Smyrna times., 1929-12-18
T0PKIS BROTHERS TO MAKE
DRESSES, SHOCKS, APRONS
DOES NOT AFFECT SMYRNA
PLANT MAKING UNDERWEAR
New Line Has Been Taken on By
Five New Subsidiary Plants in
MARYLAND and New Jersey

new Line has Been Iaken on By
Five New Subsidiary Plants i'm
Maryland and New Jersey
Few living in and about Smyrna
realize what an important indus
try Topkis Brothers Underwear
Factory, managed by Charles P.
Thornley,, means to Smyrna. This
busy plant which employs home
labor and distributes thousands Of
dollars annually here i'll Smyrna,
is only one of chain Of fifteen
or twenty operated by Topkis
Brothers, Incorporated with main
offices and plant al Second and
French streets in Wilmington.
This big concern one of the larg-
est of its kind in the United States
which has built up a name and
reputation in Nainsook Underwear
has recently branched out into an
other line of work, the manufac-
ture of wash dresses, smocks, and
aprons, in addition to the manu-
facture of underwear, which for
many years was their sole product.
The manufacture of these new
wash goods has now reached SUBJ
stantial proportions, and it is ex-
pected during the coming year it
will be increased. For the pres
ent this is not affecting Smyrna as
the plant here will be kept busy
on underwear orders for sometime
to come. The manufacture of the
wash dresses started in the COM
pany plants elsewhere some time
ago. Since that time five new
subsidiary plants were opened by
the manufacturers, in New Jersey
and Maryland for the manufacture
of the wash dresses alone. The
ten subsidiary plants located in
Delaware, Maryland and New Jer-
sey, which have ben in operation
for many years, are still devoted
entirely to the manufacture of
athletic underwear.
New Line Makes Increased Output
The increase in the underwear
manufactured and the manufac-
ture of the wash dresses, aprons
and smocks have resulted in an in
crease in the total output, number
of people employed, and the num-
ber of plants. From present in
dications, due to the success of the
in hn
welcome that the dresses We're met
with, the coming year gives every
indication that 1880 will be a ban
ner year for the concern, the of
ficers of the company declared.
The sale Of the new line has re
suited in a tremendous increase in
the total sales volume of the com
pany and is expected to greatly
increase the total output in the
coming year. The underwear fig
ures also show a substantial in
crease over those of any previous
year. At the present time the
dress plants are operating on a
basis of 5000 dozen dresses each
week. This production is expect
ed to be increased as the present
season advances and possibly
doubled by Spring. The present
plans call for the addition of more
factories to be placed on the man
ufacture of dresses in various
places. At the present time, in
addition to the dresses, Topkis
Brothers are turning out 1000
dozen smocks and aprons each
week. These goods are being dis
tributed widely all over the Unit
ed States. This output is expect
ed to be doubled within the next
year.
Adding on Employees Constantly
The Wilmington plant, including
the plant in Smyrna is now devot-
ed entirely to the manufacture of
underwear. Wilmington has add
4 ed 10 new employees during the
past three months, in addition to
others in the many new plants,
and the present plans call for
keeping the home factory, as well
as those elsewhere, running at fuil
capacity Orders now on hand
show that the Wilmington plant
will have to run at capacity all
this year to fill them. 1t is ex-
pected that employees will be add
ed from time to time through the
year.
STAFFORD MAN HEADS BODY