Bristol County, Massachusetts - Chapter 14: Attleboro Industries, 1924

Industry denotes the beginning and the crescendo continuation of | Attleboro's story of action, that being so of ail these Bristol county townships, although for the sake of uniformity in the system of this work its elaboration is designated for a final chapter. In industry the town was founded; industrially, the city is known throughout the world for its leading product, jewelry-making. Farmers, builders, mechanics, millers, foundrymen - such industrious yoke-fellows firmly established the settlement; and in later years there succeeded the even more ingenious manufacturers, and then the jewelers and their remarkable occupancy and persistent possession and growth. We have the Attleboro historian, the late Hon. John Daggett, to thank for making the way clear as to the beginnings of industry here, for this work; and the present-day Chamber of Commerce comes to our aid with its questionnaire to Attleboro industry in general for our review of the present-day activities.

Careful research has failed to disclose the identity of the Frenchman who, at his small forge in North Attleboro in 1780, began to make brass butts - the inception of all jewelry-making and its allied production in the Attleboros. His monument is a business that employs a city full of people today; and the memory of him survives in the spirit of a very successful specialty in industry.

The first French jeweler here is simply set down in the records as "the foreigner'; and with one other exception in South Attleboro, he was the only French-speaking townsman at the time. We are sure of his having been a jewelry artisan, and that his forge stood on the premises of Jesse F. Richards, the factory having been demolished in 1810 - this much, only, of the skilled Frenchman. But it was he who opened the door of great opportunity to Attleboro. Thereupon, Colonel Obed Robinson started jewelry-making in earnest at his manufactory at Robinsonville. Then, in succession appeared the shops that have made history for town and city, and whose ownership and the dates thereof have been recorded in Mr. Daggett's volume, where the story has been so thoroughly detailed that it is unnecessary again to repeat. In their sequence, then, those first factories were as follows: Manning Richards, at the head of Cumberland Road in 1810; Draper, Tifft and Company in 1821, the firm name being changed in 1850 to Draper, Tifft & Bacon, in 1851 again to Draper, Tifft & Company, again in 1859 to Lincoln, Tifft & Bacon, in 1862, to J. F. Bacon & Company at Plainville, and to Lincoln, Tifft & Company in New York, in 1880 to Lincoln, Bacon & Company. This firm became one of the largest of its day in the country. Richards & Price started in 1830; Dennis Everett and Otis Stanley in 1831. E. Ira Richards & Company began business in 1833, the firm name being H. M. & E. I. Richards; the name was changed in 1834 to Ira Richards & Company, and again, in 1875 to E. Ira Richards & Company. The firm of Stephen Richardson & Company was organized in 1836 or 1837; in 1843 the name was changed to Richardson & Miller, and in 1859 to Stephen Richardson & Son. The plant was twice burned, in 1870 and 1882; it was the first Attleboro jewelry firm to ship goods to Europe. The firm of Daggett & Robinson was begun in 1837, the name being changed in 1850 to Robinson & Company. Thompson, Hayward & Company began to manufacture jewelry in 1851; the first change in the name of the firm was to Hayward & Briggs in 1855, so continuing for thirty years. The plant was burned in 1859; in 1885 the old firm was dissolved and the new association was known as C. FE. Hayward & Company. In 1886, the name Hayward & Sweet was assumed.

The firm of B. S. Freeman & Company was established in 1847, under the name Freeman & Brother, and was among the first in town to make rolled plated goods. The name was changed in 1860 to Freeman & Company, and in 1879 to B. S. Freeman & Company. J. F. Sturdy & Company began business in 1849, at first organized as Draper, Sturdy & Company. This firm introduced the manufacture of rolled gold plated stock and jewelry in Attleboro. F. G. Whitney & Company began operations in 1849, and was among the earliest firms to manufacture inexpensive jewelry. White & Shaw, oldest of the jewelry concerns in South Attleboro, was organized in 1852. H. F. Barrows & Company started in 1854, and was first known as Barrows & Sturdy. H. D. Merritt & Company was begun in 1855 as Merritt & Draper. C. E. W. Sherman & Son was first organized in 1854 as George K. Davis & Company. Bates & Bacon had its first beginnings with the firm of Skinner, Viall & Company in 1857; in 1858 the name was changed to Bates, Capron & Williams; and in 1867 to Bates and Bacon. 'This firm introduced the manufacture of watch-cases here.

G. A. Dean & Company began business in 1857 as Everett, Dean & Company; the name was changed in 1860 to Everett, Day & Company, in 1867 to Day, Bliss & Dean, in 1871 to Bliss & Dean. Blake & Claflin, successors to Sturdy Brothers & Company, was organized in 1859 as Sturdy Brothers. The firm of V. H. Blackinton was launched in 1857. Short, Nerney & Company was organized in 1862 as Nerney & Company. T. L Smith & Company began business previous to 1860 as Codding & Smith, and in 1865 the style was changed to Codding, Smith & Company. J. J. and J. M. Richards started in 1864 as the firm of E. §. Richards & Company. J. W. Luther & Company started in January, 1865. The firm of F. S. Draper & Company was formed in 1865 as Draper, Pate and Bailey. A. Bushee & Company commenced operations in 1868. W. S. Blackinton began business in 1869. The firm of Horton, Angell & Company was formed in 1870. The organization of the firm of Young & Bennett took place in 1870. Stanley Brothers began business in 1871; Cummings and Wexel, as EK. N. Cummings & Company in 1871. P. E. Witherell as Hayward & Carpenter in 1873, changed to Hayward & Witherell in 1879. R. F. Simmons & Company in 1874; Bliss Brothers & Everett in 1873; Watson, Newell & Company in 1874 as Cobb, Gould & Company, changed in 1880 to Watson & Newell, and in 1887 to Watson, Newell & Company. R. B. MacDonald in 1874; Joseph J. Doyle in 1875; John Etzensperger in 1876; Nerney & Lincoln as Short & Nerney in 1876; S. E. Fisher & Company succeeding Demarest, Fisher & Company in 1887; G. K. Webster as G. K. Webster & Company in 1883; Marsh & Bigney in 1879; S. W. Gould & Company in 1880; J. M. Fisher & Company as Harris & Fisher in 1880; John P. Bonnett as Cheever & Bonnett, the firm dissolving as such in 1880; L. E. Sadler in 1880; W. G. Clark & Company in 1881; D. F. Briggs in 1882; Daggett & Clap in 1882; H. H. Curtis & Company in 1883; Riley & French in 1883; F. $. Gilbert in 1884; C. R. Harris in 1885; J. N. Hugo & Company as Knight & Berry in 1885; T. J. Halliday & Company as Bennett & Halliday in 1885; Wheaton, Richards & Company, as Wheaton & Richards in 1886; O. M. Draper in 1862 as O. M. Draper & Company; R. Blackinton & Company in 1863; E. I. Franklin & Company in 1874; Sandland, Capron & Company in 1876; Demarest & Bradley in 1874 as Demarest & Fisher; Mason, Draper & Company in 1870; Smith & Crosby in 1872; W. H. Wilmarth in 1872; Streeter Brothers in 1867.

The following is the present-day group of Attleboro concerns, information concerning which has been obtained for this publication by the Attleboro Chamber of Commerce. Figures from the director of statistics in the State department of labor and industries, show that in Attleboro nearly $40,000,000 in manufactured product is turned out annually, and wages paid exceed $10,134,000. Figures for Attleboro show that the total in 1912 leaped in ten years to the mark of $24,064,331, for 1922. The jewelry total of $9,309,825 in 1912 became $14,278,022 in 1922. All told, over $18,450,000 worth of jewelry was made in the Attleboros during 1924, and over 4,000 people were employed.

and incorporated in 1912. The officers and directors at present are W. M. Bowman, president; S. E. Knight, vice-president and clerk; John A. Thayer,. treasurer; W. M. Bowman, S. E. Knight, John A. Thayer, John W. Perry, directors. They employ nine male workers. They manufacture links, pocket knives, bracelets, bar pins, tie clasps, waldemars, etc.

The S. Dosick & Company was started in February, 1920, and has not been incorporated yet. §. Dosick is president and O. Dosick is treasurer. They have five male employees and three female employees. They manufacture a general line of jewelry and novelties.

The American Metalcrafts Company, Incorporated, was formerly The American Emblem and Badge Company, started in 1918 and incorporated in 1923. Thomas Kelliher is president; John Maguire, treasurer; and R. J. Brown, secretary and general manager. They have twelve male employees and two female employees.. They manufacture emblems, badges, trophy medals, class pins and rings, automobile name plates and advertising novelties.

Carter, Ovarnstrom & Remington was started March 1, 1899, and is not a corporation. FE. J. Qvarnstrom is the chief executive. They manufacture a general line of plated jewelry.

The Bay State Optical Company was started in 1894. In 1862 Peter Nerney and Mace Short started to make gold-filled chains. Their reputation led to the establishment of the Bay State Optical Company in 1894. The officers are Frank J. Nerney, Edwin D. Nerney, and Stephen J. Clulee. They employ about 125 male workers and about the same number of female workers. Optical frames of pyroxyle and zylonite, gold, etc., are manufactured there.

S. O. Bigney Company started in 1894 and in 1920 became a corpora- 'tion. §. O. Bigney is president and treasurer, J. Arthur Payette is secretary, and Harold Treen is foreman. They employ seventy men and thirty women. They manufacture chains for men and women, bracelets, lockets, combs, cigarette cases, knives, etc.

Crown Manufacturing Company was started in 1910 and in 1911 it was incorporated. Lyman B. Goff, president; Kenneth F. Stood, vice-president ; EK. D. Leonard, treasurer; B. C. Chase, general manager; the officers and E. Kent Swift and Darius Goff are directors. The Crown Manufacturing Company manufactures cotton yarns, Peeler and Egyptian.

Morse Andrews Company was started in July, 1913, and was incorporated March 16, 1916. William J. Morse is president and treasurer, and Walter A. Briggs is clerk. They employ about 27 men and 14 women. They manufacture gents' belt buckles.

Santos Company was started in 1917 and incorporated in the same year. William R. Piepenstock and Frederick Schwinn are the officers. They employ about seven men and ten women. They manufacture chains and a general line of jewelry.

American Reenforced Paper Company was started and incorporated January 9, 1921. P. T. Jackson is president; John Noble, secretary; and C. H. Howard, treasurer. About fourteen men are employed. They manufacture reenforced and plain waterproof paper.

Attleboro Braiding Company was started in October, 1915, and was incorporated in the same year. Sanford H. Cohen and Bernard Boas are the officers. They employ about 59 men and 66 women. They manufacture shoe laces and braids of all descriptions.

The Attleboro Press Company was established as a partnership in 1892, and it has never been incorporated. The officers are Howard E. Patt, Charles H. Stearns and Francis Bottomley. They do printing of all kinds, and they manufacture jewelers' cards and tissues.

Attleboro Refining Company was started in 1899. Harold D. Baker is the owner and manager. There are about seven men and two women employed... They refine gold and silver and copper.

Automatic Machine Products Company was started April 2, 1922. They employ four men and three women. They manufacture screw machine products.

The A. H. Babcock Company was started in 1851 with A. H. Babcock and Henry McGill as officers. They employ two men and ten women. They manufacture paper boxes of all kinds and also display pads. The owners believe this to be the first concern to manufacture paper boxes in Massachusetts; the business having been started by H. S. Babcock, father of A. H. Babcock, when boxes were cut with jack knives and rulers.

Baker & Potter Refining Company was started as a partnership in 1918 and has never been incorporated. George M. Baker, and Elwin A. Potter are the owners. They employ six men and one woman. They refine gold, silver, platinum and copper.

L. G. Balfour Company was started in 1913 and incorporated in 1914. L. G. Balfour is president, secretary and treasurer; J. R. Brooks, vicepresident; and William P. Yates is a director. They employ about 200 men and 100 women. They manufacture a full line of college fraternity badges and jewelry, class pins and rings.

The Ballou Manufacturing Company was started in 1910 and incorporated in 1910. T. W. Cash is the president; C. A. Murphy, vice-president ; and Lester J. Murphy, secretary and treasurer. They have twenty male employees and fifteen female employees. They manufacture lockets, rosaries, buckles, card cases, combs, perfume holders and powder boxes.

Bates & Klinke was started November 18, 1919. They have not been incorporated. The partners are Harold Bates and Oscar F. Klinke. They have four male employees. They manufacture hubs, dies and tools.

James E. Blake Company was started in 1859 and incorporated in 1922. William H. Blake is president and treasurer. They have sixty-five male employees and ten female employees. They manufacture sterling silver and gold inlaid cigarette and vanity cases, dorines, belt buckles, etc.

Bliss Brothers Company was started in 1873 and has not been incorporated. Joseph F. Rioux is the owner. They have thirty male employees and ten female employees. They manufacture rosaries and rosary cases, knives, lockets, watch straps, cigarette holders, bracelets and waldemar chains.

Bliss, Holbrook Company was started in 1916 and incorporated January 2, 1917. Clarence A. Holbrook is president; Edward N. Bliss, treasurer; and Everett Palmer, secretary. They have five male eniployees and four female employees. They manufacture coffin trimmings.

Clegg Manufacturing & Tool Company was started November 2, 1909. Joseph Clegg is the owner. Five males are employed and four females. They manufacture patented articles in sheet metal. They do toolmaking, blanking, piercing and forming, dies.

Collingwood Brothers was started in 1911. They are not incorporated. They employ eleven males and one female. They manufacture woven wire, soft collar pins, lingerie pins, belt clips and findings.

A. B. Cummings was started in 1912, and Mr. Cummings is the individual owner. He employs thirty males and twenty-one females. They manufacture toy movie machines and phonographs.

Dominick & Haff was started in 1821 and incorporated on March 1, 1889. H. B. Dominick is the president; G. L. Crowell, Jr., vice-president ; Wm. F. McChesney, treasurer; and Harrison Hebbard, secretary. They employ forty males. They manufacture sterling silver holloware and cutlery. The office at Attleboro is only a branch of the main office of Dominick & Haff, 144 Orange street, Newark, N. J.

C. H. Eden Company was started in 1901 and incorporated in 1901. S. M. Einstein is the president; F. L. Pond, vice-president; E. H. Brown, treasurer; C. O. Mathewson, secretary. The directors are P. O. Wilmarth, Eugene Mason and above officers. They employ twenty-five males and one hundred females. Thy manufacture popular-priced jewelry.

Electric Chain Company was started in 1900 and incorporated in 1904. George F. Sawyer is president and treasurer, Alfred S. Rees is vice-president, Gilbert C. Hall is secretary. They employ thirty-five males and thirty-five females. They manufacture chain and findings for manufacturers.

L. M. Flanders Company was started August 1, 1920, and incorporated July 5, 1922. L. M. Flanders is the president and treasurer and Frederick S. Sibley is vice-president. They have ten male employees and fifteen female employees. They manufacture beauty pins, lingerie clasps, knives, earrings, bracelets, etc.

Fuller-MacFarlane was started January, 1913. The partners are Gordon E. Fuller and H. H. MacFarlane. They have from two to ten male employees. They are chasers and designers of steel jewelry, bronze and silverware.

General Findings & Supply Company was started in 1912 and has not been incorporated. Edwin F. Leach is the president and Stephen H. Garner is the treasurer. They have fifty male employees and fifty female employees. They manufacture swivels and spring rings and bars for chains.

E. D. Gilmore & Company was started in 1891 and has not been incorporated. The partners are EK. D. Gilmore, Wm. L. King and E. L. Gilmore. They have thirty-six male employees and four females. They manufacture 1OK and 14K jewelry for men and women.

The Gunner Manufacturing Company was started January, 1920. Ralph R. Gunner is president and Albert T. Gunner is treasurer. They employ five males. They manufacture jewelry findings, belt clips, bracelet buckles and hooks, novelties, rosary cases, sautoir cups and tassels. They also do spinning in gold, silver and platinum, and they do toolmaking, soldering, stamping, etc.

Guyot Brothers was started in 1904. Arthur F. Guyot is president and Gaston A. Guyot is secretary and treasurer. They employ eighteen males and two females. They manufacture jewelry findings, and are tool makers, hub and die cutters.

H. & B. American Machine Company was started in 1894. C. E. Riley is president; E. R. Richardson, treasurer; E. L. Martin, secretary; and J. W. Richardson, P. A. They have 1,000 male employees. Cotton mill machinery.

The present firm of Walter E. Hayward Company was started in 1851 and incorporated January 1, 1921. Charles C. Wilmarth is president; Frank E. Smith, vice-president; Frank J. Ryder, treasurer; Walter G. Moon, secretary. Directors: Frank J. Ryder, Charles C. Wilmarth, Frank E, Smith, John A. Malcolm and Elmer S. Smith. They employ eighty males and seventeen females. They manufacture solid gold front and gold plated jewelry, such as knives, cuff links, belt buckles, fobs, cuff pins, bar pins, tie clasps, ribbon waldemars, sautoirs, etc. Firm name has changed a number of times since first starting in business.

Thomas Heath started a business in 1906. They have from nine to eleven male employees and one female employee. They manufacture dies and tools.

Home Bleach & Dye Works was started in 1880 and incorporated 1902 in Rhode Island and in Maine in 1919. E. Kent Swift is president; Arthur - R. Sharp, vice-president; T. E. Hatch, treasurer and clerk; directors: above officers and A. D. Milliken. They employ 250 males and 70 females. They do mercerizing, bleaching, dyeing, winding of cotton yarn and tape.

W. D. Jordan Company was started in August, 1920. W. D. Jordan is the sole owner. He employs one male and two females. Manufacture sterling silver rosaries, rosary cases, lockets, links, chains. A great deal of this work is done in job shops.

Keller Manufacturing Company, formerly Morse Pencil Company, was started in October, 1920, and incorporated on October 4, 1920. William J. Morse, E. I. Perry, Geo. W. Cook, and E. C. Keller are the officers. They employ five males and one female. They manufacture sterling holloware, pencils and novelties.

B. B. & R. Knight, Incorporated, Hebron Mill, was started in 1865 and incorporated in 1919. Andrew G. Pierce is the president; F. L. Branson, general manager; and A. B. Benson, superintendent. They employ sixty-five males and sixty females. They manufacture cotton yarns.

_ Larson Tool & Stamping Company was started March 15, 1920, and incorporated at the same time. Mr. N. G. Larson is the president; C. G. Larson, vice-president; C. W. Cederberg, treasurer; and J. E. Straker and C. L. Watson, directors. They employ thirty males and no females, They manufacture metal stampings, wrenches, and metal signs, and tools of all descriptions.

Leach & Garner Company was started December, 1899, and incorporated at the same time. Edwin F. Leach is the president; Stephen H. Garner is the treasurer; they are also the directors. They employ eighty males and three females. They manufacture rolled gold plate in sheet, wire and seamless tubing (for the manufacturing trade).

Leach & Miller Company was started in 1900 and is not incorporated. The partners are L. A. Leach and Letty Leach. They employ twenty males and five females. They manufacture bracelets and lockets, scarf pins, ear drops and novelties.

McRae & Keeler, Incorporated, was started July, 1893, and incorporated December 31, 1921. L. P. Keeler, president; A. A. McRae, treasurer; Ada G. Keeler, clerk; and all are directors. They employ seventy-one males and seventy-nine females. They manufacture chains of all kinds, cigarette cases, knives, belt buckles, fobs, cuff links, jewelry and novelties.

M. S. Company was started December, 1913, and incorporated in 1923. S. M. Einstein is president; Max Schweinshaut, treasurer; and Eugene Claupin, clerk. They employ fifty males and seventy females. They manufacture chains and chain findings in gold, silver, plate and brass for the manufacturing jewelers and kindred trades.

R. B. MacDonald & Company, incorporated, was started in 1874 and incorporated in 1913. Robert B. MacDonald is the president and treasurer; Walter M. Thayer, vice-president and general manager. The above and H. M. Thayer are directors. 'They employ forty-five men and twenty-three women. They manufacture emblem goods, lockets, crosses, bracelets, knives, neckchain photo cases, saints medallions for export. Mr. MacDonald is the dean of manufacturing jewelers in this vicinity, having been the original owner, and is still active in its management. Mr. Thayer became identified with the frm when it was incorporated in 1913. In 1923, Irving L. Hodges and Percy G. Marshall, factory superintendent and salesman, respectively, for several years, became stockholders.

D. EF. Makepeace Company was started in 1888 and incorporated on July 30, 1902, Rhode Island. David E. Makepeace, president; Aldro A. French, vice-president and treasurer; William E. Sweeney, secretary; and the above with Lawrence C. Miller, directors. They employ 100 men and 18 women. They manufacture flat stock, wire and tubing in platinum, gold and silver, rolled gold and silver plate, inlaid gold on gold and sterling silver.

C. A. Marsh & Company was started in 1892. The partners are William E. Rounseville and George L. Shepardson. They employ eighteen men and nine women. 'They manufacture men's belt buckles in sterling, plate, gold inlaid and solid gold. Men's chains and knives.

Metal Specialties Company was started in January, 1916 and incorporated in 1918. H. R. Holbrook is president and treasurer and L. M. Holbrook is clerk. They employ ten men and six women. They make drafting instruments, stampings, mailing box fasteners, and automatic machinery.

Millard Leather Company was started in January, 1916, and incorporated in July, 1922. Harry §$. Millard is president; Karl B. Brooks, treasurer; William F. Harty, secretary; Paul J. Brooks, George H. Armstrong, directors. They employ twenty-five men and one woman. They are tanners and finishers of calfskins for fancy leather goods and shoes.

Mossberg Pressed Steel Corporation was started in 1919 and incorporated at the same time. Frank Mossberg is president; D. E. Makepeace, vice-president; A. A. Underwood, secretary; C. A. VanderPyl, treasurer. Directors: Frank Mossberg, C. A. VanderPyl, D. E. Makepeace, Rev. J. Lee, Mitchell, S. O. Bigney, W. H: Lamb, S. J. Clulee, E. A. Eddyae ties employ 100 men and 8 women. They manufacture steel spools, reels and braider carriers for wire trade, steel beams, beam heads, loom beam heads, section beam heads, adjustable beam heads, braider carriers, drop wires, jack spools for textile mills. 'To the best-of our knowledge we are the first company in this country formed to specialize in the making of steel spools and reels for the wire mills and all steel loom, section beam heads, adjustable beam heads, etc., for the textile mills. Our textile line is particularly a new development and is designed and constructed to replace castiron heads which are used in the mills."

The Qroil Company was started June, 1923, and is not incorporated. W. H. Saart is president and treasurer, and Ormond Saart is manager. They have one employee. They manufacture Schneider's Qroil.

W. E. Richards Company was started in 1904 and incorporated in 1907. Raymond M. Horton is president and treasurer and C. A. Howard is secretary. They employ forty men and ten women. They make ten and fourteen-karat gold rings, bar pins and scarf pins.

Saart, vice-president. Same are directors. They employ seventy-one men and twenty-seven women. 'They make sterling silver and silver-plated novelties.

Sadler Brothers, South Attleboro, started in 1863 and were reorganized in 1884. The partners are Herbert A. Sadler and Thomas G. Sadler. They employ thirty men and thirty-six women. They make celluloid jewelry and novelties.

F. H. Sadler Company was started in 1881 and incorporated in 1904 in Rhode [sland and in 1917 in Massachusetts. L. E. Sadler is president ; F.,H. Sadler, treasurer; directors, Nettie D. Sadler, Mrs. Irma S. Webb, with the officers. They employ eighteen men and twenty-two women. They make bar pins, cuff pins, bracelets, tie clasps, buckles, belt chains, 10K gold top scarf pins, 10K pendants, gold plated bar pins, scarf pins, tie clasps, cuff pins, belt chains, soft collar holders, fancy line of ear drops and tasselettes. Sadler gold-filled solderless lockets. '"Sadler's Gold-Filled Solderless Patent (S) Ring."

R. F. Simmons Company was started in 1873. Joseph L. Sweet and Harold E. Sweet are co-partners. They employ 160 men and 60 women. They make gold-filled watch chains and kindred articles.

Smith & Crosby was started in 1874. Alfred D. Crosby and George H. Crosby are partners. They employ thirty-five men and fifteen women. They make cuff buttons, fobs, knives, chains, full-dress sets, bracelets, ear drops, brooches, crosses, etc.

Spellmeyer & Carey was started in.1913. The partners are George A. Spellmeyer and George A. Carey. They employ ten men and one woman. They do engraving.

Sykes & Strandberg was started in 1899 and is a co-partnership. The partners are George H. Sykes and G. W. Strandberg. They employ sixty men and twenty-five women. They make a general line of gold front engraved jewelry for men and women.

H. E. S. Thompson Company was started in November, 1909. They employ five men and three women. 'They do electro-plating on all kinds of metal goods. Deposits of gold, silver, copper, nickel, brass.

F. L. Torrey & Company was started in 1906. The partners are Fred L. Torrey and Joseph Kerkhoff. They employ thirty men and eight women. They make men's belt buckles and belt chain, and novelties.

Union Plate & Wire Company was started in 1911 and incorporated April 1, 1913. Amos §. Blackinton is president; George Fife, vice-president; F. C. Wilmarth, treasurer. They employ' ninety men and three women. They make gold and silver flat stock, wire and tubing.

Watson Company was started in 1874 and incorporated May 1, 1920. Clarence L. Watson is president and treasurer. They make sterling silver holloware and flatware. They employ 250 men and 25 women. ;

1894. W.H. Wilmarth is president; H. P. Wilmarth, treasurer; and E. J. Wilmarth is clerk. They employ twelve men and ten women. They make coffin and casket hardware.

Barden & Hull, manufacturers of solid gold jewelry, 1906, succeeding Chapman & Bardin, who succeeded Barden, Blake & Company, Plainville, 1897, sold plant to Le Stage Manufacturing Company in 1916. Standard Jewelry Company organized in 1893 at Plainville, moved to Attleboro in 1900. W. F. Barden, treasurer and manager.

The Bay State Optical Company is the outgrowth of a lifelong business partnership formed in 1862 between Peter Nerney and Mace Short, who for years manufactured jewelry, and won an exceptional reputation for the manufacture of the gold-filled chains. The Bay State Optical Company was founded in 1894, for the manufacture of spectacles and eye-glasses from rolled gold stock. The company is owned by two sons of Peter Nerney, the founder, namely, Frank J. and Edwin D. Nerney, who with Stephen J. Clulee, make up the officers and sole ownership.

Among the earlier industries of the Attleboros, there is the pre-Revolutionary record of Forgemaster Robert Saunderson's ironworks at East Attleboro, and of the successive superintendencies there of Robert Lightfoot, Thomas Baylies, Thomas Cobb, Jonathan Cobb, Nathaniel Robinson, Elijah Ingraham, Ezra and Jabel Ingraham, and Henry Smith, its history inclusive of the dates 1742 and 1809. In their turn, too, came the cotton manufacturers, the first to erect a cotton mill here being Ingraham Richardson & Company, in 1811 - Whittaker, Richardson & Company being the succeeding style of the firm, in 1821. The Farmers' Factory, maintained by neighboring farmers, was soon followed, nearby, by the Mechanics' Manufacturing Company, Samuel and Jesse Carpenter, proprietors, and _ within a very few years there were many changes in the proprietorship. There, a stock company was formed in 1871, and about 2,000,000 yards of cloth were woven annually. The Beaver Dam factory, formerly a nailmaking establishment, became a cotton mill in 1809, and after a succession of ownerships the mill was burned in 1832. The Falls Manufacturing Company, incorporated in 1813, built the Falls factory. Jonathan and George Bliss were proprietors up to 1849, when H. N. and H. M. Daggett were owners, to 1856. H.M. Richards then purchased the plant. Not long afterwards, H. N. Daggett repurchased and converted the plant into a braid factory. The City Factory, on Seven Mile River, was built in 1813, and the Attleboro City Manufacturing Company was incorporated in 1818. The building was burned in 1826, and was rebuilt. In the eighties, it was occupied by the Nottingham Knitting Company. The Lanesville factory, in Adamsdale, was built in 1826, and ran two thousand spindles and fifty looms. It had many owners, and was destroyed by fire in 1881. John F. Adams rebuilt the mill in 1882.

Under the firm name of the Attleboro Manufacturing Company, Dodge's factory was established in 1809. In 1812, the name was changed to the Tyler Manufacturing Company. The property was sold at auction in 1854. In 1870, the new owners incorporated as Hebron Manufacturing Company. The Atherton factory was established in 1812 at Hebronville as Atherton Manufacturing Company, and was owned and improved by several different companies, coming under the Knight ownership in 1848.

Button manufacturing had its beginning here in 1793 by Edward Price. He was succeeded in 1812 by Obed and Otis Robinson - this being the first company formed for this business in the United States. Richard Robinson & Company began the manufacture of glass buttons in 1823; they formed a new firm in 1826 under the same style. Robinson, Jones & Company began making buttons in 1826, and the button-making machine was invented by John Hatch, in their employ, in 1845. D. Evans & Company succeeded the Robinsons in 1848. Robinson, Hall & Company established their factory in 1832. Coupe & Knowles, predecessors of William Coupe & Company, began business in 1865. The works were swept by fire in 1872.

Power loom shuttles were first manufactured here in 1827 by Colonel Willard Blackinton, and in 1842 this firm was organized as W. Blackinton & Sons. Box manufacturing was begun here in 1852 by Hartford Babcock, and in 1879, H. S. Babcock began the same sort of business. The Attleboro Dye Works were founded by Robert Wolfenden in 1868.