Engineering Records
name: label: Collection Creator
content: United Shoe Machinery Corporation
setName: label: See more items in
content: United Shoe Machinery Corporation Records
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1904 - 1979
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
identifier: label: Identifier
content: NMAH.AC.0277, Series 7
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: The engineering records consist of correspondence, notes, drawings, reports, indices, lists of machines, financial information (operating statements) and orders (for machines and parts) related to work done by the Engineering Department.  Also included are a floor directory (1930) detailing the departments and a 1919 building permit from the City of Beverly Massachusetts to build a storage building. 

The machine records, 1901-1957, include cards that detail the name of the company, its address, and date where it was used. In some instances the cards are stamped "junked at Beverly."

The leases, 1900-1957, consist of index cards detailing the company, its address, the type of machine, and model leased from United Shoe.  In some instances, leased machines were sold and this information along with dates for shipping and receiving, are recorded. The cards are arranged alphabetically and are fragmentary.  Only companies beginning with "G" or "W" are represented. 

Parts order cards, 1951-1958, consists of index cards detailing specific parts made for machines.  The cards record the order number, number of parts made, the material used (e.g. steel), and a date.  The cards contain both handwritten comments and computer generated print-out information.   The cards are arranged numerically by part number and almost all of them are stamped "dead file."

Instructions for machine parts, 1949, consists of "white bulletins" issued from the Engineering Department for employee use detailing changes for parts for specific machines.  The changes were adopted and put into effect through the use of a "Blue Bulletin" after review. The materials are arranged chronologically. 

Drawing room files, 1906-1929, consist of "file letters" detailing changes made to drawings for specific machines.  The files also indicate the names of parts, whether parts are obsolete, who is authorizing and a list of individuals and departments who receive notification of the change. The changes, if approved, were included for distribution in the Blue Bulletin and/or catalog.  The materials are arranged alphabetically by machine name and are highly fragmented.  Only a portion of the machines that begin with the letter "C" are represented, for example, Cresat Sole Wetting Machine, Model, A, 1908. 

The engineering design notes, 1944-1946, consist of information compiled for designers citing new developments or calling out a particular design element.  The notes were then circulated within certain engineering groups.