Page Two
SEW IT SEAMS
MARCH ISSUE
SEW IT SEAMS
»
Published Monthly by
ANVIL BRAND
INCORPORATED
High Point, N. C.
Martha Clontz, Editor
(Continued from Page One)
ing six webs at a time. Closer to
our own day, typesetters in the
80’s revolted when they thought
that the invention of machine type
setting meant the end of jobs for
printers. Earlier in this century
telephone operators were dis
tressed over unemployment which
the dial telephone would cause. But
the census of 1950 showed that
operators had increased 79 percent
in the preceding ten years alone,
with additional operators in con
stant demand.
In the days when this company
was founded work clothes manufac
turers did only a limited business
because mechanical equipment was
so simple by comparison with to
day. Such limited facilities meant
restricted output for all employees.
They lacked opportunity for pro
ductivity. In that year the average
industrial employee’s earnings
were just under $9.00 a week.
But what a change has taken
place in these intervening 56 years!
A change largly attributable to the
invention and improvement of ma
chines. In this company, as you
know, they have consistently been
a means of creating more jobs, up
grading ambitious employees into
better jobs, maintaining steady in
comes and developing products of
a constantly rising quality.
To our own machines as well as
to ntachines in general we can.
justifiably give a sincere salute—
for our high living standards and
for our steadily increasing oppor
tunities to enjoy more rewards of
improved industrial productivity.
Sincerely yours
SAFETY FILM —
(Continued from Page One)
II, 100; Overall, 90; Sport Shirt,
100; Finishing, 100; Hudson Pat
tern, 100; Warehouse, 85; Print
ing office, 100; Sales office, 100.
ESC Quarterly Features Anvil Brand; Progress Noted
Anvil Brand is prominently fea
tured in a recent issue of the Em
ployment Security Commission
Quarterly which reported on the
garment industry in the state.
North Carolina has been en
gaged in garment or apparel man
ufacturing since early Colonial
days, the Quarterly stated, but in
the original sense of the work,
hand-making. Garment making as
an industry probably had its start
in the state around 75 years ago,
but it was close to the end of the
century before it really got under
way. High Point and Greensboro
began to build industries some 50
years ago that have continued suc
cessfully, the report continues.
Salaries and wages in North,
Carolina’s garment plants in 1953
amounted to $35,460,000, a gain of
17 percent over 1952 payrolls.
K. M. Poindexter of Anvil
Brand’s sales diviison, prepared
the information on Anvil Brand
for the Quarterly which included
the following:
Anvil, Brand, Inc., was estab
lished in 1899 as the High Point
Overall Co., in the small town of
6.000 population. Today Anvil
Brand employs approximately
1.000 workers, has an annual pay-
f roll of more than $1,000,000, the
gross annual sales exceed $7,000,
000 and its workwear, playwear
and sportswear are distributed on
a nation-wide basis, a goodly por
tion going into export trade.
The founders and original own
ers were J. H. Millis, J. H. Adams,
George A. Matton and Dr. J. A.
Turner. In 1909 the company was
sold to H. F. Hunsucker and asso
ciates and they later sold the busi
ness to A. J. Owen.
The firm then moved through
the hands of A. J. Owen, B. S.
Cummings, H. T. Hudson and C. C.
Garrett, the latter two of whom
expanded operations and extended
the territory in which company
salesmen sold only direct to inde
pendent merchants. After the
death of Mr. Garrett in 1946, Mr.
Hudson sold the company to
Kirchofer and Arnold, investment
bankers of Raleigh.
Under the direction of R. C.
Kirchofer, president, Anvil Brand
has grown into a position of ad
vanced leadership among the na
tion’s utility garment and sports
wear manufacturers.
Anvil Brand today produces a
varied classification of garments,
including overalls, dungarees,
work trousers, work shirts, sport
slacks, sport shirts for men and
boys; ladies’ shorts, shirts, sports
wear and the “blue jeans,” and
childrens’ staple and sports-style
garments.
The company has based its
expansion program on intensive
research, product and plant engi
neering and planned marketing
methods until today it produces
some 350,000 dozens of garments
annually with annual sales in ex
cess of $7,000,000.
The combined plants in High
Point and Independence, Va., pro
vide working space of more than
150,000 square feet with sewing
equipment exceeding 800 machines.
The company estimates the value
of its buildings, real estate, ma
chinery and equipment at $1,125,
000, and the approximately 1,000
employees of the corporation draw
an annual payroll well beyond two
and a quarter million dollars.
Officers in addition to President
Kirchofer, are F. D. Mehan, execu
tive vice-president; H. M. Web
ster, Jr., and W. J. Rives vice-
presidents; G. K. Hames, secre-
tai-y-treasurer; H. T. Short and
P. K. Frye, assistant vice-presi
dents; and R. N. Morgan, E. H.
McCall, and Helen D. Hughes,
assistant secretaries.
Western Electric
Plant Is Toured
Eleven persons from Anvil
Brand toured the new Western
Electric plant in Winston-Salem
early this month and Reitzel Mor
gan reported the trip was extreme
ly interesting and informative.
One of the most interesting fea
tures of the plant, Reitzel said,
is a new-type cafeteria which per
mits a person to enter the cafteria,
select and pay for his food in an
average of 3 1-2 minutes. Instead
of going through a line, the usual
cafeteria arrangement, the person
walks directly to the section de
sired, such as hot plates, cold
plates, desserts, etc. The person
serves himself and then pays the
checker. Reitzel said this is basis-
ically the same arrangement as a
self-service super-market.)
C. W. Reynolds, assistant works
manager, addressed the group and
revealed that Western Electric
moved from' its nine separate
plants in Winston-Salem to this
new location without missing a
production schedule.
Making the tour from Anvil
Brand, in addition to Reitzel were
H. T. Short, J. W. Parker, Clay
ton Holmes, Arthur Royals, Law
rence Edwards, Lloyd Hedgecock,
Ossie Wright, Aline Carter, Joyce
Chapman ,and Paul Frye.
“Funny how when a man brings
his wife flowers, the first thing
she smells is something fishy.”—
Sunny Gale.
TALENT WINNER — Glenda
Faye Cannon recently took first
place in two talent shows in Trin
ity, with her rendition of “Open
Up Your Heart.” She is eight years
old and the daughter of Polly Can
non who works in OveralL
Top Salesman
According to “Sparks,” the week
ly newsletter to Anvil Brand sales
men, Charlie Ashley led all sales
men throughout the month of Feb
ruary with a terrific selling job.
Dick Robotham maintained the No.
2 spot, but Jack Johnson edged out
Pat Yancey for the No. 3 position.
“Sparks” congratulated Ashley
and Joyce on topping their sales
quota and all the men for their
fine sales effort.
Spring — Easter
Spring was ushered in this week
in all her glory and the fact that
Anvil Brand folk were unanimous
in their welcome of her, can be
seen in the columns of department
al reporters.
Practically every reporter made
some reference to “Spring,” and
Sew It Seams adds its welcome,
too.
Before we go to press again
Easter will have been observed.
Our sincere wish is that everyone
at Anvil Brand is able to observe
the season in the true spirit of his
respective religious beliefs.