Guide to the Records of Hubbard and Company, 1902-1966 (bulk 1924-1958)
- Repository
- Heinz History Center
- Title
- Records of Hubbard and Company
- Creator
- Hubbard and Co. (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- Collection Number
- MSS#93
- Extent
- 1.0 cubic feet (2 boxes)
- Date
- 1902-1966
- Date
- 1924-1958
- Abstract
- Hubbard and Company supplied products to the railroad, communications and electrical industries across the United States, from the company's beginning in 1843 through 1958. These records include publications, historical materials and other sundry items, primarily relating to products Hubbard and Company produced throughout its existence in Pittsburgh.
- Language
- The material in this collection is in English.
- Sponsor
- This finding aid has been encoded as a part of the Historic Pittsburgh project a joint effort of the University of Pittsburgh and the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Funding for this portion of the project has been donated by the Hillman Foundation.
- Publisher
- Heinz History Center
- Address
- 1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org
Historical Sketch of the Hubbard Company (1843-c1958)
Hubbard and Company supplied products to the railroad, communications and electrical industries across the United States, from the company's beginning in 1843 through 1958. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Hubbard became a prominent supplier to these young industries, especially the electrical industry. Hubbard became a leading supplier of electrical distribution devices including pole line hardware and distribution specialties. Originally known as the Hubbard Brothers Company, the company was located at Water and Short Streets in Pittsburgh and began in 1843 with the manufacture of cross-cut and circular saws. The business continued at this location for 27 years until the company moved to Dinwiddle Street, in 1870. In later years, the company moved its offices to 6301 Butler Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a site adjacent to the company's main production plant. By 1870 the company name had changed to Hubbard, Bakewell, and Lippincott. Their product line expanded to include shovels, spades, axes and railroad track tools such as hammers, sledges, and hinges. By 1880 the company moved to 46th Street, and Hubbard and Company came into existence when Bakewell and Lippincott withdrew from the partnership.
With John Hubbard's retirement from the company around 1900, the management of the company's production was divided between brothers John W. Hubbard (1864-1947), who led the production of shovels, and Charles W. Hubbard, who led the production of axes. From 1900 until his death in 1947, John W. Hubbard expanded the company's production, opening plants at other locations (to answer greater demands for their equipment). Hubbard opened plants in Cicero, Illinois (1919), Niles, Ohio (1923), Oakland, California (1924). Sales and distribution offices were also maintained at these plant locations, and also included New York City, Kansas City, Missouri, Havana, Cuba and Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Hubbard and Company developed specialty divisions and distributed products from other companies, such as the Chance Company of Centralia, Missouri, and Copperweld Products of Pittsburgh and Rankin (Allegheny County), Pennsylvania. In 1909, Pierce Specialty Company of Elkhart, Indiana, was purchased and moved to Pittsburgh. Initially a separate section, Pierce Specialty eventually formed Hubbard's Electrical Materials Division in 1913. In 1950 Hubbard and Company added a new division, Hubbard Aluminum Products Company (HAPCo), which specialized in the design and production of aluminum street lighting poles and fixtures.
Hubbard and Company was sold to Charles H. Dyson in 1954 and became part of the Dyson Corporation. The sale of the company to Dyson in 1954 was mired in litigation four years after the date of sale over concerns of improprieties concerning the sale the company. The dispute involved the daughter and stepdaughter of John W. Hubbard, who owned the full shares of the company. The family dispute and eventual litigation ultimately brought about the company's demise.
Scope and Content Notes
These records include publications, historical materials and other sundry items, primarily relating to products Hubbard and Company produced throughout its existence in Pittsburgh. The publications include catalogs, price lists, and miscellaneous materials produced by Hubbard and Company. These publications document specific details about products, designs, uses, product evolution and the manufacturing operations in fair detail. Of note is a bound volume of The Hubbard Linebuilder, 1924-1957, a newsletter produced by Hubbard and Company for their customers. The newsletter features product lines and provides detailed descriptions regarding their uses and design. Other publications include Christmas songbooks produced by Hubbard for their employees and customers, c1937-1942. General material primarily consists of various related catalogs, correspondence, and news clippings documenting various aspects of Hubbard and Company activities. News clippings primarily document press coverage of litigation involving the sale of the company in the 1950s, a strike against Hubbard in 1940 and other moments in company history. These records are incomplete and represent primarily public documents created by Hubbard. Lacking in these records are any documentation of internal operations and management of the company.
Arrangement
The Hubbard and Company Records are housed in two archival boxes and are arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
These materials were received as one accession in 1976.
Acc# 1976.100 Gift of C. C. Warne, (Records. Mr. Warne worked for Hubbard and Company. Many of these publications were Mr. Warne's personal copy).
Preferred Citation
Records of Hubbard and Company, 1902-1966 (1924-1958), MSS# 93, Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Historical Society Staff in c1976. Papers rearranged and inventory rewritten by Andrea L. Kosmo on March 9, 1994.
Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Doug MacGregor on May 5, 2001.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights reside with the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or publish, please contact the curator of the Archives.
Subjects
- Hubbard and Co. (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- Hubbard Brothers Company (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- Hubbard, Bakewell, and Lippincott (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- Hubbard Aluminum Products Company (HAPCo)
- Chance Company (Centralia, Mo.)
- Copperweld Steel Co. (Rankin, Pa.)
- Hubbard, John W. (1864-1947)
- Pierce Specialty Co. (Elkhart, Ind.)
- Hubbard, John W. (1864-1947)
- Pittsburgh (Pa.) -- Industry
- Lawrenceville (Pittsburgh, Pa.) -- Industry
- Christmas Music
- Electric Apparatus and Appliances -- Catalogs
- Electric Power Distribution -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
- Music -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
- Signs and Signboards
- Steel industry and trade -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
- Street Lighting
- Yachts