This post is not only of horological content but of business history as well. This is about a Cincinnati Time Recorder that sits in the museum of the company I work for, The Wooster Brush Company. This time clock was used by the hourly employees from 1909 through the early 1950’s. It still ticks away to this day and is an integral part of the history of this company. This clock is not for sale!!!!!

The time cards in the Slots honor employees with more than 50 years of service with the company and include the second President, Walter Foss, with 59 years and with all time leader Lewis Rhodes with 64 years. Can you even begin to imagine those milestones.

Our most recent inductee Phyllis Kudika which shows the company loyalty was not just a long time ago.

A closer shot of the dial and the exposure of the time stamping unit.

A ribbon was fed from the upper left wheel under the stamp wheel and up to the take up wheel in the upper right portion of the works.

Another shot of the dial and case......

So with the coverage of our timeclock, I would like to pass on a little bit about the History of the Company.

Our history begins lifetimes ago, with a young man named Adam Foss. Adam traveled the trails from Lancaster. PA to Cincinnati. While in Cincinnati, he attended an unclaimed freight sale held by an express company and bought a fateful box. When he opened it, he found a shipment of hog bristle.

Adam took the crate of bristle with him to visit his older brother Samuel-who lived in Wooster, OH. Using their creative business sense, the Foss brothers set up shop, operating as "Adam Foss & Co". They made handles, attached the hog hair bristles, and sold the first Wooster paintbrushes door-to-door throughout the state. Adam Foss was 29 years old, and the year was 1851. Those paintbrushes were superior to others commonly available at the time.

And thus, The Wooster Brush Company was founded. The company is now 157 years old and has become a cornerstone of the painting industry.

Walter Foss bought the company from his father, Adam, in 1879 and went on to be the president for 59 years. He changed the name to "The Wooster Brush Works". After occupying buildings in the heart of downtown Wooster, in 1909 the Company purchased land a few blocks south and constructed a brand new plant on the corner of Madison Avenue and Buckeye Street. On July 16, 1909, the business was chartered by the State of Ohio and became officially known as "The Wooster Brush Company," which it has been ever since. Wooster, Ohio is still the Company’s current address but they have had 21 expansions to the original facility.

I hope you found this post to be of some interest both horologically and historically.

Steve

Very interesting Steve. Thanks for posting.
Brian C.

Yes, very interesting. It is good to know we still have some loyal businesses left.
Next time I am looking for a paint brush I will definately be looking for a "Wooster."

I agree very nice clock but more important a company that not only holds on to it's past but remembers those who made it was it is. In this day & age I like hearing about an American Made Company that is still in it for the long haul.

I agree with Ed, I am going to look for Wooster Brushes in the future.

Found their web site here http://www.woosterbrush.com/home3.asp

Tom

Thank you guys and gals for the complimentary comments. As an employee of this company for 26 years I can honestly say we are driven to provide the finest quality paint applicators on the market. It is tough competing with China and the other manufactures who have taken their bussiness over there but we continually strive to provide the best painting tools made right here in the USA. Your patronage will be greatly appreciated.

Steve

Thanks Steve,
Great story about a great company and their clock.
I checked and most of my paint brushes are from Wooster. Sure beats the China stuff. I knew they were good brushes, but not why.
Now I do. !!