New-York tribune., 1911-11-29
PRODUCTS OF MERIT
Model Plant Of the Defender
Manufacturing Com pany.
THE DEFENDER MANUFACTURING
COMPANY

Fifteen years ago small factory was
started IN a down town building. Ths
plant then occupied 500 square feet OF floor
space and employed thirty people To-day
the concern has spread out over 10000
square feet Of flooring, and the employees
number more than six hundred. This es-
tablishment which has had so remarkable
a growth is the Defender Manufacturing
Company. the largest plant in the world
devoted exclusively to the production OF
sheets and pillow cases II can be said to
be a pioneer in the field OF sanitary house
hold goods. and has served as an educa-
tional force Of highest value in calling the
attention OF housekeepers To the care that
must be taken in the making Of the bed
linen. To-day. on account of the merit OF
it's products and the high class. sanitary
conditions and precautions against disease
germs which are maintained in the factory
al all times the Defender brand of sheets
and pillow cases is recognized as the lead
ing brand upon the market.
A visit to the factory. which is located
on the corner OF Avenue G and 18th street
proved revelation TO the writer who
stepped from the hot and unssvory pave
ments of the neighborhood into huge
building where the atmosphere was pure
and cool where everything was spotlessly
clean and everybody happy. The build
ing was erected twelve years ago, and has
been constantly remodelled. according TO
its needs. until at the present time IT is
a practically perfect plant. The machinery
with which il is equipped was designed and
patented by the company, and without re-
gard to cost has been made the most COM
plete and labor saving i'm the world The
rooms are all light and airy. and the com
pany has its own welfare system in car
ing for employees. They treat them as we'll
as they know how, and reap adequate re-
turn I'm good work and good will.
An elevator takes YOU TO the operating
department on the fifth and sixth floors.
Here twenty-five million Yards Of material
enough 10 reach around the world-are
yearly made up I'm Defender sheets and
pillow cases. Here also are many interest
ing innovations and devices for the com
fort and safety OF the workers The alb
sence of pulleys and betting is most no
ticeable feature. The machines. which are
capable Of making four thousand stitches
minute. are all operated automatically,
each by it's own motor. They are equipped
with the most up-tO-date devices. and the
operator merely presses a button and
guides the material The machine does the
rest. from a straight seam to wonderful
IS beautiful embroidery and hem-stitching
that cannot be distinguished from the most
perfect hand product-a striking contrast
10 the. back-breaking and eye-straining
work OF the sweat shop. There is sep
aratc tearing room, where every sheet and
pillow case is torn by hand. thus insuring
uniform edges after washing. The laundry
is located on the second floor. and is one
Of the most remarkable departments in the
building. Here the finished product Is laun-
dered IN marvellously clean boilers. The
pressing is done by electric machines with
900 degrees OF heat, yet. through a system
OF exhaust fans. which change the air
every three minutes. the temperature OF
the room is not perceptibly raised. In
stock room used for the storing Of par
tally finished goods, 5000 dozen goods
made up were waiting In be packed Twen-
Is thousand dozen goods stood ready for
The wants Of the ". b. tla1in Company, ~
which the Defender Manufacturing Com
pgny. though ln reality a separate corpor-
alton, is an ohshoot. on the first floor all
goods arc nut into new wooden cases Of
the company'a own manufacture. while IN.