>From the book "History of Washington and Kent Counties, Rhode Island" by J.R. Cole, published 1889, New York, W.W. Preston & Company. Beginning on page 337. [xxx] respresents either notes or the page number. CALVERT B. COTTRELL, son of Lebbeus Cottrell and Lydia Maxson, was born in Westerly, R.I., August 20th, 1821. In 1840, at the age of nineteen, he went to learn the machine business of Messrs. Lavalley, Lanphear & Co., of Phenix, R.I., manufacturers of cotton machinery, and was employed by them for fifteen years, most of the time as a contractor. During this period he made many improvements in labor saving tools and machinery, and by the careful management of his contracts he was able to save a sufficient sum of money to enable him to start in the machine business at his old home in Westerly, R.I., in July, 1855, associating with him Mr. Nathan Babcock, under the firm name of Cottrell & Babcock. The new firm commenced the manufacture of cotton and wood working machinery, also printing presses, and in 1861 began also to manufacture woolen machinery, building all the machinery necessary for the production of fancy cassimeres [sic] and woolen goods. During the war they made gun appendages, supplying largely those used by the Springfield Armory [338] and private armories. In the year 1868, when they began to make a speciality of printing presses, Mr. Cottrell commenced the series of patented improvements which brought the Cottrell press immediately to the front. Among the first of these was the improvement on the air spring, for reversing the bed, with its patent, yielding plunger, vacuum valve, and governor attachment. This invention increasing, as it did, the capacity of the printing press for fine as well as fast work, was so far-reaching in its effects that it immediately brought Mr. Cottrell to the notice of the printing and mechanical world as one of the leading inventors of the day. At first this revolution was denounced as impracticable, but, as it soon received the indorsement of the imitation by those who had opposed it the most, it was finally accepted on its merits, and the claims made for it then are no longer disputed by any one. Mr. Cottrell was the first to apply the tapeless delivery to the drum cylinder press, also the first to introduce a positive slider motion, hinged roller frames, and numerous other improvements, which are covered by more than seventy American and foreign patents, one of the latest of which is the new front sheet delivery for two revolution, stop cylinder and lithograph presses. This invention is deserving of more than passing notice, as it marks an era in the progress of the "art preservative" more pronounced, even than the introduction of the fly, which for generations has been accepted as the only reliable method of carrying the printed sheets to the pile table. By means of this improvement the printed sheets are delivered at the front end of the press, and laid printed side up without the use of a fly, strings, or tapes, a result never before accomplished on a printing press. The Cottrell Rotary Chromatic Press, for printing in several colors, is also an invention which stands without a rival, being the only press that takes the paper to be printed from a roll through a series of type impression cylinders in perfect register, cutting and delivering them for removal. This press consists of two or more type and impression cylinders, according to the number of colors used, operated in pairs, with a separate inking apparatus for each pair, and is capable of printing 300,000 labels in ten hours. Mr. Cottrell has led an exceedingly busy life, having always had the general management of the business. He disposed of the productions of the factory, in addition to which he also attended to the minutest details of the development of his mechanical [339] ideas, improving the tools for the manufacture of the machinery, and carefully scrutinizing the work in its different stages of development. In July, 1880, twenty-five years from the beginning of the eco-partnership, Mr. Cottrell purchased Mr. Babcock's entire interest in the concern, and associated with him his three sons, under the name of C.B. Cottrell & Sons, since which time they have more than doubled the capacity of their works, adding the latest and most improved labor saving machinery to be found in the market, and building many tools of their own design specially adapted to the requirements of their own business, until it is safe to say they now have the largest and most complete establishment devoted exclusively to the manufacture of stop cylinder, two revolution, drum cylinder and lithograph presses in the country. The reputation of these presses extends not only throughout the United States, but to Canada, Mexico, South America and Europe as well. Their works, represented in this volume, cover some three acres of ground, with a floor space of about 150,000 square feet, and a dock frontage of 900 feet. They are admirably located on the Pawcatuck river, about five miles from Long Island Sound, whence coal, iron and heavy freight can be brought at small cost. They are also on the Shore Line railroad, between Boston and New York, which makes it a convenient point for shipping in any direction. Mr. Cottrell was married May 4th, 1849, to Lydia W. Perkins, daughter of Elisha Perkins and Nancy Russell. They have six children - Edgar H., Hattie E., Charles P., C.B., Jr., L. Anngenett and Arthur M. In politics Mr. Cottrell was a whig until the republican party was organized, in 1856, when he joined that party, and has since been one of its staunch supporters. At an early age he identified himself with the temperance movement, and has been all his life a total abstainer from intoxicating beverages. He is a man of great force of character, quick perception and of a genial disposition, prudent but very liberal toward all charitable institutions, a member of the Seventy Day Baptist church, and a leading citizen of the community.