIOUS VOYAGE" of Mr. WISE - (part two)

Editor: Where we left him last issue; "We desire much that he should afford the citizens of Buffalo to do him justice, by making good his losses by the former ascension...Several of our prominent citizens have already led off by liberal purchases of tickets.  Let each bear a part, and send up the navigator of space next time, with a heart as light as his vessel."

Buffalo Morning Express Aug 7, 1847
THE BALLOON ASCENSION

   There was a large concourse of people gathered on the outside of Morris's garden yesterday, to witness Mr. Wises 63rd ascension, and we are happy to say the number inside was considerably greater than on the former occasion. At a few minutes after 4 o'clock the word was given to "let her go" and he ascended just beautifully to the height of about a mile, the wind carrying him in a southerly direction over the city, thus giving our citizens a fine view of the flight.  Mr Wise has furnished us with the following account, from his logbook, which will be read with interest:

For the Morning Express

From aerial Log of 63d Voyage.

Buffalo City, August 6, 1847

    Left Morris's Garden at precisely six minutes past 4'oclock with the aerial ship Rough and Ready under ballast.  Wind, due south, rising slowly--Threw over some ballast--men, women and children scrambling out of the way. Ascent became more rapid.  Rising and traversing parallel with Main St. and a little east of it. As I rose the current bore more for the lake.  4 o'clock 15 minutes, pass the beach and right up the centre of the Lake, began to feel chilly upon the thoughts of a ducking.  One mile out on the Lake, threw out more ballast to reach the great eastward current.  Got up to 4,000 feet and struck a current at the rate of 20 miles per hour up the Lake--This won't do, I shall get out ten or twelve miles before I may get the easterly current, and probably be blown into Canada where I would stand a chance of arrest for contraband.  Open valve and come down within speaking distance.  Making direct for a brig several miles out going to Buffalo.  "Ahoy, What vessel?" "Brig Eureka, Captain Burnell."  "Will you lower a boat Captain, if I come down?" "Certainly", answered Capt. Burnell.  "Then I will be down presently." Came down with all dispatch--the brig laid too, but I got astern of her several miles before her boat was manned and lowered.

   Struck water at 4 o'clock 35 minutes---The balloon first rebounded and glanced over the water in a ricochet manner with wind drawing me up the Lake.  Discharged more gas to sink my car and cause more resistance in order to enable the yawl to overtake me. At 5 min. to 5 o'clock the yawl of the Eureka manned by Jno. Stratten, Jno. Dowd, Jno. McFee, Wm. Padman, and Chas. Angell as jolly a set of boys as ever pulled an oar or spun a yarn, hauled up to me and took me in tow, and in a short time set me safe on board the Brig where I had the pleasure of wagging the hand of Capt. BURNELL, who, upon my thanking him for his kindness, very promptly replied, "It is but a duty to fellow man." If ever it fall within my power to return the favor, I shall never, under any circumstances forgo to carry out the sentiment of Capt. BURNELL.  Thus ended my 63d trip which partook some what of a triple character, being a sort of an Aero-amphibious voyage, and made rather a variety in the progress of the profession.

    I am also under obligations to Mr. Coleman and another gentleman whom I cannot name, for their attention and kindness in bringing me on shore from the Brig after she struck in the channel. To the large and respectable audience who honored me with their presence on this occasion, I return my thanks, particularly those who paid for the right; and those who were so numerously on the outside, must excuse me for the sand I dropped on them in the hurry of my departure.

JOHN WISE

Buffalo Daily Courier  August 7, 1847

Professor Wise, The Aeronaut

 "Yesterday afternoon, according to previous announcement, Mr. Wise made his sixty-third ascension, from Morris' Garden, corner of Main and Tupper streets. Great interest was evinced throughout the length and breadth of the city, to see it. All sorts, sizes and conditions of people were assembled to witness his flight. We were glad to see a good number on the inside of the Garden. The outside, and indeed the adjacent streets and lanes, were filled with carriages, and a mass of human beings, all anxious to see what they could. After there had been several pioneer balloons sent up, and the curiosity of such as chose to examine the principal one had been satisfied, Mr. Wise prepared himself in the car for his lofty voyage. About four o'clock, after some preliminary trials, he gave the word 'let go,' and amid the cheers and hurrahs of the enthusiastic assemblage, he floated off most grandly. The ease and self-possession which he evinced; the confident air he assumed, showed to our mind conclusively that he was master of his profession. After he was up, he went immediately over the city, in the direction of the lake, thus affording an excellent view of the ascension to the thousands on the housetops, etc."

Return to Part One

Also See: AIRMAIL: MADE IN BUFFALO - 1873