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Title: |
1957 Article - Tool Plant Here 28 Years |
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Source: |
Plainfield Courier-News. January 30, 1957, pg 21. |
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1/9/2008 9:56:46 AM |
Text from article:
Tool Plant Here 28 Years
Today, almost 28 years since the announcement of the establishment of the Walker-Turner plant here, the present owners of the industry reported they would cease operations Apr. 30.
On Feb. 17, 1931 the Plainfield Chamber of Commerce announced the location of a new industry here with the purchase of what has been known as the Rushmore Plant at South Ave. and Berckman St. by the Walker-Turner Company, manufacturers of hardware specialities, of Jersey City.
The Rockwell Manufacturing Company of Pittsburgh, Pa., which purchased the plant at 900 North Ave. last May, said it will leave the city Apr. 30 to continue the Walker-Turner line of light industrial tools at some of its other 20 plants in the United States and Canada.
Colorful History
It leaves a colorful history behind.
A handful of employes in 1931 began a job of producing small machinery for homes. Business in the following years was good.
But as the employe (sic) force grew, so did the plant. A wave of strikes hit it before the start of World War 2. And during the war, the firm, which was engaged in defense work, had its share of production tie-ups resulting from walkouts and strikes.
Two fires struck the former South Ave. plant in 1940 and 1941. Both did considerable damage.
Sold in 1948
Then, in 1948, Walker-Turner was sold to Kearney & Trecker Corporation, a well-known mid-west corporation. With business still growing, Kearney & Trecker in 1952 constructed a new plant at 900 South Ave.
And on May 2, 1956, following a host of previous denials that the division would not be sold, the Rockwell Manufacturing Corporation announced it had purchased the firm.
Today, citing economic conditions as its reason, Rockwell said it must move its local business inland to assure continuation of the Walker-Turner line.
The building housing offices and equipment is owned by Kearney & Trecker. It leased it to Rockwell. |
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