Machinist - The Atwater Kent factory 1925

by Mike Savad

Title

Machinist - The Atwater Kent factory 1925

Artist

Mike Savad

Medium

Photograph - Colorized Photo

Description

Hand Colored photo from 1925
Original Title: Atwater Kent in tool room
Photographer: Unknown
Location: 5000 Wissahickon Avenue, Philadelphia, PA

This is the tool room in the Atwater Kent Manufacturing company, on the left is Mr Arthur Atwater Kent himself. They opened in 1923, and built radios and associated components. The factory consisted of two main facilities known as the South and North plants of which together covered more than 34 acres. The South Plant was completed in 1923, the North Plant in 1925. The plant suffered a huge loss when the Great Depression started, and customers started buying from their competition. He ended up cutting a lot of people but he did set up a relief fund as they had a hard time finding work. By 1936 his huge staff had been cut down to 800 employees, and while his fortune was still intact he decided to close the company entirely, and auction off all the equipment.

Mr. Kent then restored the Betsy Ross house in Philadelphia, and restored the old Franklin Institute which he later donated to the city.

Uploaded

March 14th, 2024

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