Sauquoit Silk Manufacturing Co.

Allgemeines

Name	Sauquoit Silk Manufacturing Co.
Ortssitz	Philadelphia (Penns.)
Straße	Columbia Avenue
Art des Unternehmens	Seidenspinnerei und -weberei
Anmerkungen	Lage: Columbia Avenue, Randolph Street und N. 5th Street (Südost-Ecke); 1891: Büro und Verkaufsräume Ecke Randolph Street und Columbia Avenue. 1891 auch Werke in Scranton, Pa., und Sauquoit, Oneida County, N.Y. Eigentümer (1888): Joseph Harvey. Wird 1888 von zwei Parteien genutzt (nicht genannt, welche). Die Hexamer-Tafel "Columbia Carpet Mills" No. 2719 (1893), also 5 Jahre später) zeigt eine völlig andere Situation: Kessel und Schmiede an der östlichen Grundstücksgrenze (zu den "Columbia Carpet Mills"; auch diese mit vollig anderem Grundriß).
Quellenangaben	[Hexamer General Surveys, Plate 2181 (1888)] [Philadelphia and popular Philadelphians (1891) 147]

Unternehmensgeschichte

Zeit	Ereignis
1845	Die "Sauquoit Silk Manufacturing Co." nehmen ihren Betrieb in Paterson, N.J., auf
1873	Eintragung
1873	Verlegung der "Sauquoit Silk Manufacturing Co." von Paterson, N.J., nach Philadelphia
1875	Die Gesellschaft erwirbt die Williams Silk Manufactory im alten Franklin Building, 52 und 54 North Sixth Street
1879	Erbaut
1879	Erwerbung der Scranton Silk Mills
1880	Umzug in die Columbia Avenue. Sie beginnen dort in kleinem Umfang die Seiden-Breitweberei
1884	Erweitert

Produkte

Produkt	ab	Bem.	bis	Bem.	Kommentar
Seide	1888	[Hexamer]	1888	[Hexamer]
Seidengarn	1888	[Hexamer]	1888	[Hexamer]

Betriebene Dampfmaschinen

Bezeichnung	Bauzeit	Hersteller
Dampfmaschine	vor 1888	unbekannt

Maschinelle Ausstattung

Zeit	Objekt	Anz.	Betriebsteil	Hersteller	Kennwert	Wert	[...]	Beschreibung	Verwendung
1888	Dampfkessel	2		unbekannt

Personal

Zeit	gesamt	Arbeiter	Angest.	Lehrl.	männl.	weibl.	Kommentar
1888	330						4/5 Mädchen

Allgemeines

ZEIT	1891
THEMA	Beschreibung
TEXT	Thirty years ago the manufacture of silk goods had barely begun to exist in the United States. Before that time nearly all silk goods used on this side of the ocean were imported, but latterly all descriptions of silk fabrics and specialties are produced here fully equal to the best imported. Standing at the head of the silk manufacturers of the United States is the Sauquoit Silk Manufacturing Company, of Philadelphia, whose office and salesrooms are at the corner of Randolph street and Columbia avenue. They have also mills in Scranton, Pa., Sauquoit, Oneida county, N. Y., and in the town of Union, N. J. The company was incorporated into a close corporation in 1873, and in that year came to this city from Paterson, N. J., where since 1845 it has been operated with L. R. Stelle's Sons at its head. The officers of the company are: Lewis R. Stelle, president, and Richard Rossmassler, treasurer. In 1875 the company bought out the Williams Silk Manufactory, which was located at the old Franklin Building, 52 and 54 North Sixth street, and in 1880 they removed to their present quarters at Columbia avenue and Randolph street. They started there on a small scale broad silk weaving in connection with throwing silk yarns, having bought in 1879 the Scranton Silk Mills. From time to time they enlarged and improved their Philadelphia mill, as well as their Scranton mill, and have just added to the latter a wing 500 feet long and four stories high, this addition making it the largest silk mill in the country under one roof. Before the completion of this addition but 1200 hands were employed. This number has now been increased to 1800. The company has offices and stores in New York, Chicago and Boston. The output of the factories in silk yarns and broad silks is upwards of $2, 500, 000 worth of finished goods annually. Particular care is taken in the selection of the raw silk, the material being invariably of the best obtainable, regardless of cost. The inspection before being sorted and manufactured into yarn is very strict and thorough. All ladies know the disastrous effects of weighting silk by the dyeing process. This is something always avoided iu the Sauquoit Mills. Their silks have no superior either in the markets at home or abroad. They are unsurpassed for quality and finish. The silks are not of one quality one week and of another the next, but are of uniform excellence, never varying, so that their character and enduring qualities can be fully depended upon by purchasers at all times. Ladies, who of course wear the largest quantities of all silk goods manufactured, know very well the great dissatisfaction, discomfort, and inconvenience they have to tolerate, when, after having purchased a heavily weighted silk so stiff that the made up dress will "stand alone," at what they suppose a wonderfully cheap price, they find after a short wearing that it all goes away to nothing. It cracks and seams, and in a word, becomes utterly worthless. It goes without saying, that this is the very worst kind of economy in dress. The Sauquoit Silk Manufacturing Company promptly fills orders at the lowest ruling market prices justified by quality, and fully guarantees all its goods exactly as represented. The Women's Silk Culture Association of America, while it has not accomplished all that it hoped, certainly has instructed the women of the United States as to the quality and character of silks, so that the average American woman of to-day is not so easily hoodwinked when making her purchases. Mr. Lewis R. Stelle, the president, and Mr. Richard Rossmässler, the treasurer of the Sauquoit Silk Manufacturing Company, are prominent members of the Silk Association of America. Before Mr. Rossmässler became treasurer of the Sauquoit Company he was president of the Williams Silk Manufacturing Co. whose factory was united withthe Sauquoit Company in 1874, when he joined the latter. All the factories of the Company are equipped with the latest improved machinery and appliances, and every invention which promises anything at all, is experimented with and promptly secured if decided it will be of value. Counting the factories in Philadelphia, Sauquoit, Oneida county, New York, and Scranton, Pennsylvania, there are over one thousand eight hundred skilled operators employed, many of them coming from Europe. The Company takes almost a fatherly interest in the comfort and well being of its employees and uses every endeavor to assist them in establishing happy homes. American women have only within recent years been satisfied that an American silk is equal to the imported. Before that the silk must have come from Lyons, or to have been said to come from that foreign city, or the American woman would scarcely deign to look at it. Quite often no doubt these women wore American silks but were loth to say so. Now they take pride in the fact that the silk they wear is American, and that it is equally as good as any they can obtain from abroad, and they can now secure it right here at home with a great deal less trouble and expense than by sending across the ocean. Of course the convenience of being in direct and immediate communication with your silk merchants, counts for a very great deal and must do away with all mistakes and misunderstandings when goods are purchased from abroad through friends or by letter. Your friend who goes to Europe may be willing to oblige you, but he or she can not give the personal attention that you would to your own purchases. The American Silk Culture Association was officered by such prominent women that it undoubtedly had its beneficial effect upon the silk trade iu this country, and if ever a similar effort is made, it is certain there will be important results. If nothing else was gained there was a great deal of experience and a more thorough, because practical, knowledge than could have been otherwise secured. It had another effect too, by the drawing closer together the women of the various States in business correspondence which soon grew into pleasant acquaintanceship for the furtherance of American silk being worn by American women. From the date of the incorporation of this Company in 1872, under the laws of New York, it has always commanded a liberal and influential patronage in consequence of the unexcelled quality, finish, and reliability of its goods. The capital at the date of inauguration was large, but since has been greatly increased. The officers are well and favorably known in trade circles, and hold a high social position. Their enterprise, ability, and fair dealing have earned them a world-wide reputation, and the great success they have achieved is a credit alike to Philadelphia and other cities in which their interests are located, as well as to the fact that the domestic silks turned out by this house are fully equal in texture, finish and stability to those of any European manufacture. It must assuredly be a matter of pride to the people of Philadelphia that this great establishment is located here in the city where so much encouragement has been and is still given to the advance of American silk culture. Among the many manufactories in this great manufacturing city, there is none in which our people can take greater pride than that of the Sauquoit Silk Company. It is a business which deals in the most refined class of goods and therefore inculcates among its work people careful and refined habits, and that is an influence which must be of great benefit.
QUELLE	[Philadelphia and popular Philadelphians (1891) 147]