The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-10-24
MAKES THOUSANDS
OF PENHOLDERS
Daily Output of Bradley Corporation OF
BrattlebOro 30G GrOss-JumbO Pen
ell Added TO Its Line,


Did you ever see penholders made?
| Not the fancy futed kind but such as
school boys and girls like in their school
kits, just the pattern found in every
home and on the desk of every office and
counting room. 1t is perhaps the most
useful and universally used little article
made, perhaps the most readily sold, for
who In the world doesn't delight in a
serviceable and well-shaped penholder,
such as those having cork tips, designed
to fit an easy grip of the fingers, says
the BrattlebOro letter in the Springfield
Sunday Republican. Some may, how
ever, prefer the later pattern which lust
came upon the market and is all wood
after the fashion of delicate ten-pin,
tipped with very tiny nub. What
ever the shapes or patterns they are of
all Shades from imported paints and
most attractive in their final completion.
those universally used and every
where sold little articles are made right
here In Brattleboro by the G.. K. Bradley
corporation on Elliot street, all com
piete and at the remarkable rate of 300
gross per day. Three machines do the
shaping, sanding and boring, all operated
by men and women who know more
about their interesting vocation even
from the selection of the beech, birch
and maple entering into the penholders'
construction down through the various
processes, than any or all the success
tul dealers and statesmen of penholders
put together. Here in the Bradley plant
are employed in the detailed work of
manufacturing these holders nearly one
third of the $50 men and women en-
pioyes of the company, the balance of
the firms skilled labor being engaged in
Of nh ,hcI
and other articles of general use So
quietly has this successful firm carried
on for the past few years its large and
important enterprise that comparatively
few people hereabouts know of the mag
nitude of its productions, and especially
so the fact that the penholder depart
ment is probably the largest of its kind
in the world. Its Importance is felt and
fully appreciated by the lumber indus
try right here in Windham county, and
especially in the West River valley.
where a good share of the company's
stock is procured and where some of it
is crudely prepared for ultimate shaping
and finishing here in the Bradley fac
tory.
How many boys or girls really under
stand or appreciate how skilfully and
deity their daily-used penholders are
made, just how the corked tips which
come from South America in bulk are
shaped and made to serve their purpose
where the pen is inserted in the holder?
Then there are the little metal holders
themselves, stock for which is bought
abroad as is the paint AMI garnish which
complete the process of manufacture.
All of these things require skilled over
sight and finish. The Bradley corpora
ton has recently put ON the market a
jumbo pencil. so to speak, many times
the size of the small ones and used for
advertising purposes. These large pen
ellis are distributed by politicians, their
names being neatly printed in gold on
the wood holder with the name of the
Office sought. These have become mighty
popular in the counting room though
just how much influence they really
have on the result of the campaign is a
question hard to answer. They are in
deed factors which are of more impor-
tance before than after election.
The Bradleys began manufacturing in
Cummington, Mass, more than half
century ago. the family originating from
the late George Bradley, great grand
father, who had conspicuous part in
the war of the Revolution.
Someone has suggested that the man
| ual training department of the high
school should be interested in the sew
eral processes required in the manufac-
| ture of penholders and to this end hope
| is expressed that the department will
| detail. Such explanation would, no
ask one of the proprietors of the factory
| to tell the boys and girls the story in
| doubt, prove an interesting factor in the
| students work and help to bring out the
various stages employed in the Bradley
plant.