“CROMPTON LOOM WORKS, WORCESTER, MASS.

M. C. Crompton, President; Horace Wyman, Vice President and Manager; Justin A. Ware, Secretary and Treasurer—Manufacturers of Looms for Fancy Woolen, Cotton, Silk and Carpets—Office, No. no Green St.

The Crompton loom is in general use, and, with recent improvements, ranks with the most ingenious and perfect machinery employed in the manufacture of textile fabrics. William Cromp-

ton, the inventor of this loom in its original form, was a native of Lancashire, England. He immigrated to this country in 1836, and the ensuing year was granted a patent upon his device. He continued to experiment with, improve and construct his loom until 1849, when he was succeeded in business by his son George and Merrill A. Furbush, under the style of Furbush & Crompton, which firm continued and prospered till 1859, when Mr. Furbush retired and

located in Philadelphia. Mr. George Crompton then continued as sole proprietor of the Crompton Loom Works until his death in December, 1886. The present corporation was formed in January, 1888, with capital stock to the amount of $550,000. Only the best obtainable inventive and mechanical talent is employed, and the one object of the corporation is to render the Crompton loom as near perfect as human ingenuity can make it, and keep in the lead of all competition. Our first loom engraving shows the high speed ” 1889 ” horizontal 25-harness Crompton loom, the latest novelty, and an improvement over everything that preceded it in that style of loom. Our second cut illustrates the Crompton ” 1889″ double-beam 36-harness fancy loom. Both of these looms are of the “close-shed” type, a specialty of these works, guaranteeing smoothness of fabric and ability to weave any and all difficult patterns. A technical description of these machines would not interest the general reader, and would be of little or no value to those familiar with weaving devices, so we omit it with the single remark that in design, material, workmanship, finish, durability and adaptability to the service for which they are intended, and for rapidity of operation, they are unexcelled. Built expressly for weaving fancy worsteds and woolens, together with other styles adapted for cotton and silk goods and carpets, they perform all that is expected of them and give unvarying satisfaction.

The Crompton looms are in use in the mills of this country, Europe and South America, and the increasing demand is the best testimony to their value. The Crompton Loom Works are situated on Green street, the office being No. 11o, itself a beautiful structure, commodious, conveniently arranged and finished in art wood-work, with appropriate decorations. The main factory buildings are of brick, which, together with the many wings and additions, cover three acres of land, and form a hive of industry such as is seldom seen, fitted up with all requisite machinery, much of which is of special design and construction, and giving employment to a regiment of well-paid, contented and expert mechanics. One building is devoted entirely to experimenting with and perfecting new ideas and improvements in looms and their attachments, and it is largely to this plan that is due the extraordinary degree of excellence attained. The productions of these works cover the entire range of textile weaving.”

Reference Data:

Inland Massachusetts Illustrated, by Elsner Publishing Co., 1891, pages 62-3