The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1916-10-02


TO & Big Factory in Less than Two
Years in OcaIa.
The Ocala Knitting and Manufac-
turing company is considering an in
crease in its capital stock from $780,
600 to 100000, and an increase in its
plant that will cover the spinning of
yarn, now imported from Georgia. the
manufacturing Of shipping boxes, and
the oyelng OF undergarments. Offers
10 increase the capital stock have
come from Jacksonville and New
York, and work on the additions to
the plant may start at any time. This
information was obtained this morn
ing from George Giles, president of
the company, and Harry Booth, gen
eral manager.
Since its organization about a year
ago, the success of the Ocala Knit
ting and Manufacturing company has
been remarkable, and this success has
been given wide publicity. 1t is re-
ported that knitting mills, similar to
the one here, will be established in
Tampa and Jacksonville. About 18
months ago the idea of establishing
knitting mil here, originating with
George Giles, was given publicity by
the Star. A single knitting machine
was installed in the second story of
the ginnery of George Giles and COM
pany. Shortly after that George
Giles and company put four knitting
machines and nine sewing machines in
operation, in the small one-story
building on South Main street, en-
ploylng IL persons. In July of last
year the Ocala Knitting & Manufac-
turing company was organized with a
capital stock of $4,000, all local
money, with SO the par value of a
share. On Jan. 1, of this year, when
the stockholders met, a semi-annual
dividend of five per cent was declared,
and the par value of the stock raised
from SO to SIS, an increase of so per
cent. The knitting machines in the
little building on South Main street
had been increased to seven, the sew
ing machines to 16, and the number
Of employees from II to 25 or more.
In March of this year work was
started on the three-story brick build
ing on the corner of Main and Third
streets, to cost about $4,000. This
building is about so by IS feet, and
SO constructed that two additional
stories>can be added if necessary. The
plant, now in operation, is equipped
with the most modern machinery, and
is turning out IT'S to 200 dozen boys
and misses cotton union suits a day.
No undergarments for adults are
made. The sizes made run from two
to 16 years, and at present in six
tyles. The styles are to be cut down
10 four. No two-piece garments are
made. All are union suits.
The number of employees in the new
plant is 80, of which about 72 are
women. The machines are operated
with motors, for which current is fur
nished by the city electric plant. The
manufacturing is done on the two up
per floors of the building, and the
basement is used as a storage.
The making of the products of the
plant is an interesting process. The
knitting is the first step in the manu-
facture. There are 18 knitting ma
chimes, and the knitted material
comes from the machines in long
rolls. The rolls are taken to the
fleeing machines, two in number, and
the fleece removed. After fleeing the
rcll goes to the cutters. The cutting
is now done by hand. A machine to
do the cutting will soon be installed.
After the garments are cut they are
scanned on the 20 sewing machines.
The garments then go to the facing
machines, numbering four; to the
sheering machines, numbering two; to
the lace work and collarette machines,
Of which there are four; TO four ma
chimes which tack the fronts; to three
buttonhole machines, and to two but
ton machines. The garments are then
trimmed by hand, tape put in, but
toned up, pressed, folded and boxed
for shipment. Besides the cutting
n.achines, a cloth rolling machine is
r. ba irc+aIIad shortly
The waste material from the plant
is shipped to New York state, where
1t is used in manufacturing shoddy,
mattresses and paper.
According to Mr.. Booth, the pro-
posed spinning plant viii cost in the
peighborhood of $4,000. A single
story building, about 100x175 feet,
viii be necessary, and the equipment
will cost about s38, 900. 1t will take
about 1000 spindles to furnish yarn
for the present knitting capacity of
the plant The spinning plant would
give employment to about 100 hands.
The proposed box plant would require
building 5Ox75 feet, with equipment
costing about $500. This department
would employ from eight to ten per-
sons. The dye plant would be in a