It’s hard to believe now, but at one time the US had a huge clothing manufacturing industry. There is a lot written about all the fashion companies on Seventh Avenue, New York, and about the great California sportswear companies. But the clothing industry was actually spread all across the country. The South, with its cotton was a major producer of denim, knitwear and socks. Many northern states had thriving wool industries. St. Louis became famous as the center for junior clothing.
Some of the far-flung centers, such as Pendleton in Oregon, and Cone Denim Mills in North Carolina have managed to hang on, and still produce part of their goods in the US, but many others are all but forgotten. One of my favorites of these defunct companies is Bradley. Who could resist a clothing company with the slogan, “Slip into a Bradley and Out-of-Doors!”
Bradley Knitting company was located in Delavan, Wisconsin, and was established in 1904. They made all kinds of woolen knit goods, including swimming suits, sweaters and other sports apparel. This company was very important to the small town of Delavan; it was their chief employer, with 1200 persons working there when the company was at its peak. In fact, they often had to advertise in larger cities in order to keep enough workers. It was a thriving business.
I’m not sure when the company closed, but the last label we have on the VFG Label Resource is from the 1960s. The mill building was, unfortunately, demolished in 2003. I guess they had not heard that soon, mill buildings would be all the rage with developers and urban hipsters!
I love finding Bradley advertising items. I especially love this box. There’s the Bradley slogan intertwined with people enjoying their Bradley Knitwear in the out-of-doors.
Click to see more images:
Awesome box! My dad is a weaver by trade, and he still buys his fabric at a mill here in the States. There used to be many more, but now there’s just one that takes his orders.
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Mei, it’s good to know there is at least one.
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That box is wonderful!
My grandmother and great aunts lived in St. Louis (I was born there) and many of them (and probably some of my great uncles) worked in the garment industry there.
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I’m writing a book about the Bradley Knitting Company and I thought you would like to know some things about it. It was actually started by the Globe knitting Company in 1903 and was bought out by two brothers-in-law who owned a department store in downtown Delavan called the Bradley Department Store, which they inherited from their Father-in-law, W.W. Bradley in 1900. The Bradley Knitting Company went out of business in 1941 and was bought at auction by Borg Instruments and became the Bradley Fabric Division of Borg. Borg developed a high quality pile fabric that was used in designer coats until the 1970’s.
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Joanna, Thanks so much for posting. I’ve often wondered if there was a connection between the store and the Knitting Company. Please keep me informed about the progress of your book.
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Hi,
I have finished my book about the Bradley Knitting Company and it is in the hands of Arcadia Publishing. They are thinking they want to do a “pre-sale” of 600 copies. Do you think your readers might be interested in the book?
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I’m sure they would. When it comes out let me know and I’ll do a blog post on the book. Congratulations!!
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I’ll do that. I just submitted it yesterday and they were going to do some research and get back to me.
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June 14th 2012 there is a bradley knit wear book on abebooks.com right now
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Elizabeth, do you have the title of that book?
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I was a student at UW from India for an MS in Industrial Engineering. I worked at Borg Fabrics, Delavan for almost 1.5 years with Mr Robert E Brandt, James Tweed and George Bucholz in 1969-70 as a mechanical engineer working on knitting machine programming all done mechanically, no electronics. Recall some name like Evelyn Seavers, Joanne Reilly, John Beucus, Cindy Brooks etc.
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I, from India, did masters degree at UW Madison and worked for Borg Fabrics at Delavan under Mr Robert Brandt to design mechanism to program the knitting to produce patterns. 1969-70. Stayed on Geneva street as well as the Dam Road. others were George Buchgolz and Fancis Tweed. I am still in touch with Mrs. Tweed and son of Mr. Brandt after 45 years. Harendra C Choksi hcchoksi@gmail.com
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Harendra – doing some research I just now found these posts. I spent alot of time at Borgs as a child with my dad, George Buchholz. Knew Robert and Millie Brandt quite well also.
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So very nice to hear from you. We can be in touch if you are interested, say in India as a country, my work, life, activities, hobbies etc. I was quite a bit americanized at UW but adjusted back to India and my friends and family. Never married and stayed by myself since 1979. hcchoksi@gmail.com phone india 7574903012. Address 13 A, Anandavan society, near Na yug School. New Sama road, Baroda India
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I enjoyed your posting. I was born in Delavan. My grandfather and grandmother worked for them. In fact my grandmother was a model briefly. I have great photographs of her in their clothing. Your advertising box brought that all back to me. The mill building is vivid from my childhood memories…although I moved away over fifty years ago.
Thanks again.
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Richard, thanks so much for posting. I’d LOVE to see the photos of your model grandmother.
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I have an advertising picture featuring the 1926 all america football team commenting on their Bradley sweaters.Curious to know if it has value.Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
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Hi elaine, That sound very interesting. I have no idea about the value, but I’d love to see a picture of it if you would like to email it to me. thevintagetraveler@gamil.com
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I wish I had a copy of that picture for my book. I’ve also been looking for a photo of Babe Ruth in his custom made Bradley sweater.
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I just got the most adorable lil sweater made by Bradleys.
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Where did you find it? I haven’t been able to find any actual clothing, only advertising.
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There are three bradley knitwear sweaters listed on http://www.etsy.com right now. just search ‘bradley knitwear’ and they will show up!
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Thanks!
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Thank you Irene!
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Thanks Pam. I took a look and only two of them appear to be authentic Bradley’s. They were both beautiful!
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I have two Bradley knitwear sweaters bought by my mom for my sisters and me when I was in 7th grade (1969 to 1970). I still wear them! One is olive the other fire engine red. I love them.
We had 2 others, plum and gold but no one knows what happened to those. If you would like a picture of them I would be happy to take one.
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I’d love to have photos. You can email them to me at thevintagetraveler@gmail.com
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My Great-Grandfather Barney William Snodie was working for this company when he registered for the WWI draft in 1917.
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Kevin, can I get some more information about your great-grandfather? My email address is babic_joanne@yahoo.com
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Hi Folks
It’s been very interesting reading about the history of this company. My Grandmother lived in Delavan and I have one of her sweaters from the Bradley knitting company. From the research I’ve done on the label, it looks as though its from the 1920’s. It was a must have for her when the family was out hunting in the northern Wisconsin winters. The quality is remarkable – it feels as though it is brand new. Thewooden buttons are pristine.
I was going to put it on Ebay, but if there is a collector of these items, I’d like to give a chance for them to get it. It needs to be with someone who will love it.
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Jonathon, I forwarded your message to the Delavan Historical Society, but they have been busy moving into new quarters. Did you sell your sweater?
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Just found this thread because I was getting ready to list a 1909 Bradley “muffler” on eBay and I was wondering when the company went out of business. Isn’t the internet wonderful for finding information?
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The assets of the company were auctioned in 1941 just months prior to the beginning of U.S. involvement in WWII. Borg, the new owner, geared up to produce clothing for the war effort and then sold the Bradley name and equipment after the end of the war. The company never made clothing for the general public again after the auction in 1941.
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Amanda, out of curiosity, what color is your muffler?
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Well, what fun it has been reading this wealth of information! I was curious about Bradley Knitwear after purchasing a perfectly preserved light brown sweater with horses appliqued on the front and back. Thank you all for your posts. p.s. I live a stone’s throw from Delavan and have also found a large box full of fabulous Borg fur samples. So interesting to find out there was a connection between the two companies.
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Found this site by accident, I was at a yard sale and bought a beautiful blue Bradley sweater for .25 cents. It is 100% wool and in perfect condition!
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I stumbled upon this site by chance. I have a Bradley Knitting Company retractable tape measure that still retracts! I’m not sure how old it is but it has The Company name and the location “Delavan Wisconsin”.
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I am an Indian from India. After my Engineering degree from UW, I worked as a process engineer at Borg Fabrics at Delavan Wisconsin in 1969 -70 with Mr Robert Brandt and designed controlled feed of roving of different colors to create a programmed design on Scott & Williams Knitting machine for deep pile fabric.
We also put a plant in Norwich Connecticut. Others were Francis Tweed, George Buchholz. I returned to India in 1972 and never have gone back to that industry. Visited Delavan after a long gap of 40 years in 2012 for a few hours to meet mother (Mrs. Adeny) of my friend Mary Adney.
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How interesting! There are so many layers to the Bradley story. Thanks for sharing yours.
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Borg also had a car clock mfg plant in Delavan. These were small clocks run with a solenoid electromagnet, that will wind up a small spiral spring. It will run the clock for a few minutes. the unwound spiral will trigger next charging of the electromagnet to wind it up again. NOT digital in those days (1970). Eugene Barratty (from Lake Geneva), an Indonesian dutch engineer (US citizen after immigration) worked on the clock testing at Borg. Can not locate him.
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I have a print by the Bradley knitting co.
It is of “miss bradley” .
I would love to send you a picture.
Jim
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I would love to see a photo of your “Miss Bradley” print. Do you know the back story for it? My email is babic_joanne@yahoo.com
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I have a rare print of “miss bradley” by the Bradley knitting co.
Early 1900s.
Kinda riske for the times.
Can someone help me value it ? Maybe purchase it.
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I was in the USA as a student from India and worked at Borg fabrics as a mechanical engineer under Mr. Robert Brandt and francis tweed on design of pattern control mechanisms in 1969 and 70. Lived in delavan for 1.5 years at 800 Geneva street.
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I’d like to show you something. What’s a good email I can send some photos.
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Ben, who are you asking?
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