Arnold Specialty Co.

The company, located in South Lancaster, Mass., was incorporated in 1946 by Ralph E. Arnold, his son Ralph O.E. Arnold, and others. Its original business was the manufacture of card clothing machines for the textile industry. Between 1950 and 1952 the company produced the "Duesberg grinder" for a customer in Jefferson, Mass., perhaps H. Duesberg-Bosson Fils Company. By 1952 it had mostly abandoned machinery manufacture and had turned to manufacturing and selling cotton, woolen, worsted and napper card clothing. The company's most active sales period was from 1948 to 1952. The company continued in business until 1958 when its assets were sold to Howard Brothers Manufacturing Co. of Worcester, Mass.

The collection also includes some records probably for the Lowell Napper Clothing Co., Lowell, Mass. Ralph E. Arnold was at one time president of this company. Both Ralph Arnold and his son had also worked at the Wickwire Spencer Steel Division of Colorado Fuel and Iron Corp.; this company was located in Worcester, Mass.