Singer Building

Singer Building
Life Span: 1869-1871
Location: 111 State street
Architect: TBD

Edwards’ Annual Directory in the City of Chicago, for 1870

Andrews A. H. & Co.

Singer Mnfg, Co.

Barnes A. S. & Co.

Woolworth Ainsworth & Co.

Chicago Evening Post, January 30, 1869

The Book Trade of Chicago.
As a country opens for settlement we all know how the rudest and simplest wants gradually give way to the comforts and luxuries of life. The history of Chicago is a conspicuous illustration of this fact. From the day that to obtain the bare necessaries was the chief employment of the pioneer, down through the intervening years to this moment, we see how steadily and uniformly wealth has rewarded industry, and brought to general use such an array of modern improvements as in former days were beyond the reach of the most favored.

As in later years this has become the chief market of the world for many of the agricultural products, so now its importance as a general merchandise market has grown to the front rank—the very largest, with perhaps two or three exceptions, in the United States. But our growth is not confined to material interests. Following fixed laws, we reproduce the illustration that as commerce becomes established and successful, the people contented and industrious, so art, science and literature become fixed and permanent. The mental energy of our people has so pushed the demand for educational facilities as to have established a most important school book market here. Recognizing this fact two of the most prominent school book publishing houses of the East, A. S. Barnes & Co., Woolworth, Ainsworth & Co, of New York and Boston, have just established themselves here in the new five-story marble building, No. 111 State street, for the accommodation of their agencies, educational and general interests, in the Northwest. The connection and correspondence of these houses, with teachers and educational men, had become so heavy and intimate that it was deemed expedient to transfer that portion of it with States and Territories west of Ohio and south as far as New Orleans, to Chicago, and now backed p by an ample capital we shall have in Chicago a representation of school book publishing business equal to any in the country. The accommodations at 111 State street, embrace several new and pleasant features, among which is a spacious room for teachers and educational people to meet in. This room is handsomely carpeted, elegantly furnished with desks, chairs, tables, lounges, and the current newspapers, and we doubt not will become a place of resort for all book men in the West, as similar accommodations at Ticknor & Fields, Boston, are thronged by the literary characters of the East.

A. S. Barnes & Co. will be represented here by Mr. C. J. Barnes, one of their number, now a resident of Chicago, already well and favorably known through the Northwest. Col. E. B. Gray, who has been connected with the agency of A. S. Barnes & Co. for several years, continues as general agent and correspondent, taking charge of the State of Illinois. Woolworth, Ainsworth & Co. will be represented by Mr. W.M. Scribner, one of our oldest citizens, who, with his famous system of “P. D. & S. Penmanship,” so long used in our public schools, has done so much to raise the standard of youthful penmanship here, and throughout the country; also by Mr. Ginn, who will have the care of scientific and classical works.

We welcome this new interest not only as renewed evidence of the growth of Chicago, but as an assurance that mental and educational facilities keep pace with our material prosperity.

Chicago Tribune, April 19, 1869

The Greatest Singer of the Age.
Of all the indices by which the march of our modern civilization la marked, there is none more significant than the multifarious invention of labor-saving implements which enable one hand to o the work of many, so increasing production, cheapening products and lessening the hardships of toil. The introduction of thee appliances bas been met not infrequently with sturdy opposition from the laboring classes, who ignorantly imagined that to increase production by the aid of machinery would be to diminish the numbers of the producers and reduce their wages But experience has demonstrated the fallacy of this notion, and it no longer prevails, except in regions where the densest ignorance abides. It would be difficult to convince an intelligent sewing-girl to-day that the invention of sewing machines has not been of infinite service to her and her class, She knows that while her labor has been greatly lightened, the demand for it has largely increased, and that she can earn more to-day with lss toil than her hard-worked sister of twenty years ago was able to.

The inventor of the first sewing machine did more to elevate woman and improve her condition than all the strong minded women and weak-minded men, with their contentious and stump-speeches and newspapers have ever done or will be able to do to the end of time. He was a practical benefactor, and has had many worthy successors, who haven given to the work of improving and perfecting the original invention—and so increasing its benincence—labor, skill, genius, time and money without stint. The purpose of this article is to give some facts in the joint career of a leading sewing machine and its makers.

The men to whom belongs the credit of having originated the device known as the Singer Sewing Machine, Isaac M. Singer, and Edward Clark, struggled for years with adverse fortune to the effort to perfect their invention, and to bring it before the public in such shape as to secure themselves the rich profits which they knew were waiting for the man or men who should succeed in making a sewing machine that should be something more than a curious toy, to-wit, a practical, useful household assistant. Their labors were finally crowned with success. They not only made such a machine, but they were able to convince a skeptical public that they had done so. And from that time their future was made.

Having thus accomplished the great purpose to which so many years of their lives had been devoted, they resolved on retirement from active business to enjoy the princely income which they possessed an the fruits of their victory. But they were too touch interested in the future of their child, of genius to entrust its fortunes to careless or unskillful hands. They had had for some time in their employ four young men, who had served them with intelligence, energy and fidelity. These were Inslee A. Hopper, their chief clerk; G. R. McKinzie, master mechanic; W. P. Sterling, a clerk, and W. F. Procter, also a machinist, who had done them essential service in Paris and had the honor of taking the gold medal at the First Paris Exposition.

Messrs. Singer and Clark had that instinctive judgment of men which la a prime requisite in those whose business requires the labor of others for its conduct, and they were satisfied that these employes of theirs were the right men, who, if they were promoted to the right places would secure to “The Singer” a career of continual and increasing success and prosperity.

Accordingly they gave each one of these young men a share in the business and organized a company, of which the officers were appointed as follows: President, Inslee A. Hopper; Vico President, G. R. McKinzie: Treasurer, W. F. Procter; Secretary, W. P. Sterling.

In the then state of the company’s fortunes, the gift of these offices seemed but little, and the shares were of a merely nominal value. And so they would bare been of common stuff.But remained, had the recipients been of common stuff. But they were live men, who knew that the invention, whose claims they were to urge upon the public, was meritorious and valuable, and they were determined to demonstrate that fact to the public. How accurate was the judgment of the original proprietors of the Singer Sewing Machine, when they committed the future of their business to the hands of those had selected, is attested by the fact that the marketable value of the shares they gave away now constitutes an independent fortune. Causal observers would say, “How lucky these fellows were.” But men who know the world know well that, as a rule, “luck” is most frequently a synonym for “plucky and sagacity. These latter will be inclined to say, when looking at the immense extent of the business now done by the Singer Sewing Machine Company, “How far-seeing was the intellect which dictated the policy of placing these men at the head of the numerous operations and how admirably have in New York city, one in New Jersey, one in Glasgow, Scotland. The total force employed in the service of the company number more than 22,000, and the payroll exceeds in the amount that of the entire United States Navy upon its present footing, while the machines manufactured amount weekly to 2,000. The various factories are independent in their operations, and yet are but parts of one harmonious whole.

The South Bend Factory was established in order to save the cost of transporting the black walnut necessary In the construction of the machines. It is located in a region abounding in the best black walnut timber, and is devoted exclusively to the preparation of all the company’s cabinet work. The citizens of South Bend, having an eye to the importance of securing the location in their midst of a branch manufactory of so extensive a concern as the Singer Sewing Machine Company, with becoming public spirit, donated five acres of ground, with & splendid water front, as an inducement to the company to settle there.

At Newark, the Singer Company now have a large factory appropriated exclusively to the making of silk twist, which in the largest establishment of its kind in the world. There is manufactured here as good an article as can possibly be produced, with the aid of the best machinery which modern inventive genius hay devised, and the most skillful workmen whom money can obtain.

The enterprise of the company in this particular is especially noticeable, from the fact that the “Singer” is far less dependent for the excellence of the work which it turns out than any other sewing machine in use, upon the quality of the thread employed. It is for this reason, among others, that, in rural districts, where it is frequently impossible to procure the best threads, the “Singer “is so generally popular. Much of tho work done for the farmers la coarse and heavy, and the desideratum with country housewives is a machine which will do that work thoroughly and well, without breaking or tangling the thread or destroying needles. The “Singer” seems to be just the machine to meet this requirement

The factory in Glasgow la designed to supply the European trade exclusively. It was established in order to secure to the company the advantage of the cheap hand labor of the Old World. The cabinet work used here, like that sent to New York, is furnished in the rough from the South Bend establishment before referred to.

The economy of this arrangement is manifest, since it enables the company to compete successfully, not only in the products but their cost as well with those of foreign manufacturers The representative of the company at Glasgow also attends to the purchase of the foreign metal and silk employed in the home manufacture. In connection with this Old World business of the company, it may be stated that numerous local agencies for the sale of the “Singers” exist In the cities of Great Britain, Ireland and Continental Europe, the supervision of which is entrusted to a special representative from the home office.

What we have written will suffice to show the magnitude and extent of the company’s business. That such a business should be represented in Chicago is a matter of course. It is so represented, and in a manner, at once commensurate with its own greatness and with the character of the great Western Metropolis. The territory allotted to this agency is all of Illinois north of the Toledo, Wabash & Great Western Railroad, and that portion of Iowa south of the Dubuque & Sioux City Railroad. The machines sold within the territory numbered 7,000 iu 1867; 10,000 in 1868, and the sales from January 1, of the present year, up to this date, double those of the same months last year. Should this increase in business continue, we may shortly expect to see a factory erected here for supplying all the Northwest.

The Chicago office has recently been removed from Clark street to the new and elegant building 111 State street, in order to secure better and more commodious quarters for the transaction of its immense business. The selection of the present location was made with that great good sense and sagacity which distinguish most of the Company’s operations.

The neighborhood is one of gorgeousness and splendor, and, entering it, it would not do for the Singer Sewing Machine Company to be outshone. Accordingly they hare furnished their apartments in the most complete and beautiful style.

The design is Corinthian, and combines utility and beauty which, for its completeness in all its appurtenances, is superior to any sewing machine office in the United States.

The store occupied by the company is 25 feet front by 175 feet deep, and is arranged with a view to the display of the machines and convenience for doing business. The basement, 200 feet from front to rear, is used us a wareroom for the storage of the machines, which are packed in boxes ready for shipment. There are long walls of these piled up from floor to ceiling, representing the month’s stock just received. The machine comprises twenty different varieties, ranging in value from $65 to $200, adapted to the wants of all classes of workers, from the poor sewing girl in her garret to the queenly mistress of a noble mansion. The ca-capabilities of these machines range from the finest embroidery to the heaviest work of the harness-maker and saddler.

All orders for the territory represented by the Chicago agency are filled directly from the wholesale warerooms, and it affords us pleasure to be able to state that the sales of machines are greater and render larger cash returns than those of any other agency in this country or in Europe, a fact which is highly creditable both to the agent himself and the cash-paying principles of those with whom he deals.

The facts which we have stated with reference to the Singer Sewing Machine Company, the magnitude of its business, the extent of its products, the grand combination which its factories in New York, Newark, South Bend and Glasgow, and Ite agencies everywhere present, the army of employes which it keeps busy furnish a splendid illustration of what inventive genius, allied to ability, industry, energy and enterprise will accomplish, and indicate a future of ever-increasing power and prosperity for the company and its work.

Chicago Tribune, October 4, 1871

School Furniture.
It is gratifying to Chicago pride to know that her enterprise can successfully compete with Eastern firms even on their own chosen fighting ground. The well-known firm of A. H. Andrews & Co., of this city, have been pushing their trade to the East until the present year they have the contract for supplying several large cities, including Philadelphia, their first order being 3,000 desks. By reference to the proceedings of the board, last night, it will be seen that the contract for seating the three new buildings just being completed in this city, was also awarded to the same house. Andrews’ “Gothic School Furniture” has acquired a national reputation.

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