The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-09-09
Daily Output 500 Dozen.
AGENCIES MAINTAINED IN
ALL THE LARGE CITIES.
From the Bridgeport Conn. Morning Tel
egram, June l6.

FEOm Tue DIIuRSpOIt tOOuu.J tno1uiu 'ei
egram, June l6.
One of Bridgeport's most active manufac
,urerers is the corset factory of Birdsey
Somers l. Co. Notwithstanding the extrem
depression in business affecting almost ever.
ioe, visit to the factory shows that thi
depression has not caused them 70 limi
their production in any way, aod it is onl
until recently that they have neen able t
supply the demand for their goods wihou
working the factory at night, the latter hav
ing been the rule during the spring season
The factory is now running its fullest capacit
and ten hours day.
Their brands Of ccrsets must certainly b
popular with the people or otherwise the.
would not have been so favored with a
amount Of business which has pushed 15ei
plant to its utmost capacity. 1t has been on
of the cheerful sights of the city TO see eac
window of their immense buildings reAec;in!
the light and activity within. Our cit,
is certainly fortunate 10 have al lndustr,
furnishing employment to so rany Ct he
people.
The manufacture Of corse;S has had qai;e
history The oli-fashioned stays III which
rhe grandmothers Of the present genera!iar
we're won't 10 lace themselves un n compi
ance with rne dictates Of dame fashion. wher
compared with the easy fitting, t1sxiole anc
gracefully curved corsets OF The present day
appear almost like Instruments Of torture and
one cen only wonder 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 IN this
or any other country combine so many good
features as those Of Birdsev, Somers l. Co.
These corse,s are krown and worn through
out the United States and Canada and theil
sale is constantly on the increase. The plant
is located on Burroughs street, where 1t oc-
cupies a floor space Of $4,000 square feet.
The business was founded in 1855 and from
q very modest beginning Eas grown to vast
proportions To day Ave hundred persons
are engaged in this factory aud even this
large force is not sufficient to always keep up
viii, The demand The Armorside, Trlcora
and F P. corset are the special brands man
ufac.nred and their superiority is universally
admitted by the hunIreds Of thousands Of
women who wear them. The company has
an elatorately fitted stere for the sale of IT'S
goods nj No. S5 Leonard street, New York.
Agencies are also maintained in Boston, Chi
cago. San Francisco and New Orleans
There is also a branch establishment at Biz
mingham. this State, known as the BrE!lng-
lam Corset company and the csmbIced out
pnt of the two factories, together with what
they are compelled to have made by outside
mannfactories is over 800 dozen a day. Both
companies are owned aud managed by Bird
sey. Somers Il Co. Both Mr.. Blrdsey and
Mr.. Somers are business men and practical
in every sense Of the word thoroughly IA
mi!isr with every branch Of The business. 1t
is to their able and intelligent management
thai the company enjoys such prosperous
and continually expanding business. Highly
esteemed in business circles, they are held in
equal regard by their fe!low-citlzens gene
ally.