average wage paid in the factory, taking an average of skill- 
ed and unskilled labor and boys,—that is, an average of the 
entire working force,—is $1880 yearly. The average of 
twenty-one cities in the United States is $1321.50. The 
wages of this company are 429, higher. 
The Pittsburgh Transformer Company has just shipped 
five of the largest transformers ever made in the world,— 
shipped complete, ready to install on arrival. Every part of 
these enormous transformers was manufactured in its own 
plants. These are served by the Pennsylvania and Balti- 
more and Ohio Railroads, and shipping facilities are pro- 
vided by eleven sidings. 
The factories are equipped with electric cranes ranging 
in size up to fifty tons. As transformers are shipped all over 
the United States, Pittsburgh is a very central distribution 
point. This company now is the second largest shipper on 
the North Side, quite a distinction in this city of tremendous 
freight figures. ; 
Pittsburgh being primarily a steel and glass center, 
diversified industries are very desirable for the prosperity 
of the city. The Pittsburgh Transformer Company is 
particularly of this nature, belonging essentially in the diver- 
sified class. Yet, over 909, of the raw materials entering 
into the construction of the finished transformer are, pro- 
duced in Pittsburgh, i. e., various products of steel and oil. 
The annual consumption of Pennsylvania base electric oil 
alone exceeds 1,500,000 gallons, purchased of course from 
Pittsburgh manufacturers. 
R. V. Bingay, president, became connected with the com- 
pany two years after its founding in 1898, when he was 29 
years of age. He has introduced several revolutionary prin- 
ciples of design, and the list of patents owned by the company 
fills almost a page of the catalogue. His associates on the 
board of directors and in the ownership of the company are 
C. V. Edwards and S. McN. Johnston. In building his 
organization, Mr. Bingay has never gone outside his office 
or shop for men. He takes boys in their teens and makes 
works managers of them. He believes in giving his men 
full responsibility and in promptly rewarding those who do 
their duties well.