Page 36 - May1954

226 NATIONAL BUTTON BULLETIN May, 1954

"BUTTON IIIANLTFACTORII.-)S" (Continued)
Another manufactorl' of buttons \vas establishecl in October, 1832,
by a clifferent firm, under the name of Robirrson. Flall & Co. The shop
was situated on the Seven Mile River, near Newell's'lavern in West
Attleborough, aird quite near the resiclence of Elisha G. nlay. The first
.shop rvas ilO feet bi'20; another built in 1833 or 1834, rvas 35 feet by 25,
and three stories high. This establishrnent emplol'ecl nineteen hands,
of lrhorn tcn rvere females, aud rvhen thc nerv olle \yas completed some
25 or 30 were probably employ'ed. This eompalty made plain metal
buttons. for both coats arrcl vests, and of three different prices. They at
one time produced about 75 gross per day, and subsequently probably
this amount r,vas increased.

This old shop ancl its predecessor hacl a varied experience. There
rvas first of all a blacksmith's shoo : this rvas converted into a cotton
mill run by a Mr. Sible1', ancl their into a button factory. In one of
these buildings Mr. Elisha G. 1\ a;' lealned the button trade. That busi-
ness here came to a close about fift.v I'ears ago. for it is said W. H.
Robinson commenced manuflacturiirg jes.eh'1' about 1837 in the shop thc
button-makers hacl built. IIe was follou.ccl b1'others in the same business.
J. FI. Ilodges and J. T. Bacon startecl in compan;' here in 1843, and
while here-among the first to do it-thev "introduced power" into their
rvorks. 1\{r. I{odges, it is said, tvas the fir'st in tou'n to make brass jervelrl'
and have it electro-p1ated. This firm rvas here until 1847. After this
it x'as for a time a pattern-making i:stablishment. At length it became
a dychouse and bleacherl' l'ith quite a large business, and finally in
1881 or' 1882 it lvas burned clown. Whatever remnants, of its ruins may
have been visible rvere all rvashecl awalz by the flood of 1886, which acted
its wild will on this spot, charrging its appearance so eompletely that not
a trace of the old shop lemains to mark its former site.
Note : Among the places your Editor visited on her Attleboro trip
was the Attleboro l\fuseum. There she had an opportunity to examine
the books in the librarr. and came across the accoLrnt )'0u have just read.
The Director promisecl to tvpe it in her spare time. We are grateful to
Miss Ruth E. Cannard for her efforts.

SPOR,T WAISTCOATS
Chipp, long famous for innovations in waisteoats, presents a di-
versified and attractive selection of these fashionable business and
eountr]r-n'ea r aeccssories :
Velveteen ancl Edu'arclian revival, plush feeling trarm shades, small
paddock, pencil pocket, ltorse head, enamel bu,ttons, Scarlet red, Benedic-
tine gold, Jet black, Ilunters green . . . $12.50.
Ad in the New Yorker, Nov. 28, 1953