found: Ellsworth, J.E. Simsbury, 1935:p. 123, etc. (in 1837 co-partnership formed by Richard Bacon, of Weatogue, Conn., with Cornish firm of Bickford, Smith, and Davey for the manufacture of safety fuses in the U.S.; firm called Bacon, Bickford, Eales & Co.; in 1842 Joseph Eales left firm which now became Bacon, Bickford & Co.; Joseph Toy, representing the British partner, became more influential in the company; in 1851, fire destroyed the plant, Bacon left the firm, and Toy moved operations to Simsbury, Conn., renaming it: Toy, Bickford & Co.; in 1887, with death of Joseph Toy, reorganized as Ensign, Bickford & Co.; Toy's son-in-law, Ralph Ensign took over as senior partner; in 1907 partnership became corporation under the name Ensign-Bickford Company; in same year company absorbed Climax Fuse Co., in Avon, Conn.)
