The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-08-14
Wide Range of Styles Are Man.
ufactured Here.
The Topeka Trunk Factory LIS
Growing Concern.
NOW EMPLOYS 80 PERSONS
Trade Territory Is West of Mis-
sissippi River.
1t viii Eventually Extend to
the Pacific Coast.

Everything from a 75-cent suit case
to a SIS trunk is manufactured in the
capital city The Topeka Trunk fac
tory sells It's output all the way from
the Mississippi river to Montana ana
Oklahoma and expects to expand UNI
til its territory includes the Paclf1c
coast states.
George Y. Hossmeld, in March, 1881
Between 1902 and 1914 the wholesale
end was handled at Kansas City Last
November. however, manufacturing
for the wholesale trade was recon-
menced in Topeka, and since that TINS
the establishment has enjoyed a rapid
growth. In fact the volume OF ousl-
ness has increased to the point where
more room is needed, although there
are three floors available besides the
basement at $40 Kansas avenue Th1r-
the plant and at the present rate of
growth it win not be long before there
are fifty on the payroll
IL Is a Big Business.
Just to give an idea of the magnl-
tude of the volume of business: The
concern manufactures sixty dozen
suit cases a week, ranging from cheap
to the most expensive grades; between
sixteen and twenty dozen bags and
from eight to ten dozen trunks. a
huge barrel of glue is used each
month.
The Topeka Trunk factory COM
petes with the factories of Kansas
CITY, st Louis and other cities. Many
large shipments go right into Kansas
City. The firm specializes in one fiber
suit case that IS an excellent imitation
of real leather and which even COM
petes with the products of New York
firms. 1t retails at $2.75. Gator suit
cases are made in Topeka that sell
at as high a price as $45. There is
also a IS cent kind of case put out
Bags range in -retail-from
o q +x-Tr, lie f~nv1
to SIS for the wardrobe variety.
George V. Hossfeld is now a veteran
in the business. He is continually at
tempting to reduce the cost of produc
ton and to put into use new ideas.
Expect to Expand.
1--WE expect to increase our bust
ness all the time" said Mr.. Hossfeld
today. I'VE expect to invade Texas
territory soon, and will go clear to
Some new machinery will be in
stalled soon. and everything possible
done to increase the efficiency of the
plant. Every employee is a specialist
in some particular line of the trunk
or suit case manufacturing business.
On the basement floor of the build
ing are stored materials of all kinds.
Here lumber is cut into the right
lengths for the making of trunks.
The first floor is devoted mainly
to the retail trade. On the second
floor the cutting of leather and fiber
materials is done. Here are stored
finished products. The finishing work
is done on the third and top floor. The
suit cases, bags, and trunks are made
in scores of sizes and styles.
Telescope Is Dead ISSUE"
The telescope which was all the
rage few years ago is now a dead
ISSUE" says Mr.. Hossfeld. The tele-
scopes originated at Old Town, Me
We were making them in 1901 be-
fore st. Louis and other cities started
We make a few now, but it doesn't
pay. There was a time when we made
as high as seventy dozen a week.
Hossfeld was given notice this week
that the price of leather will take one
Of the biggest jumps in years soon
and the war is blamed. AS much
leather is used in the factory this will
be an important item. But more and
more is fiber taking the place of
leather in the manufacture of suit
cases-and the fiber is said to be much
more durable than the cheap grades
of leather.