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William Amer & Co.
| Name | William Amer & Co. |
| Ortssitz | Philadelphia (Penns.) |
| Straße | 3rd Street |
| Art des Unternehmens | Lederfabrik |
| Anmerkungen | Lage zwischen Third und Willow Street. Frühere Namensformen: "Amer & Eveland", "Amer & Bird" und "Amer & Fritz". |
| Quellenangaben | [Philadelphia and popular Philadelphians (1891) 138] |
| Zeit |
Ereignis |
| 1832 |
Gründung durch William Amer unter der Firma "Amer & Eveland" |
| 1844 |
Bau einer neuen Fabrik an der Third und Willow Street |
| 1867 |
Augustus Amer wird Teilhaber |
| 1875 |
Tod des Gründers, William Amer |
| 1876 |
Der langjährige Mitarbeiter Charles D. Kenworthy wird Teilhaber |
| 1881 |
Erwerbung des Nachbargrundstücks an der Third und Willow Street und Verdoppelung der Kapazität |
| 1886 |
John G. Taylor, der schon seit 17 Jahren im Unternehmen tätig ist, wird Teilhaber |
| Produkt |
ab |
Bem. |
bis |
Bem. |
Kommentar |
| Saffianleder |
1832 |
Beginn unter anderer Fa. |
1891 |
[Philadelphia] |
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| ZEIT | 1891 |
| THEMA | Beschreibung |
| TEXT | This is the oldest Morocco Manufacturing house in the United States. It was organized in 1832 by William Amer, the father of Edward C. Amer, now the senior member of this firm. The firm style at the commencement of the business was Amer & Eveland, succeeded by Amer & Bird, then by Amer & Fritz, which was filially dissolved and James D. Wood was admitted under the firm style of William Amer & Co. During the partnership Mr. Wood deceased. After an apprenticeship of seven years, and thereby gaining a thorough knowledge of the business, the senior member as above stated, was admitted as partner in 1867, and Mr. Augustus Amer two years later; he died while a member of the firm. In 1875 the founder of the business died. Charles D. Kenworthey, having been in the employ of the house for a decade of years, became partner in 1876, and John G. Taylor who had been with the house seventeen years was admitted in 1886. Hence the present members of the firm respectively are: Edward C. Amer, Charles D. Kenworthey and John G. Taylor, but the firm style of William Amer & Co. is retained. The business was first located at the corner of Dillwyn and Willow streets; in 1844 a new factory was built at Third and Willow streets, and the business moved to its present location. In 1881 property adjoining was purchased, because of increased demand, which doubled the capacity of the factory. Only the finest grades of morocco are manufactured from goat skins for ladies' shoes. Until four years ago these skins were tanned in sumac, a leaf of a bush grown in Virginia, and the imported article, Sicily sumac, grown on the island of Sicily. The skins were finished into boot skins or oil dressed leather; French Morocco, a high glazed leather ; Brush Kid, a smooth fine leather for ladies' slippers - and Brush Grain. But the demand has changed and the famous French Kid is required. These skins are tanned in alum and called Alum Straight Kid. Some by the combination tannage, a mixture of alum, salt and gambia, and various other tannages. After a year of experimenting by this firm, they succeeded in perfecting an article not only as good as the imported French Kid, but superior in many respects, being a better color, stronger, softer and consequently more pliable to the feet, and being able to produce it at much less cost it has superseded the demand for the imported article and has almost driven it out of the market. The present capacity of the factory is seventy-five thousand dozen skins per annum, or two hundred and fifty dozen per day. In 1832 when the business was begun the output was but eight to ten dozen per day. Branch houses have been established in Boston and Cincinnati where a thriving business is being carried on. Mr. Edward C. Amer, the senior member, has a general superintendency of all the affairs of the house, hence the whole business is under a straight-forward and careful supervision. Mr. Charles D. Kenworthey has charge of the financial part of the business and has proven his competency long ago. Mr. John G. Taylor was thoroughly instructed by the senior member in the manufactory of morocco and he has full charge of that department. The goods manufactured by this firm are popular all over the country and have become celebrated. We have in this sketch an example of what strict attention to business will do towards reaching the pinnacle of success, and it is a remarkable fact that this house in the fifty-nine years of its existence has not "shut down" one hour. They have passed through all the financial panics, and stand today second to none, for sterling integrity and highest commercial rating. Few firms, if any, in this city can claim a larger percentage of increase in "output" than the firm of William Amer & Co., and another commendable feature is that they have in their employ several who have been with them from youth to man and womanhood and to a ripe and honorable old age. Why cannot this be more generally the case where such a large force is demanded. |
| QUELLE | [Philadelphia and popular Philadelphians (1891) 138] |
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