Keystone Knitting Mills, Thomas Dolan & Co.

Allgemeines

NameKeystone Knitting Mills, Thomas Dolan & Co.
OrtssitzPhiladelphia (Penns.)
StraßeOxford Street
Art des UnternehmensTextilfabrik (Wolle)
AnmerkungenBei [Bishop] ohne Zusatz "Keystone Knitting Mills"; bei [Philadelphia (1891)]: "... known as the Keystone Knitting Mills". Lage: Oxford Street, Masher Street, Hancock Street und Putnam Street (Nordwest-Ecke). Herstellung von Schals, Stoffen und Strickwaren. Keine Spinnerei (s.d. an der Columbia Avenue / Hancock Street) und Färberei. Vergl. auch "Keystone Knitting Mill" (Eigentum von "Ivins, Dietz & Magee") im Dreieck Columbia Avenue / Howard Street / Putnam Street. Andere Betriebe von "Th. Dolan & Co." werden oft als "Keystone Mills" bezeichnet. Die Spinnerei (s.d.) von Dolan ist auf der Nordseite der Putnam Street.
Quellenangaben[Bishop: History of American manufacturers 3 (1868) 555] [Hexamer General Surveys, Plates 49+770+1458 (1866+1874+1880)] [Philadelphia and popular Philadelphians (1891) 134]




Unternehmensgeschichte

Zeit Ereignis
27.10.1834 Geburt von Thomas Dolan im Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
1861 Bau der ersten Gebäude
Mai 1861 Gründung durch Thomas Dolan. Er beginnt mit der Herstellung von Herrenbekleidung, Strickwaren und Strümpfen
1866 Beginn der Herstellung von Produkten aus Kammgarn
1871 Nach fünf Jahren erfolgreicher Herstellung von Kammgarn-Produkten geht der Absatz schnell zurück
1872 Die Herstellung von Kammgarn-Produkten und Herrenartikeln bildet eine andere Industrieabteilung
1875 Die Herstellung von Herren-Kammgarnartikeln und Damenbekleidung ("ladies' cloakings") wird aufgenommen
1878 Aufgabe der Strumpfproduktion
1882 Die Strickwarenproduktion endet




Produkte

Produkt ab Bem. bis Bem. Kommentar
Kammgarn-Artikel 1866 Beginn 1891 [Philadelphia]  
Strickwaren 1861 Beginn 1882 Ende  
Strümpfe 1861 Beginn 1878 Ende  
Trikotagen 1861 Beginn 1891 [Philadelphia]  
Wollstoffe 1866 [Hexamer Surveys] 1880 [Hexamer Surveys]  




Betriebene Dampfmaschinen

Bezeichnung Bauzeit Hersteller
Dampfmaschine vor 1874 unbekannt
Dampfmaschine vor 1874 unbekannt
Dampfmaschine vor 1880 unbekannt




Maschinelle Ausstattung

Zeit Objekt Anz. Betriebsteil Hersteller Kennwert Wert [...] Beschreibung Verwendung
1866 Dampfmaschine 1   unbekannt          
1874 Dampfkessel 4   unbekannt          
1880 Dampfkessel 6   unbekannt          




Personal

Zeit gesamt Arbeiter Angest. Lehrl. männl. weibl. Kommentar
1880 700           1/3 Männer, wenige Jungen, Rest Frauen




Allgemeines

ZEIT1891
THEMABeschreibung
TEXTOne of Philadelphia's most important ami prosperous industries is the great factory of Thomas Dolan & Co., known as the Keystone Knitting Wills, at the corner of Hancock and Oxford streets and Columbia avenue. These works cover six squares and have an area of several acres. They give employment to many hundred men, women and children, and they form a considerable factor in helping to add to the importance and wealth of the Quaker Citv. Thomas Dolan, the founder of this industry, is a selfmade man, he began manufacturing men's wear, fancy knit goods, and hosiery in May, 1861. In 1866 the firm inaugurated a new industry by the introduction of fine worsted yarns in the manufacture of their goods, especially of Berlin shawls. In five years the business of this particular branch of the trade ran up to over one
million dollars output, but in 1871 it declined very rapidly, and in 1872 worsted materials and men's wear formed another department of industry. Every now and then the alteration of fashion and custom necessitated changes in the business and, to keep up with the times, in 1875 the manufacture of men's fancy cassimeres and ladies' cloakings was added to the already numerous branches and departments of the factory. In 1878 the hosiery part of the business was abandoned, and in the year 18.82 the manufacture of knit goods was given up and the factory was devoted entirely to the production of men's wear of the best quality. Thomas Dolan, who was the pioneer and originator of this industry, was born in Montgomery county, Pa., on October 27, 1834, and for many years carried on the business alone. The great
strides made however, and the wonderful increase of trade, rendered it impossible for one man, however energetic and industrious, to grapple with the various ramifications and complications of such a varied industry. As time went on and business continued to increase, the firm was formed into a company. The personnel of the company of Thomas Dolan & Co., as it at present stands is as follows, Thomas Dolan, Rynear J. Williams, Jr., Charles H. Salmon, and Joseph G. Truitt. Mr. Williams manages the financial part of the great industry. Mr. Salmon superintends the weaving and finishing departments, and Mr. Truitt ably directs the details of the spinning branch of the business. Mr. Dolan himself as the head of the firm has the general supervision of the whole factory, and is the consultant in all cases of emergency or any change in the methods of carrying on the business. But to a man of such activity and energy as Mr. Dolan, the
superintendence of a concern even of such magnitude as the Keystone Knitting Mills, is not sufficient to occupy all his time, and he has therefore from time to time connected himself with other institutions of the city, commercial, financial and political. He is president of the Quaker City Dye Works Company at 110 Oxford street, he also presides over the Philadelphia Association of Manufacturers of Textile Fabrics and the Textile Dyers' Association. He is vice-president of the National Association of Wool Manufacturers, one of the vice-presidents of the Union League Club, and a trustee of the Pennsylvania Museum of Industrial Art. He is also a director in the following important corporations, in many of which he takes an active part: the Merchants' National Bank, the Delaware Mutual Insurance Company, the United Gas Improvement Company, the Brush Electric Light Company, the Philadelphia Traction Company, the School of Design for Women, and the University Hospital. The Keystone Knitting Mills are built on the most approved
principles of modern manufacturing premises, and while the comfort of the working people is carefully provided for, there is nothing wanting in the way of machinery for the better and quicker production of the goods and for the safety and benefit of the operatives. The great factory is indeed a small town of itself, and the surrounding neighborhood is mainly peopled by the families of the employees. The Keystone Works are a lasting monument to Philadelphia's commercial prosperity and capability as a manufacturing city. With characteristic modesty the members of the firm object to advertise their business in these pages by enumerating the number of looms in daily work, or the output which is the result of the labor of the many pairs of hands. But it cannot be gainsaid, and there is no fear of contradiction in asserting, that the Keystone Knitting Mills are the largest in the United .States for the particular class of goods that is turned out, and there are very few on the face of the earth so extensively engaged. The firm has a down town office at No. 32 South Third street, where salesmen from all parts congregate to make purchases and to arrange for the distribution of the goods of Thomas Dolan & Co.
QUELLE[Philadelphia and popular Philadelphians (1891) 134]