The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-08-26
Daily Output 500 Dozen.
AGENCIES MAINTAINED IN
ALL THE LARGE CITIES.
From the Bridgeport (Conn.) Morning Tel
sgram, June l6.

From the Bridgeport (Conn.) Morning Te!
sgram, June l6.
One of Bridgepor,'s most active marufac
turerers is the corset factory Of Birdsey
Somers l. Co. Notwithstanding the eytrem'
depression in business affecting almost every
lue, Il visit to the factory shows that tbi
depression has not caused them TO limi
their prod in any way, and it is only
until recently that they have been able tt
supply the demand for their goods witbou
working lhe 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 bt
popular with the people or otherwise they
would not have been so favored with ar
amount of business which has pushed theil
plant to its utmost capacity. 1t has been ont
of the cheerful sights oftbe city to see eact
window Of their immense buildings rejecting
the light and activity within. Our city
is certainly fortunate 10 have an industry
furnishing employment to 80 many Of hel
people.
The manufacture Of corsets has had quite q
his,erv The old-fashiooed stays il which
The grandmothers 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 6ttiog, flexible and
gracefully curved corsets Of the present day
appear almost like instruments of torture and
one can only wooder how they were ever
worn with Aoy degree Of comfort, not to say
pleasure There are Enny 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 auy other country combine 80 many good
features as those Of Birdsey, Somers Il Co.
These corsets are known and worn through
out the United States and Canada and thell
sale is constantly on the increase. The plant
is located on Burroughs street, where it oc-
cupes a floor space Of $1,000 square feet.
The business was founded 10 1865 and from
a very modest beginning has grown to vast
proportions TO day FIVE hundred persons
are engaged in this factory and evea this
large force is not sufficient TO always keep up.
with the demand The Armorside, Trlcorsl
and = P. corset are the special brands mani
ufactured and their superiority is universally(
admitted by the bundre3s H thousands Of
women VINO wear tueIu. 1Ue (OUpduS uos
an elAnorately fitted store for the sale Of ITS
goods At No 85 Leons:d street, New York.
Agencies are also maintained in Boston, Chi
cago, San Francisco and New Orleans.
There is also branch establishment at Bir-
miugham, this State, known as the Birmlng-
ram Corset company and the combined out
put of the two factories, together with what
they are compelled TO have made by outside
manufactosies is over 500 dozen day. Both
compfpies are owned and managed by Bird
sey, Somers 4 Co. Both Mr. Birdsey and
Mr.. Somers are business men and practical
in every sense of the word thoroughly fs-
milar with every branch of the business. 1T
is to their able and intelligent management
that the company enjoys such prosperous
and continually expanding business. Highly
esteemed in business circles, they are held in
equal regard by their fellow.citizeus- gene
rally.