2005-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2005
Early Ohio textile history comprised of (50) manuscript letters, 1845-60, representing incoming correspondence to P. W. Whitin & Sons from various mills. Whitin was a Massachusetts manufacturer of cotton machinery. Notable in the archive are (11) letters, 1855-60, from Stearns & Foster of Cincinnati. Founded in 1846, this noted bedding firm began with the manufacture of cotton mattress felt (among other products). Other Cincinatti letters include (9) 1845-48, Harkness Strader & Fosdick; and (5) from Gould, Pearce & Co., 1856-57. The latter firm is the forerunner of Atkins & Perkins. In addition (with number of letters): (4) Zanesville Cotton Mill; and (21) G.E.& J.H. Warner, Steubenville. A small portion reads: G.E. & J. H. Warner, Nov. 13, Dec. 17, 1847 - "We shall probably want to engage a first rate man to take the Superintendence of our Carding & Spinning departments - or if necessary one that could be fully competent to take full charge of the whole working department of our mill - viz carding spinning weaving &c &c."; "We can get weavers enough but we want a man who can start our cards & spinning frames & do first rate work, make any no. of yarn without much variation & a good deal of it…For such a person we would be willing to pay 8 or 900$ per year." [An 1846 letters contains a small pencil sketch showing how the cards stand - "both sections on one side of the mill".]; Harkness Strader & Fosdick, Oct. 16, 1846 - "We regret not seeing one of your young men when at our mill a short time since, as we would liked to have had some talk with him about a willow. The one we have is a bone willow and works rather slow. We want to run through from six to seven Bales per day." [Another 1846 letter from this company illustrates the difficulties in shipping the machinery to Ohio. The writer proposes sending it by railroad to Albany; by Canal to Buffalo; across the lake by Steam; and finally down the Miami Canal "…to this place which would expidite [sic] its passage here some days sooner then to send it by the way of Providence."]; Gould, Pearce & Co., Sept. 22, 1856 - "We purchased at Lowell of the Merrimack Corporation two ring spinning frames containing 160 spindles each. In transportation they were badly damaged by rust so much so that the fluted rolers will be useless." [Note: This is one of the eight letters that contains pricing information on the bottom in John C. Whitin's hand.] Letters from Stearns & Foster contain orders for "small gearing or cogwheels for spindles" and replacement for a beater which has become "worn and rounded on the striking corners." Letters range from brief queries to filled full page quarto. A few letters with dampstaining (entirely readable). Overall VG condition.
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