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Emerald Cotton Mills
| Name | Emerald Cotton Mills |
| Ortssitz | Frankford (Pa.) |
| Straße | Oxford Street |
| Art des Unternehmens | Baumwollweberei |
| Anmerkungen | Die erstn vier Jahre (absolute Zeit nicht zu ermitteln): Philadelphia, Twenty-third and Filbert Street; dann neun Jahre in Kensington, dann nach Frankford in die ehemaligen Weltshire Mills. 1891: zwei Werke; Hauptverwaltung: Oxford and Worth Street |
| Quellenangaben | [Philadelphia and popular Philadelphians (1891) 173] |
| Produkt |
ab |
Bem. |
bis |
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Kommentar |
| Baumwollgewebe |
1891 |
[Philadelphia] |
1891 |
[Philadelphia] |
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| ZEIT | 1891 |
| THEMA | Beschreibung |
| TEXT | The Emerald Cotton Mills, located now in Frankford, Philadelphia, were established by their present owner, Joseph Greer, at Twenty-third and Filbert streets. They remained at the original location for about four years, removing to the southern part of the city, where they continued for nine years. At that time they changed to Kensington, where they continued operations for about eight years, when the establishment was destroyed by fire. Possessed, however, of great confidence in the final results of the business, and full of energy, and understanding the work, the owner purchased the Weltshire Mills, owned by Messrs. Greenwood & Ball. This is the site upon which they are now located, at Frankford, and where they have erected factories and shops for the various departments, complete in every detail and fully capable for every demand which might be made upon them. Their principal output is every variety of cotton goods and worsted
goods. Suitings of various grades are also manufactured in large quantities. The house sells its own goods directly to the trade. It employs 175 people of both sexes. The capacity of the establishment is from 600.000 to 700.000 per year. Mr. Greer is also a member of the Berkshire Manufacturing Company (limited), operating the Berkshire Mills, employing over 400 hands and manufacturing cotton goods entirely. Mr. Greer in his two establishments alone now employs 575 hands. Iu 1870 there were six manufactories of these goods in Philadelphia, with a steam power of 541 horse power, worked by 658 men and 12 women. It is undoubted that the works of Mr. Greer today exceed iu every respect the combined manufactures as shown by the census of 1870. Machinery for the manufacture of textile fabrics is produced to six times the extent it was ten years ago and in far higher and more costly forms. Much of the machinery used iu such manufactories as that of Mr. Greer is made in Philadelphia. The costly jacquard loom, as well as innumerable other
machines for spinning, knitting, sewing and folding, are in use at the Emerald and Berkshire Mills. In this manufacture there are constant improvements in the machinery, etc., and to keep up in this respect is the heaviest cost of expense. Not only is it necessary to be continually purchasing new machines, but the buildings themselves must be altered and enlarged to meet the additional requirements. In this respect, as in all others, Mr. Greer is fully equal to the demands made upon him, and hesitates at no expense to adapt and utilize the latest improvements. The first record we have of the manufacture of cotton and woolen goods in Philadelphia is in 1838. Since that time the improvements in what may lie called the implements of the trade are remarkable. The old method for the printing of cotton from blocks was superseded in 1809 by machinery imported from England. The improvements after that, though gradual, were important, so that when the Emerald Mills were established they had little difficulty in obtaining the best mechanical implements, of both home and foreign make. Of course a considerable outlay of money was required from time to time, but the result fully justified the expense. Immediately after the introduction of machinery one man and two boys were able to print 10.000 yards of cloth or 50.000 children's handkerchiefs in a single day. This was considered remarkable, and so it was as over the old fashioned method, but it is a ridiculously small result as compared with the output of the Emerald and Berkshire Mills of today. Another wonderful result, so considered in these early times, was when cotton and linen goods were stained and dyed in one color. This nowadays is one of the most simple of all the processes in such mills as those owned and presided over by Mr. Greer. The first looms built for weaving cotton lace were started in 1810. About this time also power looms for weaving satinets, and these were the first ever used in Pennsylvania for that purpose. It is exceedingly interesting to consider these early efforts in the manufacture of cotton goods and compare them with the wonderful machines now in operation in the Emerald and Berkshire Mills. There is scarcely a month in which there is not a notable advance in the construction of some of the intricate machinery used. The main office of the Emerald Mills is located at Oxford and Worth streets, Frankford, Philadelphia.
Mr. Greer is one of the prominent members of the Manufac-
turers' Club. Though a thorough plain spoken man of business he
is socially very popular. At the Manufacturers' Club he is closely
attentive at the business meetings whenever matters affecting the
interests of American trade are considered. He is thoroughly
American in all his feelings, and being so well informed in the par-
ticular business in which he is most interested, his views arc always
heard with the utmost respect and consideration. |
| QUELLE | [Philadelphia and popular Philadelphians (1891) 173] |
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