Guide to the Strunz and Son Soap Company Records, 1861-1918 AIS.1964.46
- Repository
- ULS Archives & Special Collections
- Title
- Strunz and Son Soap Company Records
- Creator
- Strunz and Son Soap Company
- Collection Number
- AIS.1964.46
- Extent
- 3 microfilm_reels
- Date
- 1861-1918
- Abstract
- The company S. Strunz and Son, originally called Strunz and Wetzel, manufactured soap and cleaning products in a facility on the South Side of Pittsburgh from 1852 to about 1920. Three reels of microfilm show seven volumes of business records pertaining to S. Strunz and Son and one letterbook with business correspondence from the National Wrapping Machine Company.
- Language
- English .
- Publisher
- ULS Archives & Special Collections
- Address
- University of Pittsburgh Library System
Archives & Special Collections
Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist
URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
History
Beginning in 1852, Stephen Strunz manufactured soap in a building on Bingham Street on the south side of Pittsburgh. His company developed and sold such products as Duquesne Powder for cleaning, Presto Flake laundry soap, and Wax Soap. The business was originally called Strunz and Wetzel, and Stephen Strunz ran the business with Ernst Wetzel. Around 1885, the company was renamed S. Strunz and Son, with Henry Strunz as company foreman. The company's customer base was centered in the Pittsburgh area, but also extended to West Virginia, Ohio, New York, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, and Missouri. The company discontinued business around 1920.
The National Wrapping Machine Company was a venture related to the soap manufacturing company. The wrapping machines were designed to wrap bars of soap, but were to be adapted to wrap other rectangular products. Fred B. Strunz served as the secretary and treasurer of the company from about 1892 to 1899.
Scope and Content Notes
The S. Strunz and Son company records consist of seven volumes of business records about the Strunz soap manufacturing business which date from 1861 to 1918. There is also one letterbook with business correspondence written by F.B. Strunz on behalf of the National Wrapping Machine Company, later called The Standard Wrapping Machine Company. All of this material is recorded on three reels of microfilm.
The S. Strunz and Son ledger books contain information about inventory, expenses and customer accounts, and a few examples of business correspondence and product packaging. Each book is between 200 and 800 pages long.
The Standard Wrapping Machine Company letterbook contains copies of company correspondence from 1884 to 1913. Most of the letters are signed by Secretary and Treasurer F.B. Strunz around 1892. The majority of the handwriting is blurred and very difficult to read.
Access Restricitions
No restrictions.
Acquisition Information
Gift of E. J. McGrael on November 3, 1964.
Preferred Citation
Strunz and Son Soap Company Records, 1861-1918, AIS.1964.46, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System
Previous Citation
Strunz and Son Soap Company Records, 1861-1918, AIS.1964.46, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh
Struntz Soap Company. Business Records, 1861-1917, AIS 64:46, Archives of Industrial Society, University Library System, University of Pittsburgh
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Amy Shaffer in December 2003.
Copyright
Permission for publication is given on behalf of the University of Pittsburgh as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Subjects
- Standard Wrapping Machine Company -- Archives
- Strunz and Son Soap Company -- Archives
- Strunz and Wetzel Company -- Archives
- National Wrapping Machine Company -- Archives
- Strunz, Fred B.
- Strunz, Henry
- Strunz, Stephen
- Wetzel, Ernst
- Manufacturing industries -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
- Soap factories -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
- Business and Industry