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1800s UNDERWEAR Box TIVOLI HOISERY MILLS ROOT MFG Co Drawers Cohoes RARE

$ 13.19

Availability: 100 in stock
  • Type of Advertising: Box
  • Original/Reproduction: Original
  • Date of Origin: 1800s
  • Theme: Clothing
  • All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted

    Description

    You are bidding on an original two piece box as shown. Original paper label on one end. Box is sound and intact but does have wear, scuffs, small tares, split corners on lid - easily mended. Bottom slightly crushed. A rare advertising piece and I doubt many have survived. Add .95 P&H in the lower 48 states. Thanks.
    Quoted shipping charge is for the lower 48 states only. Alaska and Hawaii will be more - inquire.
    We will ship internationally to some countries - please contact us prior to bidding.
    "JOSIAH GOODRICH ROOT (1801-1883) [SECTION 29 LOT 10]
    OWNER OF TIVOLI KNITTING MILLS
    Josiah Goodrich Root was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts in 1801 to Samuel Root and Lydia Graham Root. He worked on his family’s farm and attended school locally. He eventually started to work in one of the many mills that had started to appear in Pittsfield, which “was becoming a home of woolen manufacture.” Learning the trade, he established a small mill which specialized in dyeing and finishing. As the productivity of weaving moved away from smaller-scale operations, Root developed machinery to assist larger scale and “started mills for other parties.”
    Around 1825 he married Martha Washington Mead of Pittsfield, MA and had six children together.
    By 1833 Root moved to the Albany area working as a manager for the James Roy & Co. which manufactured shawls and woolen cloth for men and women’s clothing. He held this position for three years and was recruited to work for Stephen Van Rensselaer III who was establishing his own mill, Tivoli Knitting Mill. Located in Cohoes, Root served as the manager of the factory until 1839 and became owner upon the death of Van Rensselaer. He operated the business for sixteen years but closed when the City of Albany purchased the creek the mill was one for drinking water and was forced to close.
    By 1859 he purchased a hosiery business, operated by Thomas Fowler in Cohoes. He made some improvements to machinery and including his two sons into the business. Root reopened Tivoli Knitting Mill, under the firm name J.G. Root & Sons; the factory was the largest manufacturer of merino wool knit thermal underwear, becoming a financial success.
    In 1874 a fire occurred severely damaging operations of the building, there were no fatalities. Root constructed a new factory in Cohoes, and by 1875 the Tivoli Hosiery Mill was established. The factory had improved access to heat, light, ventilation, as well as a safeguard to fire. By 1875 Root retired from daily operations giving the responsibility to his sons, but stayed active on managing it with a name change to Root Manufacturing.
    Root died on February 2, 1883, at the age of 81. He is buried in a granite mausoleum topped by a large angel made of white marble, with an upturned face."