Whitin Machine Works (Whitinsville, Mass.)

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Contains documents prepared for Whitin by Booz, Allen & Hamilton, management consultants, including a survey of accounting operations and the data processing system, 1960; a recap of organization recommendations, 1960; a preliminary survey of Zurn Industries, Inc., as an acquisition candidate, 1962; and a review of the sales and profit outlook for J.D. Ferry Co. and American Type Founders, 1963; both companies were Whitin Machine Works acquisitions. Also contains a report, 1963, by Whitin on recommended arrangements of various facilities, including Whitinsville-Charlotte, Foster Machine and Fayscott Corp., for profit improvement; a document on production control procedure and stock status, 1960; and an analysis of the "Product Planning and Development Report, 1948-1963," prepared by E. Kent Swift, Jr., 1963.

From the description of [Business records]. 1960-1963. (American Textile History Museum Library). WorldCat record id: 50423644

Engaged in the manufacture of textile machinery, chiefly the so-called preparatory machinery that converts raw cotton into yarn. The company, founded by John C. Whitin, built its first machine in 1831 in a facility located on the Mumford River in Whitinsville, the principal village in the Town of Northbridge, Mass. It was incorporated in 1868 and remained under the ownership of the Whitin family through the years of World War II, during which time its operations were converted to the manufacture of military supplies, reverting to textile machinery afterwards. At its peak, the company employed as many as 5000 workers. Following the war, the company began shifting operations to North Carolina and also passing outside control of the Whitin family. During the 1950s Whitin Machine Works began selling the company housing and transferring some of its institutions, such as the fire department and the gym, to the Town of Northbridge, and by ca. 1980 all of its operations had moved south. The buildings in Whitinsville remain and now house a number of small businesses and manufactures.

From the description of Whitin Machine Works collection, 1880-1970 (bulk 1880-1950). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 316210072

P. Whitin & Sons founded in 1831 by John C. Whitin, inventor of textile picking machinery and son of blacksmith and machine shop owner Paul Whitin; name later changed to Whitin Machine Works; manufacturer of textile industry machinery; also made airplane parts during World War II; company known as "The Shop."

From the description of Whitin Machine Works collection, 1844-[197-]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70958329

In 1809 Paul Whitin, in partnership with James Fletcher and others, turned his scythe & hoe manufactory in Whitinsville, Mass. into a cotton mill. In 1826 he purchased the interest of his partners and went into business with his sons, Paul Whitin, Jr. & John C. Whitin under the name of Paul Whitin & Sons. Attached to the mill was a machine shop where John C. Whitin began experiments in the construction of improved machines for use in cotton manufacture beginning with the cotton picker, then improved machines for the entire equipment of a cotton factory except mules. From 1860-1863, the company also operated the Holyoke Machine Shop in Holyoke, Mass. Paul Whitin & Sons dissolved and re-organized in 1864; John C. Whitin received the machine shop. Its name was later changed to Whitin Machine Works; it incorporated in 1870.

From the description of [Business records]. 1850-1972. (American Textile History Museum Library). WorldCat record id: 50425388

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn A. & M. Karagheusian. [Business records]. American Textile History Museum Library
referencedIn Horner, Leon. [Papers]. American Textile History Museum Library
referencedIn Leavitt, Mark A. [Notebook]. American Textile History Museum Library
referencedIn Strang, Peter McDonald. [Papers]. American Textile History Museum Library
referencedIn Horner, L. H. L.H. Horner cartoon collection, 1919-1921. Northbridge Historical Society
referencedIn Kennedy, James. [Correspondence]. American Textile History Museum Library
referencedIn Uxbridge Cotton Mills. [Business records]. American Textile History Museum Library
creatorOf Whitin Machine Works (Whitinsville, Mass.). [Business records]. American Textile History Museum Library
referencedIn Edward Lindley Bowles Papers, 1869-1990, (bulk 1920-1982) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Clifton Manufacturing Company. [Business records]. American Textile History Museum Library
referencedIn Taft, Gustavus E., 1829-1888. [Travel diaries]. American Textile History Museum Library
creatorOf Whitin Machine Works (Whitinsville, Mass.). Whitin Machine Works collection, 1844-[197-]. Whitinsville Social Library, Historical Room
creatorOf Whitin Machine Works (Whitinsville, Mass.). [Business records]. American Textile History Museum Library
referencedIn Woodman, Horace. [Receipts]. American Textile History Museum Library
creatorOf Whitin Machine Works (Whitinsville, Mass.). Whitin Machine Works collection, 1880-1970 (bulk 1880-1950). Northbridge Historical Society
referencedIn Winn, Irving W. [Papers]. American Textile History Museum Library
referencedIn Northbridge, Mass., military collection, 1861-1945 (bulk 1918-1945). Northbridge Historical Society
referencedIn [Cotton manufacturing manuscripts : part two]. American Textile History Museum Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith American Type Founders Company. corporateBody
associatedWith A. & M. Karagheusian. corporateBody
associatedWith Booz, Allen & Hamilton. corporateBody
associatedWith Bowles, Edward Lindley, 1897-1990. person
associatedWith Clifton Manufacturing Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Fayscott Corporation. corporateBody
associatedWith Fayscott Corporation. corporateBody
associatedWith Foster Machine. corporateBody
associatedWith Foster Machine. corporateBody
associatedWith Harvey Wells Electronic. corporateBody
associatedWith Holyoke Machine Shop. corporateBody
associatedWith Horner, Leon. person
associatedWith Horner, L. H. person
associatedWith J.D. Ferry Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Kennedy, James. person
associatedWith Lasell family. family
associatedWith Lasell, Josiah, 1825-1886. person
associatedWith Leavitt, Mark A. person
associatedWith Paul Whitin & Sons. corporateBody
associatedWith Providence Machine Company. corporateBody
associatedWith P. Whitin & Sons (Whitinsville, Mass.) corporateBody
associatedWith Strang, Peter McDonald. person
associatedWith Swift, E. Kent. person
associatedWith Taft, Gustavus E., 1829-1888. person
associatedWith Uxbridge Cotton Mills. corporateBody
associatedWith Whitin Business Equipment Corporation. corporateBody
associatedWith Whitin, Charles P., 1809-1891. person
associatedWith Whitin family. family
associatedWith Whitin, George M. 1856-1920. person
associatedWith Whitin, John C. 1807-1882. person
associatedWith Whitin of Canada. corporateBody
associatedWith Whitin, Paul, 1767-1831. person
associatedWith Whitin, Paul, Jr., 1800-1884. person
associatedWith Whitinsville-Charlotte. corporateBody
associatedWith Whitinsville Golf Club. corporateBody
associatedWith Winn, Irving W. person
associatedWith Woodman, Horace. person
associatedWith Zurn Industries. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Massachusetts--Whitinsville
Whitinsville (Mass.)
Massachusetts--Whitinsville
Maine--Dexter
United States
Massachusetts--Holyoke
Massachusetts--Whitinsville
Massachusetts--Whitinsville
Rhode Island--Providence
Northbridge (Mass. : Town)
Subject
Business consultants
Consolidation and merger of corporations
Cotton machinery industry
Cotton manufacture
Golf
Industrial housing
Industries
Industry
Textile machinery
Textile machinery industry
Textile machinery industry
Textile workers
Textile workers
Wages
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
Occupation
Activity
Industrialists
Inventors

Corporate Body

Active 1880

Active 1970

Information

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