Napa County CA Archives History - Books .....Callustro And The Callustro Company 1891
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Book Title: Memorial And Biographical History Of Northern California

CALLUSTRO AND THE CALLUSTRO COMPANY.-The story of Callustro is of that strangely
interesting character that always enlists the most active attention of the
auditor, and told, as it was to the writer, by "one who knew," in one of the
comfortable offices of the company in the Palace Hotel block, San Francisco, it
struck him as one well worthy the telling, and thoroughly typical of our
wonderful State and its products. For Callustro has a history, and an unusually
rapid rise and development, partly as a series of most lucky accidents, but
still more in consequence of the great energy and business ability displayed by
the ladies in whose hands its future lay. This new mineral substance, Callustro,
which is arousing so much talk and attention, is a new gift of nature to man,
nothing of its peculiar constituent elements in similar proportion having ever
been previously discovered. Professor H. G. Hanks, formerly State Mineralogist,
gives his analysis showing it to contain almost two-thirds silica, and one-third
alumina, with lesser quantities of magnesia and some other ingredients. It will
be noted that in no other known substance has so large a proportion of alumina
been found-that most valuable and also most plentiful, but almost ineliminable
metal which is at once the hope and despair of chemists, metallurgists and
inventors. The fame of Callustro has gone abroad and already the company is
thronged with inquiries about it and offers to secure its product. But we are
ahead of our story, for these inquiries are a later result of the knowledge that
has got abroad. The story of its discovery and introduction to the public is
about as follows:

  Mrs. Eells chanced to be present, some time in September, 1885, at the
uprooting of an old fir stump on her snug ranch of 100 acres called "Forest
Farm," which is situated a couple of miles above the charming little town of
Calistoga. The tenacity with which the tree seemed fixed to the soil led her to
examine some of the peculiar blue-gray clay that came up with the roots. While
most people would have passed the matter over with a casual glance, she, quick
to perceive and equally quick to act, picked up a piece of the clay remarking
its freedom from grit and smoothness. Taking out her penknife she shaved off a
little of it, and on brushing off the dust from her hands noticed its great
polishing power upon her rings, and in all was so taken with it that a piece of
it went into the house. It was not long before it found its way to the
wash-room, where more of its excellencies were discovered, not only as an
adjunct to the soap, but as a scourer and polisher. Every visitor from the city
examined the new substance, and aided in spreading a knowledge of its virtues.
Troubles and cares, however, connected with the lamented death of her husband,
and later the total destruction of her home by fire, prevented Mrs. Eells from
doing anything to make practically valuable her discovery. Late in 1888,
however, a company was formed, consisting wholly of Oakland ladies at first, the
name Callustro was wisely chosen, and the preparations made up were placed upon
the market.

  But now to return to the earliest portion of my account. Mr. D. B. Huntley, a
mining expert of the first rank, declares: "It proves wonderfully efficient in
giving a brilliant and lasting polish to all metallic surfaces, as well as glass
and precious stones," a statement worthily borne out by experience. Professor
Hanks says it is entirely new to him, nothing like it ever having come to his
hand before, and that in its finest powdered form, under microscope the motes
still show the keenest and sharpest cutting edges, rendering it extremely
valuable as a polishing agent. The extended and critical tests to which it has
been subjected has more than borne out this prediction. In powdered form, though
a gray, flour-like substance, free from, grit, delicate and soft to the touch
and exceedingly agreeable to the skin, it policies each of the common and
precious metals in use as well as glass and all precious stones with marvelous
quickness and a luster that is wonderful, and possessing the invaluable property
of remaining a much greater length of time than the luster of any other known
polish. The first step constitutes Callustro in its various preparations, the
housekeeper's greatest and hitherto unknown aid for polishing, cleaning or
cleansing jewelry, plated ware, glass, marble, paint and all articles or
utensils of copper, zinc, tin, brass or steel, as well as wooden ware and all
woolen fabrics. Wherever polishing, scouring and cleaning is a desideratum, as
on railroads, steamships, etc., it will prove the same grand labor-saving
factor. Future steps will prove its value in the arts and sciences. A property
which makes Callustro stand in greatest favor from the first touch is its
exceeding pleasant and beneficial effects upon the skin. In fact four of its
preparations already offered to the public are for the toilet. Moreover, the
toilet soaps are the very finest for washing in salt water ever tried. A double
appreciation attaches to them in this respect, as they are plain, pure soaps,
depending for effect on Callustro solely. In each and every preparation put out
by the company there is not a particle of lye, acid or any other chemical
whatever added, as is so often the case. As a consequence the more one dabbles
in the use of any or all of these preparations, the more soft, delicate, white
and comfortable will the flesh and hands become, which fact is already
abundantly verified by hundreds of the ladies of Oakland. An item important to
observe in using Callustro preparations is not to use too much water. Only
enough water should be used to dampen, or at most to make pasty, and after
rubbing do not rinse off with water, but rub off with dry cloth or chamois,
etc., as the case maybe. The company guarantee each of the soaps to be the best
quality of pure vegetable oil soap with Callustro added. The company has now ten
preparations ready for consumers and the trade, patents for all of which having
been applied for and several already secured.

  The Callustro Tooth Powder is a sure remedy for tartar on the teeth, and
leaves the mouth delightfully sweet and pure. (This is the writer's own
experience from personal use of this agreeable dentifrice.) The company has been
devoting considerable attention to the use of Callustro in the form of paint and
kalsomine. The California Paint Company has been making experiments and seems
satisfied that Callustro is a good thing. Mr. Percy, of Oakland, and other
architects are of opinion that as paint the material is undoubtedly of great value.

  The Callustro Company is proven a great success. Among its customers are the
Southern Pacific Company, which has ordered a considerable quantity for use in
its depots. The brass, bright steel and glass surfaces on the ferry steamers
Alameda, Oakland and  Newark are now polished with Callustro. The San Pablo
Avenue Cable-road Company, of Oakland, uses it with beneficial effect on its
cars. It is also used in the principal hotels of the city, upon the fire engines
of Oakland and elsewhere, and in fact is coming into general use.  The
convenient window bag is an invention of the discoverer of Callustro, who
evidently understands the needs of the housekeeper. It promises to become the
popular "fad" of the day. In fact, Callustro seems a natural glass polisher,
being a perfect substitute for the costly and deadly putty of lead until now
exclusively used. It is also found to make an excellent fire-brick, never
cracking or breaking out as often happens now in grates or furnaces. As tiling,
too, whether for the ornamental or the more ordinary uses, it is found to be the
very best. For the cleansing of wool it proves a superior sort of fuller's
earth. Callustro and its products are well covered by patents, the advice and
assistance of the best legal talent having been secured in this respect.

  The company was incorporated December 10, 1888, with a capital stock of
$100,000, shares being originally issued at $1 per share. The price has now
advanced to $5, and none for sale, this advance being made only after the new
discoveries of the mineral's unusual value. The President is Mrs. Emma P. Eells;
General Manager, C. L. Paige, and Board of Directors, Mrs. Susan L. Mills, Mrs.
Clara F. Ham ilton, Mrs. Sarah Haight Tompkins, Mrs. Rebecca Knox, Mrs. M. Belle
Holmes and Mrs. Phoebe Watkins, a truly representative set of names. They own
and operate an extensive industrial establishment in Oakland, where the soaps
and other preparations are put up. Only careful and reliable people are
employed, a true philanthropy being shown in securing the services chiefly of
those who have known better days. To use the words of our bright San Francisco
lady, Mrs. Sarah B. Cooper, "Callustro has brightened many other things than
household matters only-hearts and homes and hopes." At the mine has lately been
erected a new mill and grinding machine, run by a powerful engine, all under,
the charge of a skilled and competent man. The Behm mineral pulverizer used is a
magnificent piece of machinery, pulverizing being done entirely by compressed
air and the centripetal motion of the pulverizer. There are only three of these
perpetual pulverizers in use in the world, this machine being the latest
advance. All is so arranged, however, that resort may be had at any time thought
necessary to the triturating process by water, of which there is abundance.

  Callustro is found, strangely enough, nowhere else save on the ranch formerly
owned by Mrs. Eells and the immediately adjoining property, all now controlled
by the company. The deposit covers about 150 acres, and seems to have been a
formation by deposit from perfectly still water at a great depth, afterward
squeezed up or upheaved by some geologic agency. The longer acquaintance with
it, the stranger and more valuable its properties are discovered to be, and each
day shows some new development, and, indeed, the end is not yet. It might, too,
he noticed as a side issue at the present, but some day perhaps to take the lead
in the values of this strange mineral, that it has a larger constituent
proportion of aluminum in its mass than any other known substance. This fact is
beginning to arouse the attention of scientists and others interested throughout
the world, and much inquiry is being enlisted. The indications of quicksilver,
too, upon the property are very pronounced and may eventually add largely to the
wealth of the company.

  As might be expected the company is in receipt of hundreds of testimonials
testifying to the excellent qualities of its preparations. We give a few names:
E. N. Bellisle, Master Car-builder Southern Pacific Company; V. D. Moody,
President First National Bank, Oakland; Mrs. Sarah B. Cooper; E. H. Woolsey, M.
D.; D. S. Hirshburg, Chief Clerk United States Mint, San Francisco; H. T.
Webster, M. D., Oakland; John Mallon, Glass Staining and Embossing Works, 19
Fremont street, San Francisco; Charles Evans, Chief of the Salvage Corps, St.
Louis, Missouri; Charles E. Rector, of Rector's Oyster House, Chicago, Illinois,
etc.

  The company has agents in England and Australia, and the principal States of
the Union, and inquiries from everywhere, with shipments increasing very fast.



Additional Comments:
Extracted from

Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California.

Illustrated, Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast
from the Earliest Period of its Occupancy to the Present Time, together with
Glimpses of its Prospective Future; Full-Page Steel Portraits of its most
Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers and also of
Prominent Citizens of To-day.

"A people that takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote
descendents." – Macauley.

CHICAGO
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
1891.


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