Crescent Brass and Pin Company Building
Encyclopedia
The Crescent Brass and Pin Company Building is located at 5766 Trumbull Ave. in Detroit, Michigan
. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 2003. It is currently known as the Research Lofts on Trumbull.
building business.
The three men founded the Empire Wire Nail Company to manufacture nails, operating out of John Gray's barn on Trumbull. Meanwhile, Needham invented another machine to make radiator chaplets (casting devices used to hold cores
in place during a pour). Chaplets proved to be a more lucrative business than nails, and the company gradually shifted its production in that direction.
The business stayed in John Gray's barn until 1897, when it moved to the building on Adams that housed Gray's carriage works. At the same time, Needham sold out to the Gray brothers, and the company name was changed to the Crescent Machine Co. The company expanded from there, and soon the Gray brothers were working full time at Crescent. In 1905, Crescent outgrew their lodgings on Adams, and built a new building on Trumbull just north of John Gray's property. A few years later, plumbing
supplies were added to the manufacturing list, and the company changed its name to Crescent Brass & Pin Company.
The company produced multiple products over its history, although nails and chaplets continued to be the backbone of its business. Crescent stayed at the location on Trumbull until 1958, when, due to labor troubles, it moved to Americus, Georgia
, and re-organized as Simplex Nails, Inc. Although some manufacturing operations were later returned to the Trumbull plant, operations in Detroit never fully recovered, and Crescent ceased manufacturing in Detroit in 1984, donating the building to St. Vincent DePaul.
In September 2001, the building was purchased by 5766 Trumbull LLC with the intention of converting the former factory into affordable lofts. In Spring 2005, construction began; a third floor was added to the original two story structure and the entire building renovated into 35 loft spaces. In October 2006, the first new resident moved into the renovated building. The building has been renamed Research Lofts on Trumbull Avenue.
designed the original building in 1905. This building exemplifies the standard timber frame mill construction that was popular in Michigan well into the early 20th century. The large posts and beams created relatively large spaces free from interspersed columns and easily adaptable to large machinery. Massive posts and exposed floor joist
s were constructed to slow the spread of fire and aid in its detection by eliminating hidden spaces.
The building was enlarged in several stages, the first in 1916, then later in 1917, 1924, and the early 1950s. These later additions were built using reinforced concrete
, exemplifying the change in industrial
architecture during the first part of the 20th century.
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 2003. It is currently known as the Research Lofts on Trumbull.
History
In 1886, Alvin W. Needham designed a machine to manufacture cigar box nails. He enlisted the support and investment of John and William Gray, brothers who operated a carriageCarriage
A carriage is a wheeled vehicle for people, usually horse-drawn; litters and sedan chairs are excluded, since they are wheelless vehicles. The carriage is especially designed for private passenger use and for comfort or elegance, though some are also used to transport goods. It may be light,...
building business.
The three men founded the Empire Wire Nail Company to manufacture nails, operating out of John Gray's barn on Trumbull. Meanwhile, Needham invented another machine to make radiator chaplets (casting devices used to hold cores
Core (manufacturing)
A core is a device used in casting and molding processes to produce internal cavities and reentrant angles. The core is normally a disposable item that is destroyed to get it out of the piece. They are most commonly used in sand casting, but are also used in injection molding.An intriguing example...
in place during a pour). Chaplets proved to be a more lucrative business than nails, and the company gradually shifted its production in that direction.
The business stayed in John Gray's barn until 1897, when it moved to the building on Adams that housed Gray's carriage works. At the same time, Needham sold out to the Gray brothers, and the company name was changed to the Crescent Machine Co. The company expanded from there, and soon the Gray brothers were working full time at Crescent. In 1905, Crescent outgrew their lodgings on Adams, and built a new building on Trumbull just north of John Gray's property. A few years later, plumbing
Plumbing
Plumbing is the system of pipes and drains installed in a building for the distribution of potable drinking water and the removal of waterborne wastes, and the skilled trade of working with pipes, tubing and plumbing fixtures in such systems. A plumber is someone who installs or repairs piping...
supplies were added to the manufacturing list, and the company changed its name to Crescent Brass & Pin Company.
The company produced multiple products over its history, although nails and chaplets continued to be the backbone of its business. Crescent stayed at the location on Trumbull until 1958, when, due to labor troubles, it moved to Americus, Georgia
Americus, Georgia
-Early years:Americus, Georgia was named and chartered by Sen. Lovett B. Smith in 1832.For its first two decades, Americus was a small courthouse town. The arrival of the railroad in 1854 and, three decades later, local attorney Samuel H. Hawkins' construction of the only privately financed...
, and re-organized as Simplex Nails, Inc. Although some manufacturing operations were later returned to the Trumbull plant, operations in Detroit never fully recovered, and Crescent ceased manufacturing in Detroit in 1984, donating the building to St. Vincent DePaul.
In September 2001, the building was purchased by 5766 Trumbull LLC with the intention of converting the former factory into affordable lofts. In Spring 2005, construction began; a third floor was added to the original two story structure and the entire building renovated into 35 loft spaces. In October 2006, the first new resident moved into the renovated building. The building has been renamed Research Lofts on Trumbull Avenue.
Construction
The Detroit architectural firm of Rogers and MacFarlaneRogers and MacFarlane
Rogers and MacFarlane was an architectural firm based in Detroit, Michigan. Founded in 1885 by James S. Rogers and Walter MacFarlane. The firm produced Commissions in Detroit and southern Michigan from 1885 until 1912....
designed the original building in 1905. This building exemplifies the standard timber frame mill construction that was popular in Michigan well into the early 20th century. The large posts and beams created relatively large spaces free from interspersed columns and easily adaptable to large machinery. Massive posts and exposed floor joist
Joist
A joist, in architecture and engineering, is one of the horizontal supporting members that run from wall to wall, wall to beam, or beam to beam to support a ceiling, roof, or floor. It may be made of wood, steel, or concrete. Typically, a beam is bigger than, and is thus distinguished from, a joist...
s were constructed to slow the spread of fire and aid in its detection by eliminating hidden spaces.
The building was enlarged in several stages, the first in 1916, then later in 1917, 1924, and the early 1950s. These later additions were built using reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete is concrete in which reinforcement bars , reinforcement grids, plates or fibers have been incorporated to strengthen the concrete in tension. It was invented by French gardener Joseph Monier in 1849 and patented in 1867. The term Ferro Concrete refers only to concrete that is...
, exemplifying the change in industrial
Industry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
architecture during the first part of the 20th century.