#18 Holtzman Manufacturing Company in York; Makers of “Marquise” Shirt Waists
“Marquise” Shirt Waists are illustrated in a Hecht’s Department Store ad that appeared in the April 26, 1908, issue of the Washington Post. At the time, Hecht’s was located at 513-515-517 Seventh Street, N.W. in Washington D.C. The advertisement is for the “Sale of Famous “Marquise” Waists To-morrow.”
“Marquise” Shirt Waists were manufactured by the Holtzman Manufacturing Company. The company was based in Baltimore, Maryland, however their largest manufacturing operations, outside of Baltimore, were located in York, PA. On September 6, 1899, The Gazette carried this ad, on the front page, for operators on ladies’ shirt waists.
The directories at the York County Heritage Trust revealed the business offices of the Holtzman Manufacturing Company in York were located at 8 West King Street; placing them in the Odd Fellow’s Hall. Manufacturing operations were located along East Newton Avenue at the northeast corner of Howard Avenue.
In my post Late 1800s Factory Inspection Reports Assist in Identification of an East Prospect Photo I wrote about finding these reports in the State Library of Pennsylvania. For this series on the Top 50 York County Factories at the end of 19th Century, I’m using data from the 10th Report of the Pennsylvania Department of Factory Inspection.
The 10th Factory Inspection Report is for the Department’s year ending October 31st 1899. I ranked the 479 York County factories by numbers of employees; #50 has 47 employees, on up to #1 with 510 employees. In the coming weeks, on Monday and/or Tuesday, I’m counting down to the top employer in York County at the end of 19th Century.
At #18 in the count down of the Top 50 York County Factories at End of 19th Century is the Holtzman Manufacturing Company in York. The 10th Factory Inspection Report notes that on May 4th 1899 the Holtzman Manufacturing Company in York has 114 employees; 4 male and 110 female. Of these 114 employees, 76 employees are under 21-years-old; of which 8 females are between 13 and 16-years-old. The goods manufactured are recorded as “Shirt Waists.”
Continue reading for additional details about “Marquise” Shirt Waists.
In 1908, Hecht’s Department Store in Washington, D.C. had a clearance sale on Marquise Waists; quoting their ad copy:
There’s no need to tell the women of Washington that this is the most important waist sale of the entire year—the name “Marquise” tells the story better than columns of talk. For every women knows the elegance and superlatively high quality of the “Marquise.” Embraced in a gigantic purchase from the Holtzman Mfg. Co., makers of “Marquise” Waists, are hundreds of finest tailor-made waists in the very latest effects—rich and elegant lingerie waists in a multitude of designs and styles. These beautiful waists are on sale at prices that are bringing crowds of buyers.
In the advertised sale, shirt waists normally selling for $1.98 were selling as low as 98 cents. The finest Waists, “worth in nearly every case $5, not one in the lot would sell under $3. A great opportunity to choose at $1.98”.
A review of my count down, thus far, of the 50 top factories in York County at the end of 19th Century follows. As a group, these 33 factories provided employment for 2,472 people in York County during 1899.
- #18 Holtzman Manufacturing Company in York; 114 employees
- #19 York Wall Paper Company in York; 101 employees
- #20 Wells Whip Company in Wellsville; 100 employees
- #21 Billmeyer & Small Company in York; 100 employees
- #22 Nes Chain Manufacturing Company in York; 100 employees
- #23 Variety Iron Works in York; 100 employees
- #24 Oppenheim, Oberndorf and Company in York; 98 employees
- #25 Industrial Sewing Company of Glen Rock; 96 employees
- #26 New York Wire Cloth Company in York; 90 employees
- #27 Peter C. Fulweiler & Brothers Cigar Factory in York; 89 employees
- #28 York Safe & Lock Company in Spring Garden Township; 89 employees
- #29 Keystone Farm Machine Company in York; 87 employees
- #30 J. E. Williams & Company in York; 85 employees
- #31 Acme Wagon Company in Emigsville; 80 employees
- #32 Columbia Embroidery Works in Wrightsville; 80 employees
- #33 Hanover Silk Company in Hanover; 75 employees
- #34 George A. Kohler & Company Cigar Factory in York; 74 employees
- #35 Weaver Organ & Piano Company in York; 71 employees
- #36 York Knitting Mills in York; 67 employees
- #37 D. F. Stauffer Bakery in York; 66 employees
- #38 LaButa Cigar Factory in York; 65 employees
- #39 A. F. Hostetter Cigar Factory in Hanover; 64 employees
- #40 Broomell, Schmidt & Company Factory in York; 62 employees
- #41 William H. Raab Cigar Factory in Dallastown; 59 employees
- #42 Edwin Myers & Co. Cigar Box & Lithographic Works in York; 56 employees
- #43 Paragon Cigar Factory in York; 54 employees
- #44 York Cracker Bakery in York; 53 employees
- #45 Penn Heel & Innersole Factory in Hanover; 52 employees
- #46 George W. Gable Cigar Factory in Windsor; 50 employees
- #47 Charles P. Ketterer Wagon Factory in Hanover; 50 employees
- #48 National Cigar Manufacturing Company in West Manchester; 50 employees
- #49 George W. Hoover Wagon Factory in York; 48 employees
- #50 David S. Detwiler Cigar Factory in Wrightsville; 47 employees
