In 1808 Artemus Woodward founded a business in Medfield, Massachusetts to make his own brushes and it was reported to have been a "business new to this section of the country." At the time that his enterprise was begun brushes were usually imported from England and were quite expensive, although such items were lacking in quality. As a remedy, some skilled workers from Germantown, Pennsylvania were hired and worked under the supervision of Woodward. Seth Whiting and John Wickliffe Adams would acquire their brush making skills from these men. Woodward's business, however, lasted only a few years.²

John Wickliffe Adams was possessed of remarkable mechanical skills, as well as a good education. He established in 1811 at his homestead a brush manufacturing business and for a long time he conducted a thriving business selling the output to merchants in Boston.² (Because of the War of 1812 had caused the importation of brushes to be curtailed, his business prospered from its inception.)

At about this same time Seth Whiting joined Adams, but their partnership existed only for a few years and upon its dissolution (probably circa 1814) Whiting went to Phillipston, Massachusetts.

Adams' son, John Jay Adams, was born in 1812 and after having learned the brush making trade from his father went to Taunton, Massachusetts in the early 1830's to set up his own brush business. He would soon to relocate to Boston (He was listed in the 1838 Boston city directory.) "where he developed and improved the brush making process until his production stood in the front rank."² His first patent for a brush was issued in 1842.

During the few years in Boston Adams' business was conducted at several different locations. In the 1840's he was working at 99 Washington. There he remained until February of 1851 when he purchased from Edward G. Parker the land and building with his partners Charles Vaughn of Cambridge, Massachusetts and William E. Abbot of Dorchester, Massachusetts. The purchase price was $33,000.00 and a mortgage was given to the seller for $17,000.00. (see 617.177, et seq.) The new business' address remained 99 Washington until a few years later when the building was expanded and then its address became 99 and 101 Washington. ⁶

In 1857 Adams' business continued to trade under the same name, but the principles were Charles Vaughn and William M. Vaughn of Cambridge. As there was no mention of Adams being then in Boston, it would seem that the partnership was reshaped.⁶

In 1862 Adams and his new partners entered into an agreement with their abutters. What is interesting is that Adams gave New York City as his address, while the 2 other partners were from the Boston area. On July 8, 1863 Adams sold his 1/3 interest in the business to his partners for $30,000. (see 830.221.)

In New York City John Jay Adams carried on a very extensive business for many years. In reviewing the directories for New York City covering the decade of the 1870's, Adams was listed as residing on E. 39th St. and as having operated a brush business at 75 Beekman in which area of the city there were a number of other brush manufacturers and suppliers of bristles. However, a change affecting his firm occurred around 1875 as his residence remained the same but no mention was made as to his occupation or business. At the same time a Charles W. Mulford was in the brush trade at 75 Beekman and Mulford's residence was on Long Island. In the 1878 New York City directory located at 75 Beekman was Charles W. Mulford & Co.

John Jay Adams died in 1879 at New York City.²

The directory for the year ending May 1, 1880 showed an advertisement placed by Mulford in which he stated that he was the successor to J.J. Adams & Co. and the "sole manufacturers of Adams Brushes." and that business had 75 Beekman as its address.

The federal census of 1880 for New York shows that Charles W. Mulford lived in Hempstead and was a Brush Manufacturer. In the same household was a Harvey W. Hascy, age 22, and no occupation was provided.^x

The directory for 1883/1884 continued to place Mulford's business at 75 Beekman and his residence was in Hempstead, L.I. also, Harvey W(ickes) Hascy was associated with that business and he, too, resided in Hempstead. In the 1885/86 directory Hascy was a manager for a firm doing business at 75 Beekman. (The 1909/1910 directory for Hempstead showed that both Mulford and Hascy resided on the same street.)

Sometime in 1887 or 1888 Mulford's business was located at 94 Beekman and sometime around 1892 Mulford was no longer an owner of the company. In the New York City directory for the year ending May 1, 1893 it was Hascy who appeared to have been the owner and as its manager was Alexander Brawner. Circa 1898 J.J. Adams & Co. moved its operations to Brooklyn, New York.

It had been previously mentioned that Seth Whiting and John W. Adams were contemporaries and had been co-workers in the brush making business. Whiting married Mary Kendall on November 30, 1815 in Royalston, Massachusetts and their children were as follows.

He and his family lived at various times in Massachusetts (Phillipston and Shrewsbury) and in New Hampshire (Rindge) until the early 1840's. They would then return to Massachusetts, where he had begun a brush making business in the Fayville village of Southborough. Seth Whiting died there on April 3, 1849 at the age of 62. (His death certificate stated that his occupation was that of a brushmaker.)⁴

The federal census of 1850 for Massachusetts showed that for the town of Southborough that the only Whitings were Lucius H., age 25, and John L., age 27, who were both brushmakers. The other family members were residing in nearby Worcester. The head of that household was Mary K., age 55; and her children, Jonas M., age 22; Anistis A., age 18; and Olive M., age 16.⁸

(Seth Whiting was born in Shrewsbury and his parents were John L. and Olive. From about 1852 and onward Mary K. Whiting and at least 3 of her children were living in Boston.)

John Lake Whiting married Mary Betsey Sawin in 1852 (November or December) in Southborough, Massachusetts. He was a brushmaker from Boston, age 29. At the time of their marriage she was 24 and residing in Southborough. She had been born in Natick, Massachusetts. ⁹

The children of John L. and Mary B. S. Whiting were all born at 1 Hersey Place in Boston, Massachusetts.

In the early 1850's John L. Whiting was making brushes in Boston and most likely working for one of the several brush manufacturing firms. (He was first mentioned in the Boston city directory of 1852/53 as a brushmaker.) In the decade of the 1850's there were only 5 or 6 such businesses and they were all apt to have been small partnerships employing a small workforce. Many of these owners had apprenticed with the Adams' or with Seth Whiting before setting out on their own. It was not possible to determine if John L. Whiting had been employed by any particular business but in the city directories, he was referred to a brushmaker rather than as a brush manufacturer, which was others had been described.

From the biography of Lew C. Hill ^nc John L. Whiting had been associated with John Jay Adams in a brush factory at Boston but he withdrew form that enterprise and founded his own business in 1864. (Was this a consequence of Adams' sale of his interest in the partnership to the Vaughns?) Although the city directories listed Whiting as being in Boston from as early as 1852, at some point Whiting must have been working in Portland, Maine; since the documentation for the patent awarded to him on August 4, 1863 showed that city as his address. Whiting had, in fact, been in Portland at the shop of Darius White and left circa August of 1863 in order to return Boston according a history of the Whiting company.

A history of Whiting's company described its development as "... the business started in a small room on a small side street, and outgrew its quarters several times by taking additional rooms, and three times by changing locality."^mm

Whiting was a member of a partnership, according to the Boston city directory of 1866, operating under the name of Drinkwater (Homer J.) & Whiting (John L.) and it was located at 3 Doane. In the following year it had relocated to 8 Blackstone.

In the 1868 directory there was no longer any further mention of Drinkwater but the business' address reamined 8 Blackstone until 1875 when his business was shown as being at 144 and 146 Oliver. The business of John L. Whiting was something of a family concern because a brother, Jonas Miles Whiting, was employed as brushmaker from the outset and another brother, Lucius Henry Whiting was hired as an agent/salesman. In 1874 Lew C. Hill was working as bookkeeper. (His wife's uncle was John L. Whiting - Mary Kendall Whiting had married Charles D. Marcy.^xx Beginning about 1875 William Sawin Whiting was working for his father as a clerk.⁶

The business possibly experienced an expansion in 1880 as its address was given as 132 - 146 Oliver. It seemed that business/sales offices were at 146 Oliver and the factory was at 132 Oliver. In 1881 William S. Whiting joined his father in the capacity of partner and the business became known as John L. Whiting & Son.

1. On May 1, 1884 a parcel of land containing 3,554 sq. ft. was purchased from the heirs of Nathaniel Brewer. (See 1640.310.)
   
2. On June 6, 1884 a parcel of land containing 1,174 sq. ft. was purchased from Joseph B. Glover. (See 1640.438.)
   
3. On June 4, 1884 a parcel of land was purchased from William Childs. (See 1642.316.)
   
4. On May 29, 1884 a parcel of land was purchased from several members of the Loomis family for $2,500.00. (See 1644.439.)
   
5. On May 28, 1884 a parcel of land was purchased from the estate of Jerome Kidder for $4,965.00. (see 1646.091.)
   
6. On June 27, 1884 a triangular shaped parcel of land was purchased from the City of Boston for $320.00 (See 1647.377.)

In each of the above transactions there was never any mention of there having been structures built on any of the parcels. Perhaps, any buildings had been destroyed by the great fire of Boston.

"The present factory at the corner of High and Purchase Streets being the most complete and largest factory (brush) under one roof known, occupying an entire block with streets on four sides, with six stories and basement for height." ⁶ Another comment, made in a publication from 1894, was that it "... is now one of the leading firms in this line (brush making) in the United States, having an extensive factory near Rowe Wharf."^pih For a number of illustrations of the interior of the factory, please see this page.

Some of the Boston city atlases referred to this property as the "Whiting Building" whose address was 221 High Street. The new factory enabled the Whitings to more than double their production capacity and the number of workers increased accordingly.

The 1885 Boston city directory listed Henry Wessling as being employed as a foreman at a business located at High Street and Hermann Wessling was employed at the same address as a brushmaker. In the 1876 directory Henry's occupation was that of a brushmaker, without any business address being provided. That same edition marked the first time that Henry had been listed in the Boston city directories.

In a speech given by John L. Whiting in 1886 he discussed brush making and how the industry had changed since the time when he had begun as an apprentice to his father. In part he said, "it takes several men nowadays to make a practical brushmaker, and it is true the trade is vastly more complicated now than formerly, but 40 or 50 years ago apprentices learned trades thoroughly; in fact, I think we have only 2 thorough, old-fashioned brushmakers in our employ." His attitudes on well trained workmen were also expressed in a pamphlet on brush making by stating that it "... very much depends on the quality and proportion of stock that go into any given batch and the skill and judgment to so prepare the stock can only be realized by the brushmaker." In his speech Whiting went on to say that his business had about 80 machines and many specialized tools in the factory for brush making. For an account of how brushes were made at Whiting's factory see Appendix I.

In 1887 Lew C. Hill was made a member of John L. Whiting & Son. However, it was not possible to determine what percentage of the business he had acquired.

John L. Whiting died on June 5, 1892 in Boston and at the time of his death his brush manufacturing business was reported to have been the largest in the United States.¹¹ It was said that his business consumed 25% of all the bristles imported by America as well as a large percentage of the supply of domestic bristles. His wife inherited his estate which was valued at about $400,00.00.

John L. Whiting had been a holder of many patents. His inventions/improvements included brush designs as well as the machinery used in the brush making process - a device for making ferrules, a boring tool for brush handles, and a machine for sorting and arranging bristles. (The latter device, which had been patented in 1876, may have been acquired through Enoch B. Whiting of St. Alban's, Vermont.) The royalties from the licensing of these items were a significant source of revenue for the company. By introducing new methods in the marketing and manufacturing of brushes his business became an important factor in the trade. In essence, he brought an artisan enterprise, heavily dependent on hand work, into the industrial age.¹² See Appendix I for a description of early brush making processes.

The formula for Whiting's successful brand of products was to manufacture high quality brushes which were priced competitively in order to increase market share. The elements of his business plan included:
obtaining patents and trademarks,

Attesting to the quality of those products, Whiting received many awards, including a Gold Medal at the Columbian Exhibition in Chicago, from his participation in industrial expositions throughout the world.

William S. Whiting succeeded his father as president of the company. He married Mary C. Allen in 1884 and they were the parents of the following children.

	Name	Year	Place of Birth
	Allen Sawin Natalie Elizabeth St. John	1887 1890 1898	Boston Boston Brookline, Mass.

A change in the ownership of the property at the corner on High and Purchase Streets took place on July 18, 1892 when William S. Whiting conveyed his interest in same to his mother, Mary B. Whiting. On the same date Lew C. Hill did likewise. (See 2073.175 and .481.) Hill was the company's treasurer at that time.⁶

From the records of the Massachusetts Department of Corporations and Taxation on July 28, 1893 the John L. Whiting & Son Company was incorporated with an authorized capital of $300,000.00 and the corporation issued 3,000 shares, each having a par value of $1,000.00. William S. Whiting was the president and treasurer. Lew C. Hill and Anna M. Whiting were the other incorporators. It would seem that as a result of the death of her husband, the partnership was dissolved by Mrs. Whiting's acquiring of the interests of her son and of Hill. The consideration for the acquisition of those interests was more than likely shares in the newly formed corporation. It is assumed that Anna M. Whiting acted as the representative of the family's interests.

Beginning around 1890 and ending in 1919 Boston was the most important brush making city in the world. However, some significant events transpired in the early 1900's when the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co. acquired several companies - Patton Paint Co. in 1900 and Rennous, Kleine & Co., a Baltimore based brush manufacturer. PPG's strategy was based on expanding its distribution network. As a glass manufacturer its products were sold through hardware stores at the retail level. Since their sales representatives already called at such places, by offering a wider array of products, more sales would follow. Thus paints and brushes were added as product lines. At the same time these actions also made others aware that competition would become more intense.

Another factor to consider was that a change in technology was about to occur in that around 1907 Thomas DeVilbiss was experimenting with a spray gun. As mass production in the manufacturing process was beginning to evolve at this time, the adoption of a spray gun was a major advance in the application of paint and lacquer to those items have having wide, uniformly flat surfaces. By the 1920's this technology was a regular feature on the assembly lines of furniture and automobile manufacturers, for example.

The Whiting's operations continued to flourish and it expanded again on October 22, 1903 when it acquired a parcel of land in Boston's South End containing 40,000 sq. ft. including a brick building and the engines, boilers, machinery and other fixtures, etc. from the trustees representing the creditors of the Hallett & Davis Piano Manufacturing Company. This lot was bounded by Harrison Avenue, Canton Street, a 15' wide passageway, and Brookline Street. The purchase price $107,000.00 in addition to the assumption of certain debts. (an outstanding mortgage of $55,000.00 given to the Franklin Savings Bank, obligations in the form of bonds held by Royal M. Pulsifer amounting to $100,000.00, as well as taxes payable to the City of Boston.) (See 2928.578 and 1449.278.) A surveyor's drawing of the lot formed part of file 6058.371.

In 1905 the officers of John L. Whiting & Son Company (incorporated in Massachusetts) consisted of William S. Whiting, president and treasurer, and Lew C. Hill, secretary.

They were also directors along with Anna M. Whiting. A balance sheet as of June 30, 1904 was included in the report (Assets/Liabilities of $1,148,446.00 with $300,000.00 being Capital Stock) and the annual meeting was held in July.

From 1906 through 1908 there were no changes in the officers and directors.

William S. Whiting died on April 6, 1908 at his home in Brookline.¹³

On May 5, 1908 the John L. Whiting Co. conveyed its interest in the property on Harrison Avenue to Mary B. Whiting, president of the company. (See 3280.570.) She still continued to own the property on High Street, which had been subdivided and leased to several businesses.

Also, on May 5, 1908 a 15 year leasing arrangement was entered into whereby Mary B. Whiting rented the Harrison Avenue property, effective as of June June 1, 1908, to the John L. Whiting & Son Co. for $12,000.00 per annum. Mary B. Whiting signed the document with the title of president and Lew C. Hill signed as its treasurer. (See 3283.044.)

The John L. Whiting & Son Co. merged with the J.J. Adams Co. and on July 1, 1908 the new company incorporated in the State of Maine taking on the corporate name of John Whiting - J.J. Adams Co., with its principle place of business remaining as Boston. Its registered agent was Harry R. Virgin, Esq. of Portland, who had been a state politician in Maine and had served as president of the state senate in the early 1900's. (Was there a tax advantage for incorporating in Maine?)

Regarding this merger it was stated in Hill's biography that the "... consolidation again united the interests and resources of two concerns that had started a century before, making it the largest brush manufacturing business in the world with plant and headquarters in Boston."^nc

On July 15, 1908 the lease was assigned to the John L. Whiting - J.J. Adams Co. with Lew C. Hill, vice-president, signing on behalf of John L. Whiting & Son Co. and Harvey W. Hascy, signing for John L. Whiting - J.J. Adams Co. (See 3295.445.)

As a result of the merger J.J. Adams Co. moved its production capacity to Boston from Brooklyn while retaining a sales in Manhattan. (How and when was the merger made? Research New York documents.)

In 1909 Mary B. Whiting and her daughters, Anna M. and Susan A., lived at 11 Washington in Newton, Massachusetts. She died there on October 26, 1909 at the age of 81.¹⁴

Her estate was valued at slightly in excess of $1,100,000.00 and it included 887 preferred shares and 1,036 common shares in the John L. Whiting - J.J. Adams Co. The property at 221 High Street was valued at $178,100.00 while the property at 700 Harrison Avenue was valued at $166,000.00 (probably book value of each). The assets in her estate included 2 notes, totaling $16,000.00, secured by mortgages given by Henry Wessling on his property at Hawthorn Street and by a similar note for $10,000.00 given by Hermann Wessling on his property at Dorr Street.¹⁴

Succeeding Mrs. Whiting as president was Lew C. Hill, who had been in the employ of the Whitings for many years. He had come Boston in 1873 and according to the Boston city directory of 1874 he was living at 222 Shawmut and was a moulder (metal worker). Coincidentally, in the same year John L. Whiting's brother, Lucius, lived there as well. At that time Lucius was a bookkeeper at a business located at 146 Oliver, the identical address of John L. Whiting's firm.

In the federal census of 1880 for Massachusetts Lew(is) C, Hill; Clara K., his wife; and their two children, Charles C. and Harry H., were at 56 Clarendon in Boston. They had been enumerated with her parents. Hill's occupation was a bookkeeper.¹⁵

In the 1900 federal census Lew(is) C. Hill; his wife, Clara; and their son, Edward, were at 236 Newbury Street in Boston. In the 1899 Boston city directory Henry H(orace). Hill was working as a clerk and living at the same Newbury Street address as Lew C. Hill. In 1900 Henry H. Hill was living in Brookline.¹⁶

In 1909 Edward Marcy Hill joined the business as a clerk. Prior to that he had been employed as a salesman at 60 Devonshire, where he had been working since 1903.⁶

Another new hiring in 1909 was that of Charles A. Sawin. Since 1898 he had been working first at the Bank of Redemption and then at the 1st National Bank of Boston, where he had been an Assistant Cashier.⁶ Sawin's father was Moses Morse Sawin, the brother of Mary Sawin Whiting. His mother's maiden was Susan O. Kendall. in other words, he had been a first cousin of William S. Whiting. In an obituary for Mary B. Whiting, Sawin was one of the pall bearers, 4 of which were grandsons and the other 4 were nephews.^aa

Significant changes for the John L. Whiting - J.J. Adams Co. (A Maine corporation) took place following the death of William S. Whiting and were reported in the 1909 directory.
   Lew C. Hill, president
   Harvey W. Hascy, treasurer (Hempstead, N.Y.)
   Allen S. Whiting, secretary, (He was the son of William S. Whiting.)
They were also directors of the corporation in addition to James H. Devereux of New York and Walter I.(rving) Bigelow of Boston.

The authorized capital had been increased to $1,250,000.00 and the issued capital was $1,000,000.00

The origin of Bigelow's involvement is not known. Bigelow had been in the leather business of his father, A.M. Bigelow & Co. until 1892 at which time he formed a business broking firm in Boston. Perhaps he had a hand in negotiating the merger or had participated in the financing of one of the business expansions.

It seems that 2 of the directors were hold overs from J. J. Adams Co. and 2 others were tied to the intersets of the John L. Whiting & Son Co. Hill represented his personal ownership stake and Whiting represented the interest of the Whiting family members. Hascy probably represented his personal ownership, although the full extent of same is not known. On balance, the numerical advantage favors the Boston-based group if Bigelow sided with Hill and Whiting.

1909 also marked the passage by Congress of federal tax legislation as well as in tax legislation being enacted in Massachusetts.

An investment trust was created on January 13, 1910, named the John L. Whiting Estate Trust, "to hold, manage, and improve certain parcels of land." These included the land and building at the corner of High and Purchase Streets in Boston; the land an building on Harrison Avenue in Boston; some property in Newton, Mass. near the boundary of th the Brighton section of Boston; and a number of house lots in Brockton, Mass. Serving as trustees were Charles A. Sawin and Anna M. Sawin.

This trust issued 4,560 shares with a par value $100.00 per share representing a total value of $456,000.00. (The same properties were valued at about $300,000.00 in Mrs. Whiting's estate.) 1,140 shares each were subscribed to by the 3 surviving children and the remaining 25% was divided equally among the children of William S. Whiting. This basic formula followed closely the manner in which Mrs. Whiting's estate had been settled. (See 3423.421.)

From the 1910 Directory the only changes noted were an increase in the authorized capital to an amount $2,400,000.00 and the issued capital to $2,000,000.00.It was not stated if another class of stock (preferred and/or stock with special voting rights) had been issued. It is assumed that some sort of increased business activity took place at about this time. Maybe these increases reflected the cost of financing the merger with the Brooklyn company.

On March 25, 1912 the John L. Whiting & Son Company was dissolved by an act the Massachusetts legislature.

During the years 1911 through 1915 there were no major changes in the management; although according to the Boston city directories of 1914 and 1915, Allen S. Whiting, secretary, was residing in Santa Barbara, California.

The 1916 Directory showed the following changes:
   Lew C. Hill, president;
   Harry H. Hill, vice-president;
   Harvey W. Hascy, treasurer; and
   Charles A. Sawin, secretary.
They were also directors in addition to James H. Devereux and Alexander H. Brawner, both of New York, and Walter I. Bigelow of Boston.

It appears that Sawin replaced Whiting in order to continue to represent the Whiting members and their trust. Also the board of directors was increased by two seats with no shift in the advantage for the Boston-based group. Hill's son was probably added only to offset the impact of Brawner's nomination.

Brawner had been associated with the J.J. Adams & Co. of Brooklyn according to the New York city directory of 1916. It is known that he had been an Adams employee as early as 1893.

From 1917 through 1919 there were no changes reported.

Anna M. Whiting died on March 1, 1920. Her estate was valued at nearly $535,00.00 and it included 562 preferred shares and 673 common shares of the brush company's stock. In addition she owned 1,520 shares in the family trust. Her position as trustee of the family trust may have been assumed by her nephew, John Whiting Webber. He was the oldest child of John L. Whiting's only surviving child.

At this time the largest block of company shares were probably in control of William S. Whiting's 3 children, whose holdings may have increased through the bequests of their grandmother and 2 aunts and by the terms of the family's real estate trust.

A meeting of the board of directors was held on March 16, 1921 to propose that a Massachusetts corporation be created.

According to the records of the Massachusetts Department of Corporations and Taxation on May 21, 1921 the John L. Whiting - J.J. Adams Co. was incorporated with an authorized capital of $1,000,000.00 in preferred shares and $1,000,000.00 in common shares. Each class of shares had a par value of $100.00.

A special meeting of the John L. Whiting - J.J. Adams Co. was held at Portland, Maine on May 21, 1921 as a corporation was about to be formed in "Mass. for the purpose of buying out and continuing the business of this corporation." That Mass. corporation was "desirous of assuming and using as its corporate name 'John L. Whiting - J.J. Adams Co.' " The majority of stockholders voted their assent and those votes were cast by Lew C. Hill, Harvey W. Hascy, Henry H. Hill, Walter I. Bigelow. The clerk of the Maine corporation was Harry R. Virgin.^cc

According to the Maine corporate records the company was excused as a corporation on May 31, 1921.

It would appear that the Whiting family was no longer active in the day to day operations after about 100 years with that responsibility now having shifted to the Hill family. The company itself, probably reached its zenith several years ago coinciding with the end of the World War.

The 1921 Directory was not available and the Directory for 1922-23 the names of the officers and directors remained unchanged. However in the Directory for 1923-24 the office of president was vacant.

Lew C. Hill died on August 25, 1923 in Boston. From his obituary^nc it was learned that he had been born in Fair Haven, Vermont, the son of Clark P.Hill and Eliza M. (Pratt) Hill. He spent his boyhood, Fair Haven; Saratoga, New York; and Hammonton, New Jersey. After public school he worked as an iron moulder and in 1873 he went to Boston. He married Clara Kendall Marcy of Boston, who had died in 1916. He was a member of the Exchange and Home Market Clubs in Boston as well as having belonged to the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association. He was survived by his second wife, Lillian J. Fischer of Brooklyn, New York, whom he married in 1917 (She had been born on April 6, 1881 in Brooklyn.) and the 2 sons from his first marriage, Henry Horace and Edward Marcy. He had owned a summer home in Swampscott, Massachusetts and a farm in East Holliston, Massachusetts.

The next president was Harvey W. Hascy, though the only reference to his having been so named was some correspondence in which the company's stationery had been used.^jfw

In 1925 Stanley Cunningham was with the Whiting - Adams Co. He had been a note broker as well as a mechanical engineer. In 1915 he had been employed by The Russell Co., General Managers. In the following year he was appointed a vice-president and a director with that firm. In 1920 he was working at The Industrial Company, which had strong ties with a highly prominent Boston law firm - Herrick, Smith, Donald & Farley, where Arthur H. Weed would later become one of the partners. The Industrial Company, consulting engineers with a role in financing commercial ventures, was organized in 1916 by John Wells Farley of Herrick, Smith. In the 1920 Directory Cunningham was with the Industrial Company and was associated with the Ayer-Houston Corp. as its president and a director in addition to being a vice-president and director of the Merrimac Hat Corp. Both of the latter firms were clients of Herrick, Smith.

Later, C.L. Stevens would become connected with some of the businesses managed by The Industrial Company. (It seems that The Industrial Company and others like it existed to rehabilitate problem businesses in order to sell them to others, thereby profiting from the gain on the sale owing to their equity participation as well as through revenues derived from management fees. Frequently, a law firm would act an intermediary between the troubled business and the consultants. And it would not be unheard of if the law firm had an ownership in the consulting firm.

The 1926 Directory showed the following changes:
   Henry H. Hill, president,
   Edward M. Hill, vice-president and secretary, and
   Stanley Cunningham, treasurer.
They were also directors along with Walter I. Bigelow of Boston and James H. Devereux; Alex H. Tomes an owner of an import/export business in New York; and X.M. Audibert, a member of Gude, Winmill & Co., a stock brokerage in New York.

William S. Whiting's daughter, Elizabeth, was married to Tomes and his daughter, Natalie, was the wife of Audibert.

Brawner was no longer a director and he may have died at about that time. (He may have been born 1858.)

It appears that the Whiting - Adams Co. had run into some financial difficulties and had hired an outside manager to analyze its weaknesses. Perhaps with the deaths of 3 officers/directors, a declining order book, and stronger competition it was time for the new board of directors to seek a different corporate strategy. While Cunningham, an outsider, held the corporate purse strings; his role was probably to implement and oversee cost control measures.

Following a long illness Harvey W. Hascy died on March 21, 1927 in Brookline at the age of 70.

The 1927 Directory showed the following changes:
   Henry H. Hill, president and general manager,
   Edward M. Hill, vice-president, and
   Stanley Cunningham, treasurer and secretary.
The other directors were the same as in the previous year.

According to the records of the Massachusetts Department of Corporations and Taxation on August 3, 1927 the John L. Whiting - J.J. Adams Company's corporate name became the Whiting - Adams Company. Given the recent death of Hascy, maybe this change reflects how is interest in the business was transferred.

As a result of a meeting of the Whiting stockholders on February 8, 1929 15,000 common shares were reserved and The Muskegon Corp. was given an option to purchase those shares. However, that option had never been exercised and no shares had ever been issued. The Muskegon Corp., managing engineers, had been created as a Massachusetts corporation on September 29, 1924 as a result of the renaming of the Stevens Investment Company, which had been organized on February 18, 1924. On that same date the C.L. Stevens Company was organized as a Massachusetts corporation. On December 5, 1930 The Muskegon Corp. was renamed as The Stevens Company which became The Stevens Corporation on January 5, 1931.

(Charles Leigh Stevens was born on May 24, 1895 in Muskegon, Michigan. After attending Cornell University he began his business career with Charles Bedaux, who had achieved prominence as an important figure in the 'scientific management' movement of the early 20th century. Stevens died on October 6, 1962 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.)

In 1929 Stevens had his offices on the same floor of a Boston office building as did Herrick, Smith and Steven occupied the space formerly leased to Saco-Lowell Shops whose president was Robert F. Herrick and a director of Saco-Lowell had been Stevens. (The 1924 Directory mentioned Stevens for the first time as being the president of C.L. Stevens Company, consulting engineers, located at 1 Federal Street in Boston.)

In 1929 the officers of the Whiting - Adams Co. were the same but Sawin was replaced as a director by C.L. Stevens of Boston.

With all the events happening within the company in 1929 as well as the collapsing of the national economy, it seems that the control of the active management of the company has been assigned to Stevens.

In 1930 C. L. Stevens became the preident of the Whiting - Adams Co. and Edward M. Hill was its treasurer. Neither Henry H. Hill nor Stanley Cunningham were mentioned.

Although Stevens was the president of the brush company, his office was at 75 Federal Street in Boston and he was also president of the following.

1. The Stevens Corp. (Inc. 1924)
2. C.L. Stevens Co., consulting engineers (Inc. 1924)
3. Devon Mfg. Co. (Inc. 1929)
4. Stevens Associates (Inc. 1930)

Also, in 1930 there were 2 new directors. - Arthur W. Weed of Boston, an attorney with Herrick, Smith and Mrs. Mary A. Whiting, the widow of William S. Whiting.

The company's Capital Stock had been increased to 40,000 shares and the shares had no par value. Probably, on account of the company being in dire financial straits, it was forced to borrow $390,000.00 from the 1st National Bank of Boston.

As respects the directors of 1931 there were 2 changes - Bigelow was no longer a director and Devereux had died on June 13, 1931 in Northhampton, Massachusetts at age 74.

At a meeting of the directors on March 11, 1932 the directors C.L. Stevens, E.M. Hill, Mary A. Whiting,  A.H. Tomes, and  X.M. Audibert voted to increase of Capital Stock by another 45,000 shares. Previously, the total stood at 55,000 shares. "26,371 shares, being at a majority, approved the increase."

Of the 55,000 shares 15,000 shares were intended to be used for the conveyance of the Harrison Avenue property to the Whiting - Adams Co. (It had been in a family trust.) 20,000 were to be used for payment to The Stevens Corp. pursuant to the terms and conditions of a management contract which would become effective February 1, 1932. And 20,000 shares were to be made available to the stockholders of record as of March 11, 1932. Such a sale was to be one on a proportional basis at $200.00 per share and the option must be exercised within 2 months.

In the 1931 Directory Arthur H. Weed was a director of Whiting - Adams as well as a director of Ayer - Houston Corp. and of Merrimac Hat Corp.

Weed had been associated with the Reed - Prentice Corp. as its president in the years 1922 - 1917 and in 1931 C.L. Steven was the president of Reed-Prentice while Weed was one of its directors.

Weed was also a director of Devon Mfg. Co. as was Stevens, who was its president in the 1930's.

The 1932 Directory showed the following for Whiting - Adams:
   C.L. Stevens, president (office at 75 State Street in Boston) and
   Edward M. Hill, treasurer and secretary.
The other directors were Alexander H. Tomes, X.M. Audibert, and Mrs. Mary A. Whiting, all of whom were from New York.

In September of 1932 the Whiting trustees agreed to transfer the Harrison Avenue property to the Whiting - Adams Co. as the the bankk was demanding more surity for its loan. (The original loan amount had now been reduced to $330,000.00.) At the same time the Whiting trust lent to the brush company $210,000.00 which was to be paid back over a 5 year period.

The trustees were Charles A. Sawin, Tomes, and Audibert.

In 1933 there were no changes regarding the officers and directors. It was noted that the Capital Stock stood at 55,000 shares.

At this same time the New York City directory showed that Stevens had an office in New York with his representative being Louis C. Farley.

In 1935 there were no changes.

In 1936 the following were the officers and directors:
   C.L Stevens, president;
   Arthur W. Leavitt, vice-president and general manager; and
   Edward M. Hill, treasurer and secretary.
The directors were Mrs. M.A. Whiting, A.H. Tomes, and X.M. Audibert, all of whom were from New York.

The 1935 and 1936 editions of the city directory had Stevens living in New York.

According to the 1937 Directory the position of president was vacant. However, the president may have Leavitt in 1937 and in 1938. (In 1938 Stevens was in Baltimore.)

Thus the Stevens has certainly come to an end. Further evidence was seen in the 1939 Directory.
   X.M. Audibert, president, and
   Edward M. Hill, treasurer and secretary.
The directors were Mrs. Mary A. Whiting and Alexander H. Tomes.

Highlighting the severity the company's financial plight was that even though the Capital Stock was valued at $2,040,000.00, there was Surplus Deficit of $1,266,955.00.

In a letter to the Commonwealth's Corporations Department Edward M. Hill, treasurer, stated that at a meeting of the stockholders on January 28, 1939 the directors gave their assent to a new business which would be known as Whiting - Adams Company, Inc. Also, on the same date the directors changed the corporate names to the Marten Corporation.

The directors of the Marten Corp. were
   Irving L. Redfield, president
   Edward M. Hill,
   Roger C. Damon (an Assistant Cashier at the 1st National Bank),
   Eugene T. Connolly (an attorney with the firm of Herrick, Smith, Donald & Farley), and
   Charles J. Winkler (an attorney with the firm of Bingham, Dana & Gould).

It would seem that the Marten Corp. was created as a vehicle to pave the way for the disposition of the assets of the brush company with the bank and other possible creditors in control.

"The Star Brush Manufacturing Co. of Long Island City, New York and the Whiting - Adams Co. of Boston effected a consolidation of interests, unifying executive, sales, and production; but will continue under their individual corporate names."^nyt All manufacturing of Star Brush was transferred to Boston. (Star Brush was started in 1917 and was mainly a producer of inexpensive brushes.)

Alexander Schumann president of Star Brush became the president of Whiting - Adams and L.R. Schumann became the executive vice-president. Retained were E.M. Hill, treasurer, and Charles Darby, vice-president of sales.¹⁷

On October 30, 1939 the Harrison Avenue property was sold at public auction for $75,000.00 subject to the terms and conditions of an existing lease between the Whiting - Adams Co. and Star Brush Manufacturing Co. dated February 8, 1939. (See 5822.242, et seq. regarding the foreclosure and sale and 5771.081 regarding the lease.)

At about the same time of the Whiting acquisition, Star Brush bought the business of J.C. Pushee & Sons of Boston (Pushee had been a brushmaker in Boston as early as the 1840's and previous to that in Landisburg, New York.) , further consolidating its position as a major producer of brushes. Their product mix was such that Pushee made nylon bristle brushes, Whiting - Adams made brushes for professional use, and Star Brush continued to produce a line of inexpensive brushes.

In 1943 a student research paper was written by an M.I.T. undergraduate in which a motion study was conducted using Star Brush's factory as the subject. The manufacturing process of "heavy-line wall brushes" was described and it was mentioned that this type of brush was intended for industrial use and had represented the most important brush in the product line.

 1. 1949 company history

 2. Medfield history

 3. idem

 4. State Archives

 5. Boston City Directories 1840 - 1940

 6. 1850 census for Southborough, Mass.

 7. 1850 census for Worcester, Mass.

 8. State Archives

 9. idem

10. Newspaper article of August 28, 1925

11. Patent Records Index

12. Directory - Boston, 1905 - 1940

13. Newton, Mass. directories

14. Brookline, Mass. directories

15. 1880 Census for Boston, Mass., Ward 11

16. 1900 Census for Boston. Mass., Ward 11

17. Acts and Resolves of 1912, Chapter 313

18. Newspaper article of March 27, 1939