1859-1861 Greenman and True Manufacturing Company
Greenman & True Manufacturing Company produced the lockstitch sewing machine at the Central Wharf in Norwich, Connecticut from 1859 to 1861. Cyrus B. True was the sewing machine expert and Jared F. Greenman was his financial partner. The design of the machine shown above was based on S. H. Roper’s patent of 1857. When it was exhibited at the Ninth Exhibition of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanics Association in September 1860, it received a bronze medal.
It was said that:
”The machine had obvious merit: it was strong, well made—a good family machine.”
Unfortunately, the best market for the machine lay in the South, and the outbreak of the Civil War made collections impossible. This greatly retarded business and finally drove the firm into bankruptcy in 1861. In all, it is doubtful that more than one thousand machines were produced in the three years of manufacture.
Several years later, in 1876, after Cyrus B. True left Norwich, he was awarded two patents for improvements to sewing machines (Patent Numbers 184,560 and 186,441).
Acknowledgements
YouTube.com
The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button, and, then typing “Greenman” in the SEARCH box.
1878?-1914? Norwich Nickel & Brass Company
This enterprise was first purchased by General William A. Aiken as the “Norwich Nickel Works” sometime between 1878 and 1888. His factory did electro-plating in nickel, silver and gold. The shop also manufactured nickel plated window display fixtures used for exhibiting goods in stores. There were 25 employees in 1888.
One of their advertisements during the year 1888 is shown on the left.
By 1894 the company was still owned by General Aiken, but, the name had been changed to the “Norwich Brass & Nickel Company”.
The Norwich Nickel & Brass Works manufactured a general line of display fixtures for nearly every variety of business. These fixtures were used not only in show windows but upon counters, shelves and along the cornices of stores, and offered an almost endless variety of devices. They also made brass railings for stores, offices, banks and theaters
The materials used for their goods were of high quality specially prepared brass, most of which was nickel plated. Their market included the entire country and some of their goods were exported to foreign countries.
Norwich Brass & Nickel Exhibit at 1904 World's Fair
Photo of the Norwich Brass & Nickel
Exhibit at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis
*Place cursor over images to magnify
The exhibit of the line of Window Display Fixtures, Wax Figures and Clothing Forms, made by the Norwich Brass & Nickel Company was one of the most elaborate and striking at the 1904 World’s Fair held in St. Louis.
The exhibit was 30 feet wide and 18 feet tall. The interior was covered with maroon denim with decorated frieze around the entire inside. Within this beautiful setting was shown the figures of the company’s manufactured goods known as “Norwich Fixtures”. These included novelties finished in nickel-plate, oxidized copper, gun metal, and various other novel, attractive finishes.
The exhibits for their Display Fixtures, Wax Figures, and Clothing Forms all won Gold Medals.
The last known reference to the Norwich Brass & Nickel Company is found in Info Source 3, which was published in 1914.
Acknowledgements
“Souvenir Edition of the Norwich Evening Record, Norwich, The Rose of New England“, 1894, page 61,published by Cleworth & Pullen
“Connecticut at the World’s Fair, Report of the Commissioners from Connecticut to the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Held at St. Louis, 1904”, pp 145-147
“Picturesque and Industrial Eastern Connecticut”, 1914, by The Eastern Connecticut Development Committee, page 8
Aero View of Norwich, Connecticut, 1912, by Hughes & Baily
The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button, and, then typing “Nickel & Brass” in the SEARCH box.