CHESTER H. EVANS & JOHN THOMPSON

 

 

C. H. EVANS & CO.--- The important manufacturing industry owned and controlled by this firm is situated at 110 and 112 Beale street, between Mission and Howard streets.  The business was first established in 1875, by Messrs.  John Thomson and J. B. Parker, under the firm style of Thompson & Parker.  In 1878 Chester H. Evans purchased Mr. Parker's interest, the firm becoming Thompson and Evans.  In 1885 Mr. Thomson retired, on account of ill health, leaving Mr. Evans sole proprietor.  Three years later he took a Mr. John Thompson, his present partner, the firm assuming its present title C. H. Evans & company.

 

These gentlemen, being both mechanical engineers, well skilled in the manufacturer of machinery and thorough businessmen, have built up a prosperous industry and a large trade through the superior merit of their goods.  Besides doing a general business as machinists, they give special attention to building steamboat engines and steam pumps and pumping machinery of large capacity.  The Thompson-Evans crank and fly-wheel steam pump, of which they control the patents, processes features of recognized superiority over other steam pumps in the simplicity of its construction and the ease and economy in operating, which make it a favorite with United States Government engineers and distinguished experts generally, and creates a great demand for it, and this the company promptly supplies from their large stock always kept on hand.

 

Among the extensive pumping works that Messsrs. Evans and Thompson have erected may be named the Chico Water Works, having a capacity of one million gallons per day, and the Presidio Water Works at San Francisco; and their compound and other pumping engines for city water works are in use in Redwood City, Chico, the California Paper Mills at Stockton, the United States Government Water Works at the Presidio and Alcatraz Island, San Francisco, Fort Whipple, Arizona, Jeffersonville Water Works, Indiana, and the pumping machinery for several of the cable railways in San Francisco.  They ship their steam pumps to all parts of the Pacific coast from Alaska to Mexico, and various points east of the Rocky mountains.  In addition to their new work the firm does general repairing on all classes of machinery.  Their shops are furnished with the best improve tools and machinery for executing work, and in average of twenty skilled mechanics are employed.

 

Mr. Evans was born in Elmira, New York, in 1847, came to California in 1861, and two years later started to learn the profession of draughty and designing machinery at the Vulcan Iron Works.  When, in 1871, the firm failed, he was head draughtsman.  He then took charge of the drawing department of the Fulton Iron Works, which position he filled several years prior to starting into business on his own account, as a member of the present firm.

 

Mr. Thompson was born in 1849, in New Jersey, and learned the machinists' trade in the Danford Locomotive Works, in his native state, and then, in 1874 came to San Francisco.  After working a number of years in prominent shops in the city, he formed his present relation.  He has always been classed as one of the finest workmen and thorough and trustworthy.

 

 

Source: "The Bay of San Francisco" (and Its Cities And Their Suburbs) Volume 1. Lewis Publishing  Company 1892. Page 444-445.

Submitted by: Nancy Pratt Melton.