Description: Reverse reads: “Roy Richardson, mill fore man, works on a shaper at Sun Glow Industries.” View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B15F03_017_01
Subjects: Factories--Equipment and supplies; Woodworking tools; Mills and mill-work -- Ohio; Manufacturing industries--Ohio
Places: Dayton (Ohio); Montgomery County (Ohio)
 

Description: This group photograph shows the female employees of the Jeffrey Manufacturing Company in Columbus, Ohio, 1915. Established in 1877 by Joseph Andrew Jeffrey to produce the first power-driven coal cutter used in America, the Jeffrey Manufacturing Company was for many years one of the largest and oldest industrial companies in Columbus. Over the years, the company diversified: while coal industry machinery remained its focus, it also supplied equipment for a wide range of industries. The Jeffrey Manufacturing Company established their main office and plant north of downtown Columbus on South 3rd Street. With success came expansion, and eventually, the factory and warehouses would encompass over 50 acres. At its height, the Jeffrey Manufacturing Company employed 4,500 workers and contributed millions of dollars to the Columbus economy. After almost 100 years of ownership by the Jeffrey family, Dresser Industries acquired the Jeffrey Manufacturing Company on May 31st, 1974. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: MSS1527AV_B11F03_01
Subjects: Jeffrey Manufacturing Company (Columbus, Ohio); Machinery industry--Ohio; Manufacturing industries--Ohio; Women -- Employment;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Laborer shoveling wood into furnace of a boiler silo. Among the many functions of biofuel combustion, wood fuel was used to power mills and steam turbines to generate electricity. Legend holds that Ohio forests were once so thick that a squirrel could travel from the Ohio River to Lake Erie without ever touching ground. Pioneers relied upon the forest to provide many of their basic needs. Lumber was used to build houses, barns, buildings, forts and fences. Trees were also used for firewood, first in the home and later to fuel industries. Vast areas of Ohio's forests were cleared to create farmland. Much of the low-grade timber in Ohio's Hills Country was cut to make charcoal which was used in a variety of industries, including the iron industry of the Hanging Rock region. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B15F04_003_006_001
Subjects: Furnace; Labor; Lumber; Iron; Industries; Steel; Works Progress Administration; Ohio Federal Writers' Project
Places: Ohio
 

Description: Laborer shoveling wood into furnace of a boiler silo. Among the many functions of biofuel combustion, wood fuel was used to power mills and steam turbines to generate electricity. Legend holds that Ohio forests were once so thick that a squirrel could travel from the Ohio River to Lake Erie without ever touching ground. Pioneers relied upon the forest to provide many of their basic needs. Lumber was used to build houses, barns, buildings, forts and fences. Trees were also used for firewood, first in the home and later to fuel industries. Vast areas of Ohio's forests were cleared to create farmland. Much of the low-grade timber in Ohio's Hills Country was cut to make charcoal which was used in a variety of industries, including the iron industry of the Hanging Rock region. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B15F04_003_007_001
Subjects: Lumber; Labor; Iron; Industries; Steel; Works Progress Administration; Ohio Federal Writers' Project
Places: Ohio
 

Description: This photograph is a close up of the production of a DeVilbiss Duster. The DeVilbiss Corporation was founded in 1888 by Dr. Allen DeVilbiss, who invented the first medical atomizer. It was so successful, that by 1890 he retired from medical practice and created the DeVilbiss Manufacturing Corporation, purchasing the Lenk Winery building in which to begin production. DeVilbiss’s sons were also inventors, and Thomas developed the first spray gun and perfumizers, which were added to the production line. The business began to grow further during the 1920’s when they expanded in the automobile and furniture industries, manufacturing paint and laquer coating machines for assembly line production. In 1938, Willard Pollard and Harold Roselund designed the first programmable robotic paint-spraying mechanism. The company continued to grow during World War II, making military products from helmets to airplanes and tanks with protective coatings. As the company grew, it merged several times, with subsidiaries ranging from metal fabricators to healthcare. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B08F01_013_001
Subjects: Industries--Ohio--Toledo; Vilbiss Manufacturing Company; Atomizers; Perfumizers; Protective coatings industry--United States
Places: Toledo (Ohio); Lucas County (Ohio)
 

Description: Reverse reads: "U.S. Playing Card Co. Norwood, Ohio. Cincinnati, Ohio." The United States Playing Card Company, located on Beech Avenue at the end of Park Avenue, is a buff brick building with a Neo-Romanesque square clock tower. Russell, Morgan & Co. was started in 1867 in Cincinnati, Ohio, as a printing company making mostly posters, placards and labels. The company began printing playing cards in 1881, with 20 employees making about 1600 packs a day. In 1891, Russell, Morgan and Company renamed themselves The United States Printing Company. In 1894, due to growing sucess, the playing card business was separated from the main company and became The United States Playing Card Company. By 1900, The United States Playing Company moved from downtown, to a newly built factory in Norwood, a suburb in north-east Cincinnati. The four story bell tower was added at the main building entrance in 1926, and housed 12 carillon bells, which ranged from 1 1/2 feet to 5 1/2 feet. The chimes were connected electronically local radio station WSAI, and were the first set built for the purpose of radio broadcasting. WSAI was not only owned and operated by USPC from 1922 to 1930, but was located on their main campus, and used to broadcast bridge lessons, which could be heard as far away as New Zealand. WSAI was sold to Crosley Radio Station during the 1930s. Along with playing card accessories such as poker chips, it distributes cards, such as Kem, Bee, Bicycle, Arcane, Aviator, Alladin, Maverick, Tuxedo, Hoyle and tally Ho. The cards are also used by famous magicians and companies like Bicycle make cheats decks only for illusionists. Bee is a high quality brand used in casinos, while Bicycle is an inexpensive brand that has been the top selling brand in the world. During World War II, the company made cards that could be pulled apart when submerged in water. The inside was a map and wen all the cards were put together, it was a large map. These were supplied to POW's who could use the map to reach safety, if they were able to escape. During the Vietnam Was, the company provided U. S. Soldiers with cards. It was commonly believed that the Viet Cong thought the cards would a symbol of death and would flee if they say the ace of spades. This was not true, but the cards served to boast the morale of the soldiers. The company is now located in at 300 Gap Way in Erlanger, KY. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B08F01_014_001
Subjects: Cincinnati (Ohio)--Buildings, structures, etc.; Industries--Ohio--Cincinnati; Manufacturing industries--Ohio; United States Playing Card
Places: Norwood (Ohio); Cincinnati (Ohio); Hamilton County (Ohio)
 

Description: Dated ca. 1930-1943, this photograph shows white-hot molten metal being poured from a blast furnace into a ladle. This could be one of any number of steel mills in Ohio. In the early nineteenth century, there were a number of furnaces in Ohio that processed iron. These small industries were made possible by local iron ore deposits in southern and eastern Ohio. In addition, some parts of Ohio also had coal deposits that could be used to fuel furnaces. Because of their proximity to the state's iron manufacturing, by the second half of the nineteenth century communities such as Cleveland, Akron, Canton, and Youngstown had begun to emerge as major industrial cities. Railroads also encouraged the growth of the iron industry. After the American Civil War (1861-1865), iron manufacturers in Ohio began to introduce new processes to refine iron ore. The resulting product was steel, which was much stronger and more versatile than iron. Because Ohio companies, such as the Otis Steel Company, were quick to adopt new technology, Ohio became the second largest producer of steel in the nation by the 1890s. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the rapid growth of some steel companies led to a wave of mergers that created big businesses like the United States Steel Company (U.S. Steel), Republic Iron and Steel Corporation. and Youngstown Steel and Tube Company. Very often, smaller companies that had produced either iron or steel since the early 1800s were either taken over or driven out of business because they were unable to compete with the large corporations. The developments in the steel industry helped to encourage construction of large buildings, such as skyscrapers, as well as bridges and other projects. The automobile industry also contributed to the growth of the steel industry in the early decades of the twentieth century. This photograph is one of the many visual materials collected for use in the Ohio Guide. In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Works Progress Administration by executive order to create jobs for the large numbers of unemployed laborers, as well as artists, musicians, actors, and writers. The Federal Arts Program, a sector of the Works Progress Administration, included the Federal Writers’ Project, one of the primary goals of which was to complete the America Guide series, a series of guidebooks for each state which included state history, art, architecture, music, literature, and points of interest to the major cities and tours throughout the state. Work on the Ohio Guide began in 1935 with the publication of several pamphlets and brochures. The Reorganization Act of 1939 consolidated the Works Progress Administration and other agencies into the Federal Works Administration, and the Federal Writers’ Project became the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio. The final product was published in 1940 and went through several editions. The Ohio Guide Collection consists of 4,769 photographs collected for use in Ohio Guide and other publications of the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio from 1935-1939. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B08F02_006_001
Subjects: Industries--Ohio; Factories; Steel-works--Ohio--Pictorial works; Blast furnaces--United States; Works Progress Administration of Ohio (U.S.)
Places: Ohio
 

Description: Dated 1930-1943, this photograph shows a worker silhouetted against white-hot molten metal being poured from a blast furnace into a ladle. This could be one of any number of steel mills in Ohio. In the early nineteenth century, there were a number of furnaces in Ohio that processed iron. These small industries were made possible by local iron ore deposits in southern and eastern Ohio. In addition, some parts of Ohio also had coal deposits that could be used to fuel furnaces. Because of their proximity to the state's iron manufacturing, by the second half of the nineteenth century communities such as Cleveland, Akron, Canton, and Youngstown had begun to emerge as major industrial cities. Railroads also encouraged the growth of the iron industry. After the American Civil War (1861-1865), iron manufacturers in Ohio began to introduce new processes to refine iron ore. The resulting product was steel, which was much stronger and more versatile than iron. Because Ohio companies such as the Otis Steel Company were quick to adopt new technology, Ohio became the second largest producer of steel in the nation by the 1890s. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the rapid growth of some steel companies led to a wave of mergers that created big businesses like the United States Steel Company (U.S. Steel), Republic Iron and Steel Corporation, and Youngstown Steel and Tube Company. Very often, smaller companies that had produced either iron or steel since the early 1800s were taken over or driven out of business because they were unable to compete with the large corporations. The developments in the steel industry helped to encourage construction of large buildings, such as skyscrapers, as well as bridges and other projects. The automobile industry also contributed to the growth of the steel industry in the early decades of the twentieth century. This photograph is one of the many visual materials collected for use in the Ohio Guide. In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Works Progress Administration by executive order to create jobs for the large numbers of unemployed laborers, as well as artists, musicians, actors, and writers. The Federal Arts Program, a sector of the Works Progress Administration, included the Federal Writers’ Project, one of the primary goals of which was to complete the America Guide series, a series of guidebooks for each state which included state history, art, architecture, music, literature, and points of interest to the major cities and tours throughout the state. Work on the Ohio Guide began in 1935 with the publication of several pamphlets and brochures. The Reorganization Act of 1939 consolidated the Works Progress Administration and other agencies into the Federal Works Administration, and the Federal Writers’ Project became the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio. The final product was published in 1940 and went through several editions. The Ohio Guide Collection consists of 4,769 photographs collected for use in Ohio Guide and other publications of the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio from 1935-1939. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B07F07_011_1
Subjects: Industries--Ohio; Factories; Steel-works--Ohio--Pictorial works; Blast furnaces--United States; Works Progress Administration of Ohio (U.S.)
Places: Ohio
 

Description: Dated 1930-1943, this photograph shows a worker silhouetted against white-hot molten metal being poured from a blast furnace into a ladle. This could be one of any number of steel mills in Ohio. In the early nineteenth century, there were a number of furnaces in Ohio that processed iron. These small industries were made possible by local iron ore deposits in southern and eastern Ohio. In addition, some parts of Ohio also had coal deposits that could be used to fuel furnaces. Because of their proximity to the state's iron manufacturing, by the second half of the nineteenth century communities such as Cleveland, Akron, Canton, and Youngstown had begun to emerge as major industrial cities. Railroads also encouraged the growth of the iron industry. After the American Civil War (1861-1865), iron manufacturers in Ohio began to introduce new processes to refine iron ore. The resulting product was steel, which was much stronger and more versatile than iron. Because Ohio companies such as the Otis Steel Company were quick to adopt new technology, Ohio became the second largest producer of steel in the nation by the 1890s. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the rapid growth of some steel companies led to a wave of mergers that created big businesses like the United States Steel Company (U.S. Steel), Republic Iron and Steel Corporation, and Youngstown Steel and Tube Company. Very often, smaller companies that had produced either iron or steel since the early 1800s were taken over or driven out of business because they were unable to compete with the large corporations. The developments in the steel industry helped to encourage construction of large buildings, such as skyscrapers, as well as bridges and other projects. The automobile industry also contributed to the growth of the steel industry in the early decades of the twentieth century. This photograph is one of the many visual materials collected for use in the Ohio Guide. In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Works Progress Administration by executive order to create jobs for the large numbers of unemployed laborers, as well as artists, musicians, actors, and writers. The Federal Arts Program, a sector of the Works Progress Administration, included the Federal Writers’ Project, one of the primary goals of which was to complete the America Guide series, a series of guidebooks for each state which included state history, art, architecture, music, literature, and points of interest to the major cities and tours throughout the state. Work on the Ohio Guide began in 1935 with the publication of several pamphlets and brochures. The Reorganization Act of 1939 consolidated the Works Progress Administration and other agencies into the Federal Works Administration, and the Federal Writers’ Project became the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio. The final product was published in 1940 and went through several editions. The Ohio Guide Collection consists of 4,769 photographs collected for use in Ohio Guide and other publications of the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio from 1935-1939. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B07F07_012_1
Subjects: Industries--Ohio; Factories; Steel-works--Ohio--Pictorial works; Blast furnaces--United States
Places: Ohio
 

Description: Map of Ohio showing the location and distribution of 348 Ohio potteries of the 19th century, prepared by the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society and drawn by C.E. Hamm. Towns are marked with circles corresponding in size to the number of potteries they have, and potteries whose products are represented in the museum collections of the Ohio State Archaelogical and Historical Society (now the Ohio History Connection) are indicated by name. The largest concentrations of potteries can be seen in the areas of Akron, East Liverpool, Zanesville/Roseville and Cincinnati, all of which had thriving pottery manufacturing industries thanks to Ohio's high rank in the supply and production of clay. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: MAPVFM_0265-F
Subjects: Pottery industry; Potteries; Manufacturing industries--Ohio; Natural resources--Ohio;
Places: Ohio
 

Description: Reverse reads: "Ivorydale Plant" Aerial view of the Procter & Gamble Company Plant, located on Spring Grove Avenue between Mill Creek and Township Avenue, in the Cincinnati suburb of St. Bernard, which originally covered 11 acres in a section called Ivorydale. It was, and still is, one of the largest soap manufacturing plants in the world. The original plant dates from about 1885, when P&G expanded operations from their downtown location. The giant complex would eventually cover 243 acres with 120 buildings, including the 43-acre food plant built in 1911. During the 1930s, the complex was described as being a maze of utilitarian gray stone buildings, interspersed with outdoor retorts and tanks, smokestacks and railroad tracks. The campus includes its own fire station, dining rooms and recreational facilities. William Procter, a candlemaker, and James Gamble, a soapmaker, formed the company known as Procter & Gamble in 1837. The two men, immigrants from England and Ireland respectively, had settled earlier in Cincinnati and had married sisters. The two men decided to pool their resources to form their own company, formalizing the relationship on October 31, 1837. The company prospered during the nineteenth century. In 1859, sales reached one million dollars. By this point, approximately eighty employees worked for Procter & Gamble. During the Civil War, the company won contracts to supply the Union army with soap and candles. In addition to the increased profits experienced during the war, the military contracts introduced soldiers from all over the country to Procter & Gamble products. Once the war was over and the men returned home, they continued to purchase the company's products. In the 1880s, Procter & Gamble began to market a new product, an inexpensive, yet high quality, soap. The company called the soap "Ivory." In the decades that followed, Procter & Gamble continued to grow and evolve. The company became known for its progressive work environment in the late nineteenth century. William Cooper Procter, William Procter's grandson, established a profit-sharing program for the company's workforce in 1887. He hoped that by giving the workers a stake in the company, they would be less inclined to go on strike. Over time, the company began to focus most of its attention on soap, producing more than thirty different types by the 1890s. As electricity became more and more common, there was less need for the candles that Procter & Gamble had made since its inception. Ultimately, the company chose to stop manufacturing candles in 1920. In the early twentieth century, Procter & Gamble continued to grow. The company began to build factories in other locations in the United States, because the demand for products had outgrown the capacity of the Cincinnati facilities. The company's leaders began to diversify its products as well and, in 1911, began producing Crisco, a shortening made of vegetable oils rather than animal fats. In the early 1900s, Procter & Gamble also became known for its research laboratories, where scientists worked to create new products. Company leadership also pioneered in the area of market research, investigating consumer needs and product appeal. As radio became more popular in the 1920s and 1930s, the company sponsored a number of radio programs. As a result, these shows often became commonly known as "soap operas." Throughout the twentieth century, Procter & Gamble continued to prosper. The company moved into other countries, both in terms of manufacturing and product sales, becoming an international corporation. In addition, numerous new products and brand names were introduced over time, and Procter & Gamble began branching out into new areas. The company introduced "Tide" laundry detergent in 1946 and "Prell" shampoo in 1950. In 1955, Procter & Gamble began selling the first toothpaste to contain fluoride, known as "Crest." Branching out once again in 1957, the company purchased Charmin Paper Mills and began manufacturing toilet paper and other paper products. Once again focusing on laundry, Procter & Gamble began making "Downy" fabric softener in 1960 and "Bounce" fabric softener sheets. One of the most revolutionary products to come out on the market was the company's "Pampers," first test-marketed in 1961. Prior to this point, there were no disposable diapers. Babies always wore cloth diapers, which were leaky and labor intensive to wash. Pampers simplified the diapering process. Over the second half of the twentieth century, Procter & Gamble acquired a number of other companies that diversified its product line and increased profits significantly. These acquisitions included Folgers Coffee, Norwich Eaton Pharmaceuticals, Richardson-Vicks, Noxell, Shulton's Old Spice, Max Factor, and the Iams Company, among others. In 1996, Procter & Gamble made headlines when the Food and Drug Administration approved a new product developed by the company, Olestra. Olestra, also known by its brand name Olean, is a substitute for fat in cooking potato chips and other snacks. Procter & Gamble has expanded dramatically throughout its history, but its headquarters still remain in Cincinnati. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B07F08_005_1
Subjects: Manufacturing industries--Ohio; Cincinnati (Ohio)--Buildings, structures, etc.; Manufacturing industries--Ohio; Assembly lines; Soap factories; Procter & Gamble Company; Cincinnati (Ohio)--Aerial views
Places: Cincinnati (Ohio); Hamilton County (Ohio)
 

Description: This is an aerial view of Procter and Gamble's Ivorydale plant in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Procter and Gamble Company Plant, located on Spring Grove Avenue between Mill Creek and Township Avenue, in the Cincinnati suburb of St. Bernard, originally covered 11 acres in a section called Ivorydale. It was and still is, one of the largest soap manufacturing plants in the world. The original plant dates from about 1885, when P&G expanded operations from their downtown location. The giant complex would eventually cover 243 acres with 120 buildings, including the 43 acre food plant built in 1911. During the 1930s, the buildings was described as being a maze of utilitarian gray stone buildings, interspersed with hugged outdoor retorts and tanks, smokestacks and railroad tracks. The campus includes its own fire station, dining rooms and recreational facilities. William Procter, a candlemaker, and James Gamble, a soapmaker, formed the company known as Procter & Gamble in 1837. The two men, immigrants from England and Ireland respectively, had settled earlier in Cincinnati and had married sisters. The two men decided to pool their resources to form their own company, formalizing the relationship on October 31, 1837. The company prospered during the nineteenth century. In 1859, sales reached one million dollars. By this point, approximately eighty employees worked for Procter & Gamble. During the Civil War, the company won contracts to supply the Union army with soap and candles. In addition to the increased profits experienced during the war, the military contracts introduced soldiers from all over the country to Procter & Gambles products. Once the war was over and the men returned home, they continued to purchase the company's products. In the 1880s, Procter & Gamble began to market a new product, an inexpensive, yet high quality, soap. The company called the soap "Ivory." In the decades that followed, Procter & Gamble continued to grow and evolve. The company became known for its progressive work environment in the late nineteenth century. William Cooper Procter, William Procter's grandson, established a profit-sharing program for the company's workforce in 1887. He hoped that by giving the workers a stake in the company, they would be less inclined to go on strike. Over time, the company began to focus most of its attention on soap, producing more than thirty different types by the 1890s. As electricity became more and more common, there was less need for the candles that Procter & Gamble had made since its inception. Ultimately, the company chose to stop manufacturing candles in 1920. In the early twentieth century, Procter & Gamble continued to grow. The company began to build factories in other locations in the United States, because the demand for products had outgrown the capacity of the Cincinnati facilities. The company's leaders began to diversify its products as well and, in 1911, began producing Crisco, a shortening made of vegetable oils rather than animal fats. In the early 1900s, Procter & Gamble also became known for its research laboratories, where scientists worked to create new products. Company leadership also pioneered in the area of market research, investigating consumer needs and product appeal. As radio became more popular in the 1920s and 1930s, the company sponsored a number of radio programs. As a result, these shows often became commonly known as "soap operas." Throughout the twentieth century, Procter & Gamble continued to prosper. The company moved into other countries, both in terms of manufacturing and product sales, becoming an international corporation. In addition, numerous new products and brand names were introduced over time, and Procter & Gamble began branching out into new areas. The company introduced "Tide" laundry detergent in 1946 and "Prell" shampoo in 1950. In 1955, Procter & Gamble began selling the first toothpaste to contain fluoride, known as "Crest". Branching out once again in 1957, the company purchased Charmin Paper Mills and began manufacturing toilet paper and other paper products. Once again focusing on laundry, Procter & Gamble began making "Downy" fabric softener in 1960 and "Bounce" fabric softener sheets. One of the most revolutionary products to come out on the market was the company's "Pampers", first test-marketed in 1961. Prior to this point, there were no disposable diapers. Babies always wore cloth diapers, which were leaky and labor intensive to wash. Pampers simplified the diapering process. Over the second half of the twentieth century, Procter & Gamble acquired a number of other companies that diversified its product line and increased profits significantly. These acquisitions included Folgers Coffee, Norwich Eaton Pharmaceuticals, Richardson-Vicks, Noxell, Shultons Old Spice, Max Factor, and the Iams Company, among others. In 1996, Procter & Gamble made headlines when the Food and Drug Administration approved a new product developed by the company, Olestra. Olestra, also known by its brand name Olean, is a substitute for fat in cooking potato chips and other snacks. Procter & Gamble has expanded dramatically throughout its history, but its headquarters still remain in Cincinnati. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B07F08_009_1
Subjects: Manufacturing industries--Ohio; Cincinnati (Ohio)--Buildings, structures, etc.; Manufacturing industries--Ohio; Assembly lines; Soap factories; Procter & Gamble Company; Cincinnati (Ohio)--Aerial views
Places: Cincinnati (Ohio); Hamilton County (Ohio)