R. Wolfenden & Sons Photographs

Collection Number: 6896/014 P

Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library

DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
R. Wolfenden & Sons Photographs,
Collection Number:
6896/014 P
Creator:
Stevens Companies;
R. Wolfenden & Sons
Quantity:
0.3 linear ft.
Forms of Material:
Gelatin silver print, photographs.
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library
Abstract:
A series of 24 photographs depicting the dyeing process from beginning to end.
Language:
Collection material in English

ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY

In 1868 Robert Wolfenden founded the Attleborough Dye Works. Around 1878 he brought his two sons, John W. and Oscar, into the business as partners. It was not until Robert Wolfenden's death that the name of the company was changed to R. Wolfenden & Sons.
By 1930 the company had one of the largest, if not largest, plants in the world that does nothing but dye textiles. At that time they employed about 175 people and could dye 25 tons of fabric per day.
R. Wolfenden and Sons became a division of J.P. Stevens & Co. in 1949.
COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

Images depict, step-by-step, the dyeing process in a 24 photograph series. The series was made circa 1950. Also includes one other photograph of an employee at a drying machine, which is not numbered, but appears to be part of the series.
SUBJECTS

Names:
J.P. Stevens & Co.
R. Wolfenden & Sons (Attleboro, Mass.)

Subjects:
Dyes and dyeing
Textile fabrics
Textile machinery
Textile research
Textile workers
Winding machines
Women textile workers
Yarn

Geographic Subjects:
Attleboro (Mass.)--Industries

Form and Genre Terms:
Gelatin silver print
Photographs

INFORMATION FOR USERS

Access Restrictions:
Access to the collections in the Kheel Center is restricted. Please contact a reference archivist for access to these materials.
Restrictions on Use:
This collection must be used in keeping with the Kheel Center Information Sheet and Procedures for Document Use.
Cite As:
R. Wolfenden & Sons Photographs
no.6896/014 P. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.
RELATED MATERIALS

Related Collections:
6896: Stevens Companies Records
6896 AV: Stevens Companies Audio-Visual
6896 F: Stevens Companies Films
6896 G: Stevens Companies Graphics
6896 LS: Stevens Companies Glass Lantern Slides
6896 MB: Stevens Companies Memorabilia
6896 OH: Stevens Companies Oral Histories
6896 P: Stevens Companies Photographs
6896 PUBS: Stevens Companies Publications
6896/001: Stevens Companies Correspondence
6896/002: Stevens Companies Legal Documents
6896/003: M.T. Stevens & Sons Company Records
6896/004: J.P. Stevens and Company Records
6896/005: Andover Mills Records
6896/006: Fitchburg Worsted Company Records
6896/007: Hockanum Mills and American Mills Records
6896/008: Montello Woolen Mills Records
6896/009: Oslo Woolen Mill Records
6896/010: Pentucket Mills Records
6896/011: Richmond Worsted Company Records
6896/012: Stevens Linen Works Records
6896/013: Stevens Mills of North Andover Records
6896/015: Stevens Family Papers
6896/016: Augustus G. Stevens Papers
6896/017: B. W. Couch Papers
6896/018: Carl Vetter Papers
6896/019: Daniel J. Gannon, Sr. Papers
6896/020: John H. McGarrigle Papers
6896/021: Phliip A. Johnson Papers
6896/022: Richard S. Parker Papers
CONTAINER LIST

Container
Description
Box 1 Folder 1
circa 1950.
Box 1 Folder 1
Format: black and white photograph
Gelatin silver print, ca. 1950. Image depicts a female employee preparing a dye solution in an office in the company. Bottles of dyes and solutions on table and windowsill; spools of thread on table.
no.1 in a series of photographs on the dyeing process. 25.25 x 20.75 cm.
Box 1 Folder 1
Format: black and white photograph
Gelatin silver print, ca. 1950. Image depicts a male employee at a mixing tank. The dye solution is made up in the tank. A powered agitator stirs the mix. The employee's scoop probably contains sizing.
no.2 in a series of photographs on the dyeing process. 20.5 x 25.25 cm.
Box 1 Folder 1
Format: black and white photograph
Gelatin silver print, ca. 1950. Image depicts a male employee (see also items 16-18 in this folder for views of this worker) adding size mix to the dye applicator's bath. A size mixture would make the yarn smoother and stronger to stand the strain of weaving.
no.3 in a series of photographs on the dyeing process. 20.5 x 25.5 cm.
Box 1 Folder 1
Format: black and white photograph
Gelatin silver print, ca. 1950. Image depicts a dye kettle or dye tank in the foreground, where the dye solution is stored. On the right is a dye applicator.
no.4 in a series of photographs on the dyeing process. 25.75 x 20.25 cm.
Box 1 Folder 1
Format: black and white photograph
Gelatin silver print, ca. 1950. Image depicts a pressure dye tank or kettle in which yarn packages are dyed.
no.5 in a series of photographs on the dyeing process. 25.75 x 20.25 cm.
Box 1 Folder 1
Format: black and white photograph
Gelatin silver print, ca. 1950. Image depicts a male employee working at a dye kettle. The operator is working the controls for lifting the dyed yarn on the tray out of the dye kettle.
no.6 in a series of photographs on the dyeing process. 28 x 21.75 cm.
Box 1 Folder 1
Format: black and white photograph
Gelatin silver print, ca. 1950. Image depicts a dye kettle (left), dye tank (right) and dyeing controls with recorders (center). Dyed spools of yarn are being lifted out of the dye kettle on the left.
no.7 in a series of photographs on the dyeing process. 28 x 22 cm.
Box 1 Folder 1
Format: black and white photograph
Gelatin silver print, ca. 1950. Image depicts the interior of a dye vat or dye kettle. The heating coils and the circulator pump are located at the bottom of the kettle where the dye is stored and then pumped to the adjacent package dye machine.
no.8 in a series of photographs on the dyeing process. 25.5 x 20.75 cm.
Box 1 Folder 1
Format: black and white photograph
Gelatin silver print, ca. 1950. Image depicts a close-up view of spools of yarn on a package tray to be dyed. The yarns are wound on dye-tubes or cloth-covered springs to form a dye package; the packages are then stacked on the tray spindles (shown here). The tray is then fed into the dye kettle and the cover closed and sealed before the dye is pumped into the kettle.
no.9 in a series of photographs on the dyeing process. 25.5 x 20.5 cm.
Box 1 Folder 1
Format: black and white photograph
Gelatin silver print, ca. 1950. Image depicts a close-up view of spools of yarn in a dye vat. The kettle is loaded with dye packages on the tray. The image here shows the retainers on the top of the spindles.
no.10 in a series of photographs on the dyeing process. 25.5 x 20.5 cm.
Box 1 Folder 1
Format: black and white photograph
Gelatin silver print, ca. 1950. Image depicts three female employees at work at a spooling machine. The spooling machine winds the yarn onto cones.
no.11 in a series of photographs on the dyeing process. 24 x 19.5 cm.
Box 1 Folder 1
Format: black and white photograph
Gelatin silver print, ca. 1950. Image depicts a male employee removing dyed skeins of yarn and hanging them on a wooden rod, probably to dry.
no.12 in a series of photographs on the dyeing process. 25.5 x 20.5 cm.
Box 1 Folder 1
Format: black and white photograph
Gelatin silver print, ca. 1950. Image depicts two male employees at a scouring machine, where the skeins are being scoured to remove any oils, dirt, etc.
no.13 in a series of photographs on the dyeing process. 20.5 x 25.5 cm.
Box 1 Folder 1
Format: black and white photograph
Gelatin silver print, ca. 1950. Image depicts a male employee at a hydro-extractor. Fabric (or yarn) is placed in the perforated basket, which is then spun (using centrifugal force) at a sufficient speed as to force the excess liquid through the sides of the basket. Fabric or yarn so treated thereby requires less time in a dryer or tenter.
no.14 in a series of photographs on the dyeing process. 20.5 x 25.25 cm.
Box 1 Folder 1
Format: black and white photograph
Gelatin silver print, ca. 1950. Image depicts a female employee in the foreground straightening the dyed skeins of yarn; in the background, another female employee winds the skeins on a winder.
no.15 in a series of photographs on the dyeing process. 20.5 x 25.25 cm.
Box 1 Folder 1
Format: black and white photograph
Gelatin silver print, ca. 1950. Image depicts male employee examining fabric that has been dyed (piece dyeing, or dyeing of finished fabric as opposed to dyeing skeins of yarn or cones). See items 3, 17, and 18 in this folder for other views of piece dyeing with the same employee pictured.
no.16 in a series of photographs on the dyeing process. 25.5 x 20.5 cm.
Box 1 Folder 1
Format: black and white photograph
Gelatin silver print, ca. 1950. Image depicts male employee examining fabric that has been dyed (piece dyeing, or dyeing of finished fabric as opposed to dyeing skeins of yarn or cones). See items 3, 16, and 18 in this folder for other views of piece dyeing with the same employee pictured.
no.17 in a series of photographs on the dyeing process. 25.5 x 20.5 cm.
Box 1 Folder 1
Format: black and white photograph
Gelatin silver print, ca. 1950. Image depicts male employee examining fabric that has been dyed (piece dyeing, or dyeing of finished fabric as opposed to dyeing skeins of yarn or cones). See items 3, 18, and 17 in this folder for other views of piece dyeing with the same employee pictured.
no.18 in a series of photographs on the dyeing process. 25.5 x 20.5 cm.
Box 1 Folder 1
Format: black and white photograph
Gelatin silver print, ca. 1950. Image depicts a male employee at cloth scouring machine. An immersion tank is at the bottom. Cloth then passes upward through squeeze rolls to remove the excess liquid. A safety guard keeps the tender's fingers away from the squeeze rolls. See item 20 in this folder for a close-up view of this procedure.
no.19 in a series of photographs on the dyeing process. 25.5 x 20.5 cm.
Box 1 Folder 1
Format: black and white photograph
Gelatin silver print, ca. 1950. Image depicts a cloth scouring machine. Cloth is immersed in a prepared solution in the tank at the bottom. Cloth then passes upward through squeeze rolls to remove the excess liquid. A metal safety guard keeps the tender's fingers away from the squeeze rolls.
no.20 in a series of photographs on the dyeing process. 20.5 x 25.5 cm.
Box 1 Folder 1
Format: black and white photograph
Gelatin silver print, ca. 1950. Image depicts a close-up view of the immersion tank and squeeze rolls used in cloth scouring. The cloth is immersed in a prepared solution in the immersion tank. The squeeze rolls squeeze out excess liquid; the metal safety guard keeps the tender's fingers away from the squeeze rolls.
no.21 in a series of photographs on the dyeing process. 20.5 x 25.5 cm.
Box 1 Folder 1
Format: black and white photograph
Gelatin silver print, ca. 1950. Image depicts a male employee checking cloth as it comes off the drying machine and is loosely folded onto a movable pallet.
no.22 in a series of photographs on the dyeing process. 20.5 x 25.5 cm.
Box 1 Folder 1
Format: black and white photograph
Gelatin silver print, ca. 1950. Image depicts a male employee operating an open width dryer, where cloth is being dried and folded.
no.23 in a series of photographs on the dyeing process. 25.5 x 20.5 cm.
Box 1 Folder 1
Format: black and white photograph
Gelatin silver print, ca. 1950. Image depicts a male employee moving a load of finished bales of cloth into an area holding other bales, possibly a shipping room.
no.24 in a series of photographs on the dyeing process. 25.25 x 20.5 cm.
Box 1 Folder 1
Format: black and white photograph
Gelatin silver print, ca. 1950. Image depicts a view of a male employee at a drying machine where finished cloth is being dried. Unnumbered but part of a series of photographs on the dyeing process. 25.5 x 20.5 cm.