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Clarence H. Wilkens collection of A. Schrader's Son, Inc. records

Call Number

2014.021

Date

1916-1957, inclusive

Creator

Wilkens, Clarence H.
Wilkens, Marilyn (Role: Donor)
Wilkens, Robert (Role: Donor)
A. Schrader's Son, Inc

Extent

0.1 Linear Feet in one folder

Language of Materials

English .

Abstract

Collection of A. Schrader's Son company photographs, correspondence, and ephemera, collected by Clarence H. Wilkens while he was employed by the company, dating from 1916 to 1957.

Historical note

August Schrader, a German immigrant, opened his first machine shop in Manhattan, New York, in 1844. By the 1850s, he had partnered with the Goodyear Brothers to manufacture valves and fittings for rubber goods. By the turn of the century, he had moved his operations to Brooklyn, building a factory at 791 Atlantic Avenue, and partnered with his son, George. The company then became known as A. Schrader's Son. In the 1890s, the company developed the "Schrader valve" for bicycle tires, which is still used today. Soon, the company began to produce valves and other products for the burgeoning automobile industry. It was also a leading manufacturer of diving equipment.

In 1904, George Schrader incorporated the company, and in 1912, the company moved to 470 Vanderbilt Avenue, where a new factory had been constructed. Prior to World War II, A. Schrader's Son was acquired by Scovill Manufacturing Company, although it retained its name. The company benefited from war-time production demands, and opened another factory at 481 Clermont Avenue during that time. The company expanded outside of New York beginning the early 20th century, and by the 1960s it was no longer operating out of Brooklyn. By the 2000s, the company was still in operation, and known simply as Schrader. In 2014, Schrader was acquired by the Dutch company Sensata Technology.

Sources

  1. "Past and Present: A. Schrader's Son, Inc." Brownstoner. Accessed 14 January 2015. http://www.brownstoner.com/blog/2014/07/past-and-present-a-schraders-son-inc/
  2. "Sensata Technologies Announces The Acquisition Of Schrader International," Sensata Technologies website. Accessed 14 January 2015. http://investors.sensata.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=210277&p=irol-newsArticle&id=1958967

Biographical note

Clarence H. Wilkens was born in Brooklyn on January 17, 1899. He began work as an office boy at A. Schrader's Son in 1916. There he met and married Edith M. Hunt, who was also an employee of the company. By 1922, he was promoted and transferred to the company's Akron, Ohio office. He continued to work from the Akron office, eventually rising to the position of Assistant General Manager of Sales. He died in Akron on October 17, 1961.

Sources

  1. Donor correspondence, 2014

Scope and Contents

Collection of A. Schrader's Son company photographs, correspondence, and ephemera, collected by Clarence H. Wilkens while he was employed by the company, dating from 1916 to 1957.

Photographs include seven employee group photographs, taken at Brooklyn offices, Akron (Ohio) offices, and other locations (1921-1946); two images of the Brooklyn office and factory, at 470 Vanderbilt Avenue (circa 1950s); and one photograph of race car driver Frank Lockhart, winner of the 1926 Indianapolis 500 (a pass from this race is also included in the collection).

Conditions Governing Access

Open to researchers without restriction.

Conditions Governing Use

Unpublished photographs will enter the public domain 120 years from their date of creation.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Robert A. and Marilyn J. Wilkens, 2014.

Other Finding Aids

A detailed inventory, created by the donor, is stored with the collection.

Collection processed by

John Zarrillo

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-21 11:16:34 +0000.
Using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language: Finding aid written in English

Repository

Brooklyn Historical Society

Container

Box: A0022 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Center for Brooklyn History
128 Pierrepont Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201