The Farr Alpaca Company was a Canadian and subsequently American textile manufacturer specializing in alpaca and mohairworsted woolen products. Established initially in 1864 as the Randall Farr Company in Hespeler, Ontario, the company was subsequently moved to Holyoke, Massachusetts to avoid tariffs brought on by the Wool and Woolens Act of 1867, and was established as the Farr Alpaca Company in 1874.[1] The Farr family managed to build the company into a dominant brand in the woolen goods market in large part by relying on secrecy; rather than patenting machinery, the company would make use of machine shops with familial ties in the city, paying laborers well and keeping knowledge of components limited across units, such that no one worker could completely duplicate their processes.[2] By the beginning of the 20th century the company had the largest alpaca woolen mill in the world and was a dominant producer in its industry.[3] Unable to adapt to a changing market, the company eventually ceased production in 1939, and was formally dissolved by 1942.[4] The company is remembered today for its role in the creation of the first professional soccer league in the United States the American Soccer League, as its Farr Alpaca F.C. served as a direct predecessor to the Holyoke Falcos, one of the league's founding teams.[5]
Farr Alpaca Company
Mills and offices of the Farr Alpaca Company, as they appeared in 1912
Hutner, Frances Cornwall (1951). The Farr Alpaca Company; a case study in business history. Vol. 107. Northampton, Mass.: Smith College.
Referencesedit
^"Farr Alpaca Co.". History of American Textiles. American Wool and Cotton Reporter; Frank P. Bennett & Co. 1922. pp. 340–343.
^Martin, Stephen (2009). Industrial Organization in Context. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 509.
^Root, Joshua L. (Fall 2009). (PDF). Historic Journal of Massachusetts. 37 (2): 38. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-12-24. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
^[Query- "Farr Alpaca"], Massachusetts Corp. Card Search, Corporation Cards of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Secretary of the Commonwealth
^Bunk, Brian D. (November 23, 2011). "The Rise and Fall of Professional Soccer in Holyoke Massachusetts, USA". Sport in History. 31 (3): 283–306. doi:10.1080/17460263.2011.618697.
External linksedit
Farr Alpaca Company Photographs, Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library
Winter Palace Theater, project aimed at restoring the Farr Alpaca Co. auditorium
Photos of Farr Alpaca Mills, Google Arts and Culture via General Electric
This article related to a manufacturing company is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
farr, alpaca, company, canadian, subsequently, american, textile, manufacturer, specializing, alpaca, mohair, worsted, woolen, products, established, initially, 1864, randall, farr, company, hespeler, ontario, company, subsequently, moved, holyoke, massachuset. The Farr Alpaca Company was a Canadian and subsequently American textile manufacturer specializing in alpaca and mohair worsted woolen products Established initially in 1864 as the Randall Farr Company in Hespeler Ontario the company was subsequently moved to Holyoke Massachusetts to avoid tariffs brought on by the Wool and Woolens Act of 1867 and was established as the Farr Alpaca Company in 1874 1 The Farr family managed to build the company into a dominant brand in the woolen goods market in large part by relying on secrecy rather than patenting machinery the company would make use of machine shops with familial ties in the city paying laborers well and keeping knowledge of components limited across units such that no one worker could completely duplicate their processes 2 By the beginning of the 20th century the company had the largest alpaca woolen mill in the world and was a dominant producer in its industry 3 Unable to adapt to a changing market the company eventually ceased production in 1939 and was formally dissolved by 1942 4 The company is remembered today for its role in the creation of the first professional soccer league in the United States the American Soccer League as its Farr Alpaca F C served as a direct predecessor to the Holyoke Falcos one of the league s founding teams 5 Farr Alpaca CompanyMills and offices of the Farr Alpaca Company as they appeared in 1912FormerlyRandall Farr CompanyCompany typePrivateIndustryTextilesFounded1864 160 years ago 1864 in Hespeler OntarioDefunct1939HeadquartersHolyoke Massachusetts United StatesArea servedWorldwideKey peopleHerbert M Farr Founder Further reading editHutner Frances Cornwall 1951 The Farr Alpaca Company a case study in business history Vol 107 Northampton Mass Smith College References edit Farr Alpaca Co History of American Textiles American Wool and Cotton Reporter Frank P Bennett amp Co 1922 pp 340 343 Martin Stephen 2009 Industrial Organization in Context New York Oxford University Press p 509 Root Joshua L Fall 2009 Something Will Drop Socialists Unions and Trusts in Nineteenth Century Holyoke PDF Historic Journal of Massachusetts 37 2 38 Archived from the original PDF on 2017 12 24 Retrieved 2019 04 04 Query Farr Alpaca Massachusetts Corp Card Search Corporation Cards of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth Bunk Brian D November 23 2011 The Rise and Fall of Professional Soccer in Holyoke Massachusetts USA Sport in History 31 3 283 306 doi 10 1080 17460263 2011 618697 External links editFarr Alpaca Company Photographs Kheel Center for Labor Management Documentation and Archives Cornell University Library Winter Palace Theater project aimed at restoring the Farr Alpaca Co auditorium Photos of Farr Alpaca Mills Google Arts and Culture via General Electric nbsp This article related to a manufacturing company is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Farr Alpaca Company amp oldid 1216971534, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
