Untitled Document

THE BOSS MANUFACTURING COMPANY.

In May, 1890, Mr. H. H. Perkins of Kewanee organized a corporation under the name of H. H. Perkins Manufacturing Company with a capital stock of ten thousand dollars. Mr. Perkins was the patentee of what was known as the Boss Husking Pins, and manufactured them in a room about fifteen feet square. The huskers were very popular and are still known as the best husking pins on the market, so that their use has extended around the entire globe.

In 1892 the manufacture of canton flannel mittens was begun and a limited equipment was installed for making by machinery such mittens for use of farmers in husking season which the farmer's wives had formerly made by hand. This idea proved a winner, and July 1, 1893, the H. H. Perkins Manufacturing Company was succeeded by the Boss Manufacturing Company which had been in corporated on May i8th of that year with a capital stock of fifty thousand dol lars, fully paid. In the same year the new company purchased forty acres of land in the western part of Kewanee and located the first building where the present local plant stands.

This business has gradually grown until today the capital and surplus employed is around five hundred thousand dollars. Whereas in 1893, three hundred and fifty dozen pairs of canton flannel gloves and mittens were manufactured, in 1909 a carload of material is cut up every day containing material for approximately ten thousand dozen pairs. The growth has, in fact been so rapid, that notwithstanding additions to the Kewanee plant from year to year, it has been found necessary by the company to establish branches in other cities in order to supply itself with help and in order that the shipping points should be in the center of the different districts. The Boss Manufacturing Company is really a pioneer in the idea of having these different factories located in different points. A specialty of different classes of goods is made in each place, the help is trained along certain lines, and with the advantage of an abundance of help and better shipping facilities, the idea has proved so advantageous that the company now has eight different factories located in different parts of the country, in addition to the general offices and home plant at Kewanee.

The first of these branches was established in Galesburg, Illinois, in 1901. In 1902 plants were located at Fort Wayne and Bluffton, Indiana. In 1903 the largest plant operated by the company was established at Findlay, Ohio, using four hundred employes with a pay roll around one hundred thousand dollars per year. In 1905, an office and factory were opened in New York City. In 1906 a branch factory was established in Monmouth, Illinois, and in 1907 another at Peoria, Illinois. In 1906, also, a second branch was started at Fort Wayne, Indiana, and in 1907 still another in Beatrice, Nebraska. All of the buying, selling, managing and superintending for these nine plants is handled from the general offices at Kewanee. The nine factories employ some one thousand, six hundred people, mostly young women, with a pay roll of about five hundred thousand dollars per year.

The Boss Manufacturing deals only with the job and wholesale trade and has extended this trade over the world. The officers of the company have been the same since 1897, and several of the heads of departments, including the general superintendent, have been with the company since it started in 1890.

The present officers are: president, W. H. Lyman; vice-president, H. T. Terry; secretary, treasurer and general manager, F. M. Lay; manager of sales, P. A. Waller; and general superintendent, T. R. Stokes. All of the above reside in Kewanee.

This business started in a very small way for the manufacture of the Perkins "Boss" Huskers. A small corporation capital of ten thousand dollars, under the name of H. H. Perkins Manufacturing Company, was organized in May, 1890, Mr. Perkins being the patentee of the Boss Huskers. The company started in a very small room, not over fifteen feet square, and manufactured at that time only four styles of husking pins. These pins were at that time, and are still, known as the best husking pins on the market, and their use has extended around the entire globe.

In 1892 the manufacture of a Canton flannel mitten was added to the other line. At that time Canton flannel mittens were made by the farmer's wife, who purchased a few yards of cloth at the store, and cut them out hy hand, and sewed them on the family machine. These mittens were used mostly by the farmer in husking corn in the fall and winter, and were not in general use as a work mitten With this idea as a starter, it was believed that a large business could be worked up in making not only mittens, but gloves, out of the same material. A start was made in a very small way and equipment in this department consisted of one family sewing machine, a spool of thread, a bolt of Canton flannel, and a pair of shears. The business was new and the sales limited. On July 1, 1893, the H. H. Perkins Manufacturing company was succeeded by The Boss Manufacturing company, which on May 18th of that year had incorporated with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars, fully paid. In the same year the company purchased forty acres of land in the west end of Kewanee, and located the first buildings where the present property is now located.

This business has gradually grown, until today the capital and surplus employed is around five hundred thousand dollars. Where in 1893 was manufactured three hundred and fifty dozen pairs of Canton flannel gloves and mittens,in 1909, a carload of Canton flannel is cut up every day. A carload contains approximately material enough for ten thousand dozen pairs. The unprecedented growth has rendered necessary larger quarters and increased facilities. The Kewanee plant has been increased from year to year, but on account of the scarcity of help, and that shipping points might be in the center of the different consuming districts, it was rendered advisable to start a branch factory away from the home city.

The Boss Manufacturing Company is really a pioneer in the idea of having these different factories located at different points. A specialty of different classes of goods is made in each place, the help is trained along certain lines, and with the advantage of an abundance of help and shipping facilities, this idea has proved advantageous, until to today this company has eight different factories located in different parts of the country, outside of the general offices and home plant at Kewanee.

The first branch was established at Galesburg, Illinois, in 1901. The follow ing year the Zero Mitten & Manufacturing company, operating plants at Ft. Wayne and Bluffton, Indiana, was bought. In 1902 also the Woodhull Manufacturing Company of Dayton, Ohio, which was one of the oldest established plants of its kind. The following year, or in 1903, we bought a small mitten plant at Findlay, Ohio, and moved the Dayton plant to that city. This plant at Findlay, Ohio, has since developed into the company's largest factory, operating some three hundred machines and four hundred employes, with a pay roll around one hundred thousand dollars a year. In 1905 the company invaded the east ern territory, and opened an office and factory in New York City. In 1906 a branch was established at Monmouth, Illinois, and in 1907 a branch was established at Peoria, Illinois.

In 1907 the company also bought out the Beatrice Manufacturing Company of Beatrice, Nebraska, manufacturers of corn huskers. This plant was after wards moved to Kewanee and the product made here. In 1906 was established a second branch in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, by this firm, thus making in all at the present time one main plant and eight branches, operated from the general offices at Kewanee.

All of the buying, selling, managing and superintending of these nine plants is handled from the home office at Kewanee. These factories give employment to some one thousand, six hundred people, mostly young women, with a pay roll of about five hundred thousand dollars a year.

The Boss Manufacturing Company is unique in the fact that they sell only to the jobbing or wholesale trade; do not solicit the retail trade. This trade extends all over the world into foreign countries, and certain styles have been adopted in the English army. The officers of the company have been the same since 1897, and several of the heads of departments, including the general super intendent, have been with the company since it started in 1890.

The officers are: president, W. H. Lyman; vice-president, H. T. Terry; secretary-treasurer, and general manager, F. M. Lay; manager of sales department, P. A. Waller; and general superintendent, T. R. Stokes.

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