THE WHITE SEWING MACHINE COMPANY

The following was clipped, here and there, from the Cleveland Leader, U.S.A. Four years ago last August, the White Sewing Machine was introduced to the people of this country. It has met with such favour that its sales now aggregate 100.000 machines per annum, the works having a capacity of 300 to 350 machines per day and nearly 900 men are engaged in the various stages of its manufacture. The works on Canal-street have been enlarged by additions, from time to time, until the building now occupies a frontage of 432 by 291 feet deep and five stories high. Within this vast building everything is life and activity, almost bewildering to one unaccustomed to such scenes. One room, at least 100x60 feet in dimensions, is filled entirely with milling machines. Another spacious department is devoted simply to drilling the holes in the various portions of the "head" of the machine. Still another, which contains over 25,000dols. worth of automatic machinery, wonderful in its perfection and the perfection of its results, is devoted to the manufacture of screws alone. One large department is devoted to tool-making, where the most skilful mechanics are employed in producing or keeping in order the tools used in the hundreds of machines throughout the establishment. In one department men exist in an atmosphere of red hue, and charged with a strong odour of ammonia. It is the polishing-room and long sprays of sparks leap from a hundred swiftly revolving emery wheels, as the metal is held firmly against them. The plating department is an interesting but not particularly pleasant locality, as the abundant supply of acid is not congenial to clothing; the odour disturbs the lungs and the powerful Brush electric machine brings our watches to a standstill or galvanises the works in a manner interesting to the philosophical but annoying to the practical mind. The active men of the company are the same as at the beginning, the officers being as follows:

Thomas H. White, president; S. E. Henderson, secretary; H. W.White, treasurer; other stockholders, R. C. White, Henry W. White, D'Arcy Porter, superintendent; G. W. Baker, mechanical expert.

All interested in the company are active participants in the business; and what is more important, and at the same time somewhat remarkable, they are all experienced sewing machine men, some having served the cause over twenty years. To that end they never allow an improvement of value to escape. They adopt whatever can make it better, and have a corps of skilful mechanics and originative geniuses constantly employed at the works, in an apartment by themselves, making improvements and devising new things. The business of this company has extended to all parts of the earth, Australia, South America, and Mexico being constant customers.

An office was recently opened at No. 21, Queen Victoria Street, London, for the accomodation of the European trade, although direct shipments will be continued.

Feb 1881

                                                                                           THE SEWING MACHINE GAZETTE