Photographs Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
1989.7.2 |
Object Name |
Photograph |
Title |
Photograph, Raymond Sewing Machine Office, circa 1903 |
Date |
circa 1903 |
Year Range from |
1900 |
Year Range to |
1905 |
Description |
Black and white, sepia toned photograph of the Singer Sewing Machine Company office, circa 1903. Eva Emma (Waters) Goble (1879-1959) sits on a stool in the centre of the image. She worked as the office stenographer from about 1900 until she married in December 1905. Three other unidentified employees are in the office. |
Notes |
Historic Context: Raymond Sewing Machine Company was established in 1862 by Charles Raymond from Massachusetts. After the first factory, a wooden structure built in 1861, was destroyed by fire in 1874, a brand new facility was completed in 1876 on Yarmouth Street in the same location. The new plant was equipped with its own power plant and was to contain the offices of the Raymond Sewing Machine Co. A cupola was later added to the roof of the building, as well as a foundry on the west side. After Charles Raymond retired in 1897, the company was sold to a consortium of local businessmen and J.G. Scully, a former employee who continued to run the firm under the name of the Raymond Sewing Machine Co. In 1916, the company was sold to an American competitor, the White Sewing Machine Co. of Cleveland, Ohio; they too continued to operate the company in Guelph under the existing name. In 1922, all operations were pulled back to the United States and all Canadian assets were disposed of. The buildings on Yarmouth St. were leased and then later sold to Cooke and Denison, a local machinists shop. Updated 2024 |
People |
Globe, Eva Emma (Waters) |
Search Terms |
Raymond Sewing Machine Company |
Subjects |
COSTUME - MALE INDUSTRY & TRADE COSTUME - FEMALE ARCHITECTURE - PUBLIC INTERIOR |
Collection |
Photographs |