Naugatuck Daily News from Naugatuck, Connecticut • Page 11

Rubber Footwear Industry NAUCATUCK NEWS INDUSTRIAL I'UOGBESS SECTION Page 3 In Naugatuck Over Century Ago Operations Of Several Plants Merged Here In HISTORY Of the rubber footwear industry almost a history of the rubber industry as a whole. In earlier years, the overshoes portion of total production was a major percentage although now it has dropped to something just over three per cejjt. It was crowded out by that relative new-comer, the auto- mflbile tire, which now is the gjant that accounts for more than 71 per cent of the volume of rubber used. ACTUAL PRODUCTION "of rubber shoes in the United States did not start until 1843, right here in Naugatuck, where Charles Goodyear's daughter assembled and made the first vulcanized rubber shoe ever produced. The company was known "Goodyear Metallic Rubber Shoe.

Company" because the vulcanized rubber, when stretched, resembled elastic metal. iSINCE THEN, the rubber footwear industry has made a constant growth (except during the years of generally fair weather). WAS IN 183? that Charles Gppdyear, a native of NEW Haven, made his discovery of the vulcanization of rubber. In Ig43 he received financial backing from William DeForest of Naugatuck, where he moved his experiments. From this time on, Naugatuck has been the home of the vulcanized rubber footwear industry.

DIED in I860, after 18 years with the rubber industry. During.that time he had receipts of $152,894.09, and his expenditures' were $108,160.46, showing a profit of $54,733.63, or $3,040.70 a year. This was not a. large income for the inventor of the process, which made the industry one of the largest of the time. THE G.M.R.

SHOE COMPANY suffered several serious fire's in the first years of its existence here. -While insurance paid for the greater part of the losses, the company early established a policy of building. several small separate buildings as a means of reducing fire loss. ON MARCH 4, 1892 the United States Rubber Company was incorporated in New Jersey. On April 4 it bought the property and assets of "the New Jersey Rubber Shoe Company, which, had started business, -in 18G8.

'-Before'the end of-Uhe year, i States controlled through purchase of stock, 11 of the footwear concerns, including L. Candee Goodyear Metallic Rubber Shoe American Rubber Co. Meyer Rubber New Brunswick Rubber National Rubber Ford and Colchester Rubber Co. The following year, 1893, the owners of the Woonsocket Rubber Co. and the Goodyear India Rubber Glove Mfg.

Co. exchanged their stock for that of the new combine. IN 1898, THE Boston Rubber Shoe Co. came in, giving United States Rubber, Co. 75 per cent of the current rubber footwear production in -the country.

UNITED STATES Company thereby became the oldest and largest rubber foot-' wear company, in the world. Of the 15 companies merged at that time, only the two plants in Naugatuck and the one in Woonsocket remain in operation at the present time. FATE WAS KIND to Naugatuck when the major upheaval took place in the footwear division of the U. S. Rubber Company, in the late 20's and early 30's.

The less important chains came in 1933 and 1934, when to simplify the corporate structure and to avoid taxation, the Goodyear Metallic Rubber Shoe Co. gave up its charter (April 5, 1933) and tranferred Its assets to Goodyear India Rubber Glove Mfg. Go. (October 4, 1933). The next year the Glove Co.

was.dis- solved and the parent company took over the plants directly. More crucial was the decision taken at various times between 1929 and 1932 to concentrate production at Naugatuck. AFTER A THOROUGH organization of the division to reduce operating expenses, only the Goodyear Metallic Shoe Co. and the. Goodyear India Rubber Glove Mfg.

Co. of the pre-1892 firms were left manufacturing rubber footwear. Colchester had been closed in 1894. the Meyer Factory sold in 1902. In April, 1929.

the transfer of operations to Naugatuck began when the operations of the L. Candee plant New Haven were transferred to' Naugatuck. THE NEXT YEAR the build- JAMES WALSH, 69 Gorimm street, will be a member of. the 'Footwear Plant's exclusive Fifty Year Club when he retires in 19B1. Jiniinie is one of the most popular men in the Waterproof Mill.

WILLIAM VEST, 15G Spencer street, is another prospective member of the Footwear Plant's Fifty Year Club. Bill will have more than 51 years to his credit when he retires in IJHil, fifty-one years of safe workmanship. HILDA KDQUIST and MILDRED ABRAMSON are outstanding operators in the Fabric Shoe Department. Each has a flawless record in attendance and quality workmanship since they came to Naugatntk Foohvt'iti- in 1912. Miss Edquist lives ill 21-1 North Main street, and Miss Aurnmson resides at 18 New street.

ings of the New Brunswick Rubber Co. were in order of transfer, the business of the remaining plants were accomplished as follows: BOSTON RUBBER SHOE Maiden, November 1929; i American Ruber in 1930; Woonsocket ber Woonsockel, R. in May, 1930; Beacon Falls Rub ber Shoe June, 1930; National India Rubber Bristol, R. June, 1931; Lycomin? Rubber Williamsport, October, 1932. IN THE FALL of 1935, United States Rubber Co.

acquired the business and assets of Firestone Rubber at Hudson, Mass. Thi's business was shortly thereafter transferred to Naugatuck. THUS WAS COMPLETED the reorganization process whereby nine concerns, some of them with histories extending 90 years into the past, ceased to manufacture rubber footwear. Only in Naugatuck did the United States Rubber Company, and through it the industry, maintain contact with its roots and traditions. LOCATION.

ADEQUATE floor space, facilities and experience acquired over 90 years were behind the decision to consolidate operations in Goodyear's hometown. THE RESULT OF these consolidations at Naugatuck during A VETERAN of 41 years of service with tin- Nnugatuck Division of the Connecticut; Water Company, Franklin G. Ilotchkiss, 105 street, is shown on the scene of pipe-laying work recently on Nixon avenue. the several depression years that in 1928, employment in footwear followed, was to materially a Naugaluck moved to an all- duce in this area the widespread condition of unemployment which became prevalent throughout the nation in the 1930's. FROM THE LESS than 2.000 employes at the Naugatuck Plant i high of 6,337 In June, 1937.

was about this time, March 19. 1937, a an all-time record of daily production of 124,397 pairs of rubber and canvas rubber-soled footwear was established at Naugaluck. It is ex- By Cairl Butterfoss (Continued From Page 2) ly be made welcome in community? IS THERE A cooperative i a i prevalent among all segments of your comm i a will Insure our gel- ting action tin any problems may face or must we i a lone a WHAT ABOUT educational standards and facilities for the children of our key personnel who will come with us? IS MEDICAL and hospital service of the very best? ARE COMMUNITY services complete such as fire protection, first aid squads, police protection ARE THERE superior shopping facilities in your community so that our women folk's will find what they want at a fail- price and enjov shopping there? WHAT RECREATION, facilities are there and what comm i events a will enjoyably occupy our leisure hours? OBVIOUSLY' II E. are many more Hems in this eate- tremely doubtful a any comm i throughout the world has ever produced in 24 hours so many pairs of rubber footwear. GASTON KAUPINAS, 119 High street, started with U.S.

in 191-1. Gaston has frequently been rated as "unexcelled" in his lino of carpentry, and is regarded as one of Footwear's most dependable employes. gory. The" communities today thai are growing and prospering are those a are rectifying mistakes of the past and doing something about problems in a positive and cooperative manner, recognizing a by and large, those things which build a better, more properous community will likewise benefit each individual business therein. Today such a i is Naugatuck! Naugatuckians seem determined to improve on i enviable reputation of a busy industrious town.

Naugaluck has a pel- capital income higher than the state level, and that a net effective buying income of -17 million dollars for its 5,900 householders. INDUSTRY OR commercial business looking for a favorable "climate" will do well lo investigate this i that in its quiet and unassuming manner goes about its busy year a year, chalking up new records, meeting even high educational and a standards, and above all providing a feeling of a real home town of which one can speak i pi ide THE NAUGATUCK Chamber Commerce is a growing busy organization and is indicative of i fresh spirit of progress to npet modern demands. Any inquiries directed to the Chamber will receive complete and prompt attention. A KRULIKOSKI, 82 Greenwood is employed in the Fabric Shoe Making Department as a toe cap p.lacer. Mrs.

Krulikoski has close to 45 years' service with the Footwear Plant and, records indicate, lias never been tardy throughout those many years. retired this past month from Nausatuck Chemical Materials Handling department with over 3fi years of Company service. BERNARD MORAN retired from the Naugatuck Chemical recently with over 33 years of Company service. CONTINUOUS HINGES OF ALL KINDS io IL For AIRCRAFT AUTOMOBILES BOATS FURNITURE CABINETS PIANOS STEEL BRASS STAINLESS STEI MONEL NICKEL SiLVER "THE WORLD'S LARGEST MANUFACTURER OF BUTTS AND CONTINUOUS HINGES EXCLUSIVELY' THE HOMER D. BRONSON CO.

1884 1959 ,6 I I 1 I P. I Tf -r--'i.