The
The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and
Printed Ephemera
Henry Francis du Pont
5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur,
Delaware 19735
Telephone: 302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883
OVERVIEW OF
THE COLLECTION
Creator: Arcadia Cut Glass
Company.
Title: Records
Dates: 1902
Call No.: Col. 173
Acc. No.: 85x209
Quantity: 53 items
Location: 34 K 4
BIOGRAPHICAL
STATEMENT
The Arcadia Cut Glass Company supplied decorative
glassware to department and other retail stores. The company’s letterhead noted the company
was a maker of “fine art cut glass”; the letters indicate that plain glassware
was purchased from other manufacturers and Arcadia did only the decorating and
cutting. Evidence suggests that the firm
was established late in 1901; its headquarters were in Newark, Wayne County, New
York. C.L.B. Tylee was its manager and
later, treasurer. Agents, working for
commission, solicited orders for the products.
C. L. B. Tylee was also president and general
manager of the Newark & Marion Railway Co. (of Newark, N.Y.) in 1902. In the 1893 Corning, New York, city
directory, C. Lafayette B. Tylee was listed as a real estate agent. In the 1905 Buffalo, New York, city
directory, he was listed as president of Randall-Tylee Manufacturing Co., with
Ray B. Randall as the other officer. The
company made “automatic leach.” A man
named Caleb L. B. Tylee was also found living in New York, and this was perhaps
the same man; he lived 1863-1936, dying in California.
A newspaper notice dated December 1907 stated that
the Arcadia Cut Glass Company planned to move to Lestershire, Broome County,
because of the scarcity of glass cutters in Newark, N.Y. (No such community was found listed for
Broome County. Leicester, New York, is
in Livingston County.)
SCOPE AND
CONTENT
Consists of 35 letters written by the company
manager, C. L. B. Tylee, to one of the company's salesmen, O. B. Greene in New
York City and Baltimore, Maryland, in response to orders sent by Greene between
January and April of 1902; Greene's contract, signed in April of 1902; two
printed order forms stock, with and without prices; a price list; two copies of
instructions for cleaning cut glass put out by Arcadia; and two letters from
Marshall Field & Co. asking for samples of cologne bottles. Included with one of the letters is a set of
rules for salesmen visiting buyers at the Siegel Cooper Co. The letters reveal that Arcadia was having a
difficult time making a profit while trying to undercut its primary competitor,
Elmira [Elmira Glass Cutting Co., later Elmira Cut Glass Co.] Greene is often chastised by Tylee for
selling products too cheaply. When
business was not going well, Tylee suggested that Greene should try his luck in
other cities as well as carry products from other firms. (Greene was evidently new to the business,
and Tylee was giving him advice on how to succeed.)
ORGANIZATION
Letters are in chronological order.
LANGUAGE OF
MATERIALS
The materials are in English.
RESTRICTIONS
ON ACCESS
Collection is open to the public. Copyright restrictions may apply.
PROVENANCE
Gift of Lucy Greene Houghlin.
ACCESS POINTS
People:
Greene, O. B.
Tylee,
C. L. B.
Topics:
Marshall Field &
Company.
Siegel Cooper
Company.
Business
records - New York (State) - Newark.
Cut glass -
Prices - United States.
Glass
manufacture - New York (State) - Newark.
Glassware -
Prices.
Manufacturers'
agents - Correspondence.
Purchasing.
Sales by sample.
Traveling sales
personnel - Correspondence.
Wholesale trade
- History - 20th century.
Contracts.
Correspondence.
Envelopes.
Invoices.
DETAILED
DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION
Location: 34 K
4
Folder 1:
Correspondence, Jan. 8-18, 1902
All letters
are from C. L. B. Tylee, Arcadia Cut Glass Co., to O. B. Greene, New York,
unless otherwise noted
.1a-d letter with envelope, Jan. 8, 1902, Greene in care of Max
Osterbery: describes steps in hand polishing glass; mentions that the business
has only been running six weeks; “We are getting out new designs all the time”
and can make anything the customer wants; mentions prices that bowls are to be
sold for; gives advice about who to approach for sales;
on back of page
3: an order, dated Jan. 9, for Stern Bros, Miss Levenel
.2a-c letter with envelope, Jan. 8, 1902, Greene in care of Max
Osterbery: mentions female buyer at Altman’s; Wanamaker’s buys from Elmira; if
the customer wants the nappies at that low price, she will have to take them
all – no returns; “I think that the no. 7 bowl will sell very readily … over in
the Jew district….”
.3a-b letter with envelope, Jan. 11, 1902: received order from E.W.
Dayton and will fill it; must not agree to pay express on goods – no one does
that; “Find out what you can about the differences in prices there, and let me
know.”
.4a-b letter with envelope, Jan. 11, 1902: about order for Stern Bros.
and Altmans; will be sending samples in two weeks
.5a-c letter with envelope, Jan. 14, 1902: about orders for Siegel,
Cooper & Co. and Cooper, Dayton and Sterns; cannot accept Altman order;
plan to bring samples on Feb. 1
.6a-b letter with envelope, Jan. 16, 1902: order for Otto Goldsmith,
who is not rated in Bradstreet – please send information about him
.7a-b letter with envelope, Jan. 17, 1902: study the designs and prices
in Dorflinger and Higgins & Seiter catalogs.
.8a-b letter with envelope, Jan. 18, 1902:
shipping Dayton, Goldsmith, Sterns orders
[.9
– number not used]
Folder 2:
Correspondence, Jan. 20-30, 1902
All letters
are from C. L. B. Tylee, Arcadia Cut Glass Co., to O. B. Greene, New York,
unless otherwise noted
.10a-e letter with price list and envelope, Jan. 20, 1902: sent a barrel
of samples, and gives the list of items shipped and their prices; advises
brushing and wiping off the samples after removal from barrel; written on
envelope is a list of goods and prices
.11a-b letter with envelope, Jan. 21, 1902: can get a stopper from
Fensterer & Ruhe; sends corrections to price list
.12a-c letter with envelope, Jan. 23, 1902: received orders from Siegel
Cooper and Sterns Bros., but don’t understand something on Siegel Cooper order;
have no sample trunks and explains how he packs goods; will be sending him
business cards and order forms soon;
diagram of
something on back of envelope, perhaps to go along with explanation of how
Tylee packs goods
.13a-b letter with envelope, Jan. 27, 1902: mentions orders for Dayton and
Siegel Cooper; no orders from Loziers or Bloomerdales [i.e. Bloomingdales]
.14a-b letter with envelope, Jan. 29, 1902: [unnamed person writing for
Tylee]: Mr. Tylee will write when returns; suggests Greene try customers in
Brooklyn and up the Hudson
.15a-d letter with envelope, Jan. 30, 1902: Arcadia
Co. cannot afford to sell its goods as low as Elmira Co. and still pay a
commission; advises Greene to visit customers in other towns; mentions work for
customers
.16 diagram
of 15 inch ice cr. [cream] tray, #45-11, old sample, with unsigned note: “I
have this on hand, could ship in a few days”
Folder 3:
Correspondence, February 1902
All letters are
from C. L. B. Tylee, Arcadia Cut Glass Co., to O. B. Greene, New York, unless
otherwise noted
.17a-b letter with envelope, Feb. 5, 1902: mentions
orders for Rich, Altman, snd Siegel Cooper, will ship goods in a day or two
.18a-b letter with envelope, Feb. 6, 1902: shipped Siegel Cooper &
Co.’s order and will soon ship Dayton order
.19 envelope
postmarked Newark, N.Y., Feb. 7; does not seem to have a letter with it
.20 printed
form letter from Siegel-Cooper Co., New York, Feb. 10, 1902: “rules and
regulations governing our purchases”
[this was enclosed with .21]
.21a-c letter with envelope, Feb. 12, 1902: shipped E.W. Dayton’s and
Sterns’ orders and will soon ship to Mr. Rich; awaiting blanks from Fensterer
& Ruhe so can cut them. “I will also
try and get out some cheaper goods, but at present we seem to be selling more
than we turn out of the good goods.”
Encloses the note from Seigel-Cooper about their orders [see .20]. Have no man in Chicago; Tylee secured large
order from Ithaca; notes on envelope about prices
.22 short
handwritten letter, Feb. 12, 1902: encloses check
.23a-b letter, Feb. 17, 1902: worried because have not heard from Greene;
must get certain prices for goods so don’t sell for less; because of extra
work, cannot sell the 6 inch nappies to Altman at the price named; Ehrich Bros.
order to be shipped tomorrow
.24a-b letter, Feb. 18, 1902: Greene’s letter of 16th had been
sent to Newark, N.J.; hopes Mr. Wilhelm will like their goods; be careful about
prices agreed to; hopes he gets order on his trip to Vermont, Baltimore, and
Washington; working on celery trays
.25a-b letter to Greene, Baltimore, with envelope, Feb. 21, 1902: have
been to Corning to get nappies with and without handles [and gives prices];
Greene going into “territory where the Elmira people have never been” and
mentions prices he must ask
.26 letter,
Ehrich Brothers Dry Goods, New York, to Arcadia Cut Glass Co., Feb. 21, 1902:
goods were sent express rather than freight and ask for credit for the difference
in shipping
.27a-c letter to Greene, Baltimore, with envelope, Feb. 22, 1902: problem
with Mr. Rich’s order and Greene needs to see him about it; am worried about
H.T. Wilhelm’s credit and want to ship his order C.O.D.
.28a-b letter to Greene, Baltimore, with envelope, Feb. 24, 1902: problems
with prices quoted Altman and Sterns; still waiting to hear from Marshall
Field; problem with shipping charges on Ehrich Brothers’ order: would be
justified in taking the money from Greene’s pay since he was to blame
.29 handwritten
letter, Feb. 24, 1902: enclosing check
.30a-c letter to Greene, Baltimore, with envelope, Feb. 27, 1902: glad
Greene has had success in Baltimore; had warned him that New York City was a
bad market; in negotiation with Marshall Field; negotiating prices with Sterns
Bros.
Folder 4:
Correspondence, March-April 1902
All letters
are from C. L. B. Tylee, Arcadia Cut Glass Co., to O. B. Greene, New York,
unless otherwise noted
.31a-c letter to Greene, Baltimore, with envelope,
March 5, 1902: Greene has worked hard and done well; the larger orders for fall
and winter trade will be placed in July and August; received order from
Marshall Field and will soon ship to Sterns Bros.; advises Greene to also carry
other goods, such as jewelry or clocks, to supplement orders for glass – should
be able to do well with all those
.32a-b short, handwritten letter to Greene, Baltimore, with envelope,
March 10, 1902: what did you do with the vase you were to leave for Siegel
Cooper Co.?
.33a-d letter to Greene, Baltimore, with envelope, March 10, 1902:
chastises him for selling goods to Gutman & Co. at too low a price; more
about vase for Siegel Cooper; something about selling stock to a friend of
Greene’s; with added personal note: more about selling stock of a lady in
Corning
.34a-b letter with envelope, March 14, 1902: about price for order from
Jacobi & Jenkins; will soon send him a contract
.35a-c handwritten letter with envelope, March 19, 1902: shipping goods by
American Express; lists prices for the goods; urges him to sell sugars,
creamers, and bowls rather than nappies; encloses check
.36a-b letter with envelope, March 18, 1902: shipped goods to Joel Gutman
& Co. of Baltimore and have written to stores in Carlisle and Harrisburg;
needs to hear at once about the vase for Seigel Cooper – “this is [not] a
proper way to do business.”
.37a-b letter with envelope, March 22, 1902: received orders from Wilhelm
and Nivert; do any of his samples need to be replaced? Have spoken to his brother about Greene
selling towels for him.
.38 letter
with envelope, March 28, 1902: cannot sell his goods for less and still make a
profit; will accept Marshall Field order; working on producing a water bottle;
sign enclosed contract and return; Dayton has not paid for his goods – please
see him about that
.39a-c handwritten letter with envelope, March 29, 1902: about plate order
for Earl C. Rich; prices for Marshall Field order; have shipped B. Altman &
Co. order
.40a-e handwritten letter with envelope, April 7, 1902: clerical error in
bill for Wilhelm’s order; we do not pay for express shipments – customers must
pay if they want that; will send price list for Marshall Field; must receive
Shere order soon if to be delivered by first of July; cannot pay Greene a
commission of 10% if he sells the goods at too low a price; am now getting
blanks from New Bedford; Tylee suggests coming to New York to help close
Marshall Field deal
.41a-g handwritten letter with envelope, April 10, 1902: willing to go to
Chicago to talk to Marshall Field; must get company’s regular price for goods
in order to afford to pay a commission; question about Sterns Bros. order;
charges for packing and shipping eat into profits; see Rich about ice cream
trays and ask him to make payment on his bill; customers are satisfied with
goods
Folder 5:
Price list and order forms
.42a-d undated, typed price list; forms include
vases, spoon trays, bon bons, bowls, nappies, water bottles, water jug, whiskey
jug, sugar and cream sets, sugar, water tankard, claret tankards, decanters,
ice cream trays, ice tubs, ice cream plates, tumblers, whiskey tumbrels,
plates, pickle and olive dishes, lemonades, finger bowls, fruit stands, vinegar
cruets, squat oil bottles, celery trays, and cologne bottles; most available in
various sizes
.43-.44 printed order forms, one of which includes prices; the
forms listed are the same as those on the price list; some patterns are named:
Arcadia, tuxedo, cyclone, Lafayette, but mostly the patterns are simply
numbered
Folder 6: orders and invoices
.45 bill
from Forbes & Wallace, Springfield, Mass., Feb. 20, 1902: for nappies,
celery tray, olive dishes
.46 shipping
order from Meekins, Packard & Wheat, no place, Feb. 20, [probably 1902],
for bowls, olive dishes, nappies, sugar and creamer, bon bon dishes, spooner;
does not say to whom the items were to be shipped; on back: addition of dollar
amounts
.47 request
for credit, from Siegel Cooper Co., New York, March 7, 1902: want credit for a
14 inch vase
.48a-b handwritten letter with envelope, F. D.
Burgess, Newark & Marion Railway Co., Newark, N.Y., to O. B. Greene,
Baltimore [crossed out, forwarded to New York City], March 12, 1902; mentions a
flood; been too busy to look for glass vase; Mr. Tylee’s brother manages towel
factory in Worcester – maybe Greene can sell towels for him
.49 copy
of bill sent to Marshall Field & Co., New York, Arpil 7, 1902, for bowls,
cream and sugar, cyclone tumbler, nappies
.50a-b short letter with envelope, Chas. Smedley[?], Marshall Field &
Co., New York, April 15, 1902, to O. B. Greene: please submit samples of
cologne bottles to cost about $2.00; send to Chicago
.51a-b short letter with envelope, [?] Shedd, Marshall Field & Co.,
New York, April 16, 1902, to O. B. Greene: no special size mentioned for
cologne bottle
.52a-b two copies of instructions from Arcadia Cut Glass Co. on how to
clean cut glass: wash in lukewarm water with brush and soap and rinse in clear
lukewarm water; dry in box of dry sawdust, then use linen cloth to polish
Folder 7: sales agent’s contract
.53a-d typed copy of sales agent’s contract, between Arcadia
Cut Glass Co. and O. B. Greene, April 1, 1902; this copy is signed by Tylee,
and was apparently the copy retained by Greene; it specifies Greene’s territory:
New York City, Springfield, Mass., and east (excepting Boston), Baltimore and
that part of the country, South, Brooklyn, Jersey City, and other places where
there are no agents; he was to travel at his own expense and call upon
potential customers of good credit, forwarding orders in a timely fashion; the
company was to keep record of these orders and pay his commission (10% of
orders) monthly, company was to furnish price lists and samples, etc.