The career of Captain Charles P. Lyman, vice president and general manager of the Connecticut Brass & Manufacturing Corporation of Cheshire and Waterbury, refutes completely the idea, often expressed, that the day of rapid advancement is past, for, although but thirty years of age. he has risen through his ability and enterprise from a factory helper receiving one dollar a day to his present high executive position, in which he is coordinating interests into a complex but most harmonious whole and then successfully directing these interests under conditions which are demanding a rapid increase of facilities and of output. While thus controlling gigantic interests, Captain Lyman has also found time to make himself felt as an important factor in the promotion of the civic interests of his community.
     A native of New Jersey, he was born in Plainfield on the 26th of March, 1888, a son of Charles H. and Nellie (Pangbourne) Lyman, the former a real estate operator and leading citizen of that place. Captain Lyman acquired his early education in private schools and at the age of sixteen years entered Lehigh University but was obliged to give up his studies there on account of a lack of finances. After leaving college he entered the employ of the Ingersoll-Rand Drill Company at Eastern. Pennsylvania, thus becoming connected with the most important concern in the United States engaged in the manufacture of rock drills. In early youth he manifested deep interest in industrial pursuits and this led to his deter-mination to become a representative of the mechanical engineering profession. He had been in the employ of the Ingersoll-Rand Drill Company for less than a year when ill health forced him to resign his position. When he had sufficiently recovered to once more enter business life he secured a position at the plant of the Waclark Wire Company at Elizabeth, New Jersey, one of the interests controlled by Senator W. A. Clark. With the thoroughness which has always been one of his marked characteristics. Mr. Lyman had determined to thoroughly master the brass and copper business in every detail, and with that end in view he accepted a minor position at a salary of a dollar per day. While working for the regular number of hours each day he devoted his evenings to further study along the line of his chosen profession and thus through experience and wide reading he was constantly promoting his efficiency and won steady advancement during the nine years of his connec-tion with the Waclark Wire Company. Ere severing his association with that interest he had reached the position of general sales manager of the company, whose volume of business is indicated by the fact that they use about five million pounds of copper and brass prod-ucts per month. The "Earning Power" of November, 1917, wrote of Mr. Lyman as follows: "In 1915 Mr. Lyman decided to branch out into business for himself and established an office in New York, where he conducted a raw metal brokerage and acted as factory representative for various industries. He was not to remain unattached for very long, however, as in September, 1916, he received an extremely tempting offer from the interests which were taking over the plant of the Connecticut Brass Company at West Cheshire, Connecticut. He was engaged first as an efficiency expert and then, as a result of the ability which he displayed in this capacity, was induced to become general manager of the corporation. During the past year under his management the corporation has made really wonderful strides, some details of which are related elsewhere in this publication. Acting on Mr. Lyman's advice and initiative the corporation has acquired the very modern Pillings plant at Waterbury, Connecticut, and to Mr. Lyman has been entrusted the work of weld-ing these two plants into one harmonious and efficient unit. Of his success in this regard, viewed in the light of his past performances, there can be no reasonable doubt. Mr. Lyman has recently been elected to a vice presidency and directorship in the corporation." To Mr. Lyman therefore belongs the major part of the credit for building up the business of the company to its present large proportions. Its products and earnings have increased one thousand per cent within a year and it is now one of the most prosperous industrial enter-prises of New Haven county. The factory buildings have been remodeled and a complete change has been made in the business methods employed in the conduct of the company's affairs. Mr. Lyman and his associates have been very successful in meeting the changed conditions brought about by the war and under their direction the company has proved equal to the opportunities and the demands presented.
     Mr. Lyman was married early in 1908 to Miss Marguerite Serrell, of Plainfield, New Jersey, a daughter of Harold and Anna E. Serrell, the former a prominent patent attorney of New York city. They have become parents of two children, Charles S. and Marjorie.  Mr. Lyman has much at heart the welfare of his community and can be depended upon to give of his time as well as of his means to the successful prosecution of projects cal-culated to promote the public good. However, he has never been an aspirant for political office. He was one of the organizers and is captain of Company I. Battalion A, Connecticut Home Guard, of Cheshire. In religious faith he is a Methodist and along stricty social lines he is connected with the Highland Country Club of Meriden and the New Haven Country Club, the Park Club of Plainfield and the National Democratic Club of New York city. The respect in which he is held because of his unusual accomplishments in business is equaled by the warm regard felt for him as a man, for he possesses attractive personal qualities and easily wins and retains friendship.