Page 34 - May1954

NATIONAL BUT?ON BULLETIN llay. 1954

"BUTTON IIANUFACTORIES" (Continued)
of buttolrs rnanufactured \\'as about one hundred gross a day. At differ-
ent timcs various kincls of buttons \{ere ploclucecl. From 1826 to 1832
the common gilt button had been manufactul'ecl, s'hich competed in a
good clegree lvith the English. Subsetprent to 1832 the companl' macle
itt the varieties r'hich the n"arket clemantlecl-the common button, the
navy. the military, the fancl', ancl sportiug buttons, which were ac-
knou'letlged superior to any others in the market in the beaut-v, finisir,
ancl dulabilit;' of the u'ork.
The following paragraphs are transcribed fron the frsl edit'ior' of
tltis book printed, in l9iltt:-
,,'lhis company iras brought tlte mauufacture of this article to such
perfection by various improvemeuts and the skill of the worlimetr, as to
conpete full1'nith all others in thc marliet rvhether ciornestic or foleign.
if proper encolrragelnent shoulcl be gil'en by adequate protec-
-indccd
tion to this 6ranch of lnclustry'. it I'oulcl soon be sufficient to suppl-v all
our home clernancls, atrcl exclucle the forciglr entirt'i1' floln our markets.
This companv have received all the contestccl premiums which have been
offerccl b1' thc Ilrstitutes of Ncu' York. I'hiladelphia, ancl Boston'
times joirrtly with others. They have in their possession threc medals
(silver) ancl two diplomas.
,,Several importaut improvements in the mode of manufacture hare
been macle b1' one of the firm, Mr. Willarcl Robinson, for some of $'hich
patents have becn securecl.
"A common gilt button rvhich appears when fiilishetl so simple'
undergoes in the cor."se of being manufacturetl or.er thirtl- differcnt
procesies. some of which t'equirc great sliill arltl experience. Each llutton
is separately handlecl tu'ent.v-one times.
?,So-e'of the females mentioned as coluectecl rvith this establish-
ment are employed principally in clrf ing, sorting. papering and packing,
ancl others in edging, cramping, placing thc eye and prepaling it for
solilerilg. It furnishes for females a lleat, agreeable a1d profitable
occunation.
?'The capital emploved by this estabhshment is about $50,000. The;'
use in gilcling about-$15,000. worth of pure golcl geirerally obtainecl in
its natural state; and consume forty tons of Lehigh coal annuall)'.
" The number of tenements occupied b1' those employed' in the fac-
tor;' is thirteen. Seyeral 1ew dwelling holses have been latell' erectecl
for their use.
,,Agcncies for the salc of this article have been established in all
thc principal cities of the Union. Some of the articles have been ex-
porterl to foreign colrrtries,-to South Arnet'ica, Hay1l ntt4 several of
ihe Wcst In<lia Jslancls. Thc buttort nol manrtfacturecl is eclual in cvery
rcspect to the Eng'1ish, and perhaps superior in clurabilitl'."
In 1835 the firm u'as ernploying a])out one hnndretl hancls antl a pretty
vilJage qf gomfortable houses. narnecl frorn the o1{rners, Ilobinsorf ille,
su.rrounc.lecl the factories. Trr 1843 the fashion iIr buttorrs changed. antl
the lnrivaled success of the film was brought to an end. and Mr. Willarcl
Robinson, who was at that time corrducting the business, was obliged to