Back in the 1950's and 60's I was in almost daily contact with Bill Jacobs who was the maintenance manager at the Horsman Dolls plant over on Grand and Elm Street in South Trenton. Bill was one of those "make do" type maintenance guys who could repair a broken sewing machine, replace an electric motor, or any of the other tasks necessary to keep the then viable doll factory running efficiency. Then along came the imports, higher wages and benefits demanded by unions, and the viable little factory began to tremble, then fall. The graphic above is a vignette which I "Photoshopped: The very rare and valuable "twin" Horsman dolls are on Ebay by a sophisticated doll hobbyist for nearly $500. The "BING" photo shows the location of what once was the Horsman factory which was taken over by a coat manufacturer. On the left is a 1960 article wherein the union attempts to purchase the inventory and assets and move down south where the economy is more financially beneficial. The Horsman Doll Company was originally known as the Horsman Art Doll Company and was taken over by the Regal Doll Company.
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John E. B Good said... - My grandmother worked there. She was a great seamstress. Any items you could post about the nearby cigar factory? Saturday, July 23, 2011
- Tom Glover said...
- HELLO "JOHNNY BE GOOD." TALK ABOUT A COINCIDENCE! I WAS WORKING IN THE LOCAL BUSINESSES FOLDER WHERE I FOUND THE HORSMAN DOLL INFO. THE NEXT ITEM ON MY AGENDA WAS THE HENRY CLAY AND BOCK CIGAR FACTORY AND I JUST FINISHED WORKING ON IT WHEN I SAW YOUR COMMENT. THE CIGAR POST IS ABOVE. THANKS FOR VISITING. I HOPE YOU RETURN OFTEN. TOM GLOVER
- Ralph Lucarella said...
- HI TOM.....THE CIGAR FACTORIES, HORSEMAN DOLL AND SWITLIK PARACHUTES PROVIDED MOST OF THE FEMALES IN THE CHAMBERSBURG AREA AND ELSEWHERE GOOD STEADY JOBS DURING THE DEPRESSION YEARS OF THE 1930'S. IT WAS MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE GUYS TO FIND WORK AT THAT TIME AND MANY DEPENDED ON THE GIRLS TO HELP OUT. I RECALL JOINING THE CROWD LOOKING FOR WORK DURING THAT TIME. I GOT MY BREAK TAKING THE POST OFFICE EXAM AND FINISHING PRETTY HIGH. I WORKED NIGHTS FOR 2 YEARS AND FINALLY GOT PROMOTED TO LETTER CARRIER IN THE EARLY 40'S. IT WAS QUITE A TIME FOR ME BUT EVERYTHING WORKED OUT WELL. AFTER THAT ERA, I COULD WRITE A BOOK AND YOU PROABLY WOULD'NT BELIEVE IT. BEST REGARDS
John E. B Good said...
