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Textile Machine Works photographs

Creation: 1929-1952
 Collection
Accession: 1986-241

Abstract

The Textile Machine Works began as a braiding machines repair and replacement company for German imported equipment, but they began building their own braiding machines in late 1892. In the 1900s the company assembled the first American full-fashioned knitting machine (full-fashioned is a knitted garment shaped or seamed to fit close to the body). The Textile Machine Works was founded by Henry Janssen (1866-1948) and Ferdinand Thun (1866-1949) on July 5, 1892, in Reading, Pennsylvania. This collection consists of photographs depicting views of the Textile Machine Works that document plant operations, technology, and the company town. There are numerous photographs of machines made by the company in their own foundry, primarily the "Reading" full-fashioned knitting machine; many of these have been retouched for use in trade catalogs.

Dates

  • Creation: 1929-1952

Creator

Extent

3 Linear Feet

Physical Description

124 photographic prints : b&w ; 11 x 14 in. or smaller. 1 drawing ; 11 x 14 in. 1 item.

Historical Note

The Textile Machine Works began as a braiding machines repair and replacement company for German imported equipment, but they began building their own braiding machines in late 1892. The Textile Machine Works was founded by Henry Janssen (1866-1948) and Ferdinand Thun (1866-1949) on July 5, 1892, in Reading, Pennsylvania.

Both Thun and Janssen were born in Barmen, Germany, in 1866. Thun came to America in 1886 and worked as a bookkeeper. He returned to Germany in 1889 to study the making of braids and trimmings. In 1889, he returned to America as superintendent of the Sutro Brothers' braid manufacturing plant in New York. He again met Henry Janssen, who had joined the Castle Braid Company in Brooklyn the previous year. The two men moved to Reading, Pennsylvania, and organized the Textile Machine Works in 1892.

Initially, the company did repair and replacement work for braiding machines, which were then almost exclusively imported from Germany. However, the imposition of the McKinley tariff of 1890 created a protected niche that Thun and Janssen were able to occupy. The company built its first braiding machine in late 1892, and in 1896 Thun and Janssen moved their operation to a larger suburban site in nearby Wyomissing. The growing electrical industry was consuming ever greater quantities of braided coverings for wire and cable. Thun and Janssen set up their own battery of braiding machines and organized the Narrow Fabric Company on January 2, 1900.

Soon afterward, the Textile Machine Works assembled the first American full-fashioned knitting machine. Production increased from about 100 per year in 1912 to more than 1,000 per year by 1926, as the market for full-fashioned hosiery expanded. However, because sales of the machines had initially been weak, Thun and Janssen set up an experimental hosiery factory to further test and perfect their product. In 1906, it was incorporated separately as the Berkshire Knitting Mills under the management of one of their associates, Gustav Oberlaender (1867-1936). The plant became the largest full-fashioned knitting mill in the world.

Labor relations at the Textile Machine Works were characterized by paternalism, as Thun and Janssen constructed company housing and a company store for their employees. To train mechanics, they established a separate educational department in 1927 known as the Wyomissing Trade School. Its scope widened, and it was incorporated in March 1933 as the Wyomissing Polytechnic Institute, eventually becoming a fully accredited junior engineering college. Other community services included a dispensary, library, insurance, health, and benefit associations.

With the growing substitution of artificial for natural fibers after World War II, the Textile Machine Works began a long decline. It continued to produce machinery for a shrinking cotton and silk market. It finally closed its doors in 1982.

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of photographs depicting views of the Textile Machine Works that document plant operations, technology, and the company town. There are numerous photographs of machines made by the company in their own foundry; many of these have been retouched for use in trade catalogs.

The collection has been arranged into three series: The "Reading" full-fashioned knitting machine photographs; Various machinery photographs; and Employees, facilities, and company town photographs.

The "Reading" full-fashioned knitting machine photographs series consists of detailed views of numerous parts of the knitting machine. The parts have been organized in the order in which they appear in the parts catalogs.

The Various machinery photographs series consists of images of the "Reading" rotary braider machine, German drum frame, and trade show exhibits. Other items include photographs of illustrations on weaving from Diderot's Encyclopedia and some unidentified machinery. This series has been arranged in alphabetical order.

The Employees, facilities, and company town photographs series consists of views of the foundries, factory exteriors and interiors, and workers. There is an architectural model of the Reading Hospital built by the company in West Reading, as well as scenes of Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. Additionally, there are samples of company letterheads and a drawing of Davy Crockett. This series has been divided into three subseries: Employees, Facilities, and Company town. Each is arranged chronologically.

Access Restrictions

No restrictions on access; this collection is open for research.

Related Materials

Textile Machine Works parts catalogs and bulletins (Accession 2871), Manuscripts and Archives Department, Hagley Museum and Library.

Berkshire Knitting Mills photograph album (Accession 1992.249), Audiovisual Collections and Digital Initiatives Department, Hagley Museum and Library.

Wyomissing Development Company records (Accession 1905), Manuscripts and Archives Department, Hagley Museum and Library.

Partners : a history of the development of the Wyomissing industries, circa 1936 (TS1425.W99 P3), Published Collections Department, Hagley Museum and Library.

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Separated Materials

Textile Machine Works records (Accession 1904), Manuscripts and Archives Department, Hagley Museum and Library.

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title:
Textile Machine Works photographs
Author:
Laurie Sather
Date:
2024
Description rules:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description:
English
Script of description:
Latin

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Audiovisual Collections Repository

Contact:
PO Box 3630
Wilmington Delaware 19807 USA
302-658-2400