The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-07-22
Daily Output 500 Dozen.
AGENCIES MAINTAINED II
ALL THE LARGE CITIES.
From toe Bridgeport Conn Morning Tel
egram, June l6

From toe Bridgeport (Conn.) Morning Tel
egram, June Is.
Ooe of Bridgeport's most active manufac-
turerers is the corset factory of Birdsey
Somers l. Co Notwithstanding the extreme
depression in business affecting almost every
line, a visit to the factory shows that this
depression has not caused them to limit
their production in any way, and it is only
until recently that they have been able 10
supply the demand for their goods without
working the factory at night, the latter hav.
ing been the rule during the spring season
The factory is now running its fullest capacity
and ten hours day.
Their brands OF corsets must certainly be
popular with the people or otherwise they
would not have been 80 favored with an
amount of business which has pushed their
plant to its utmost capacity. II has been ont
Of the cheerful sights the city to see each
window of their immense buildings rt6ec'ine
the light and activity within. Our city
is certainly fortunate to have An industry
furnishing employ yment to 80 many of her
people.
The manufacture of corsets has had quite 8
history The old-fashioned stays in which
the grandmotbers of the present generation
we're won't TO lace themselves up 10 compli
ance with the dictates of dame fashion, when
compared with the easy fitting, flexible and
gracefully curved corsets of the present day
appear almos. like instruments of torture and
o.e can only wouder how they were ever
worn with any degree of comfort, NOT to say
pleasure There are many kinds and varie-
ties of corsets on the market to-day, each
maker claiming certain points OF excellence
for his branch 1t is reasonably certain,
however, that no corset manufactured 10 this
or any other country combine so many good
features rs those Of Brdsey, Somers 4 Co.
These corsets are known and worn through
out the Uoited States and Canada and theil
sale is constantly on the increase. The plant
is located on Burroughs street. where II oc-
cupies a floor space of IS, coo square teet.
The business was founded 10 1868 and from
very modest beginning hAs grown to vast
proportions. To-day FIVE hundred persons
are engaged in this factory and even this
large force is not sufficient to always keep up
with the demand The Armorside, Tricora
and + P. corset are the special brands man
ufacsured and their superiority is universally
admitted BY the hundreds Of thousands OF
women who wear them. The company mas
ap ris5orately fitted store for the sale OF its
goods at No. IS Leonard street, New York
Apencies are also maintained in Boston, Chi
cngo, San Francisco and New Orleans
There is also branch establishment at Blr
mingham, this State, known as the Birmlns
ham Corset company and the combired out
put of the two factories, together with wba
they are compelled to have made by outside
manufactures is over 800 dozen day. Both
companies are owned aod managed by Bird
sey, Somers / Co. Both Mr.. Birdsey and
Mr.. Somers are business men and practical
in every sense Of the word thoroughly IA
miliar With every branch of the business. II
is to their able and Intelligent management
that the company enjoys such prosperou;
and on,inually expanding business. High,
esteemed in business circles, they are held in
equal regard by their fellow-citizens gene
rally.