Westcott scissors and rulers
Encyclopedia
The history of school and office products brand Westcott dates back to 1872, when Henry Westcott, together with his two sons Charles and Frank Westcott, started manufacturing wood
en furniture
used by printers
and trellis units
in Seneca Falls
, New York
. The company expanded
rapidly and became one of the largest manufacturers
of desk
and school
ruler
s in the world
. Throughout its history it remained in Westcott family
hand
s until it was purchased
by Acme Shear Co., which later changed its name to Acme United Corporation
.
Because Westcott was such a strong brand
, Acme United started selling dozen
s of other school and office items
, like scissors, pencil sharpeners and paper trimmers under the Westcott name. Nowadays, Westcott sells 60 to 80 million scissors and 15 to 18 million rulers worldwide annually.
, Rhode Island
in 1808 where he learned the sash
and blind
makers' trade. Later, he started his own company
together with his brother Edwin and Hiram Miller to manufacture sash, door
s and blinds. After retiring from this business
, he moved to Seneca Falls in 1847 to embark in the manufacture of an improved churn
and butter pail
on which he had secured patent
s. Also this business proved to be a success because Henry Westcott invented
and built machine
ry to make the wooden products he sold, while competitors were still making them by hand. In 1868, at the age of 60, he sold his interest in the company.
s Charles and Frank, established the firm Westcott Brothers to manufacture a variety of wood specialties. While Charles concentrated on operating the factory
and Frank on selling the products, here too, Henry’s experience
and inventive genius
were responsible for the company’s growth. When Henry retired
in 1890, the company was renamed to Westcott Bros. Co. and expanded into numerous products like toy block
s and other game
s.
-holders, stands and hangers, but they quickly started concentrating on rulers, made in all sizes
and finishes
, both for office use and for advertising purposes. This was the start of a flourishing period for the company.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the Westcott-Jewell Co. employed
about a hundred people and its plant was one of the largest of its kind in the United States with a total floor space of 45000 square feet (4,180.6 m²). By now, their products were being shipped to all parts of the United States and export
ed to many different countries
.
In February 1907, disaster
struck as a big fire destroyed part of the factory. Although the building was equipped with a, for those days, modern sprinkler system
, damages ran up to $10,000. Luckily, the loss on building and stock was covered by insurance
.
In 1920, the company again changed its name from Westcott-Jewell Company to Westcott Rule Company.
the company continued to produce thousands of rulers and other measuring instrument
s.
After remaining in family hands for 96 years, the Westcott Rule Co. was sold in 1968 to Acme Shear Company of Bridgeport
, Connecticut
, which was a manufacturer of shears and medical equipment
. The company’s 55 employees could hold their job
and the products continued to be sold under the Westcott brand.
.
But that wasn’t the end for Westcott, to the contrary. It had become such a well-known brand that Acme United started using the name on a wide variety of school and office products such as trimmers, pencil sharpeners, erasers, math tools, craft tools, etc.
coated blades or non-stick
coated blades to use in areas where lots of glue
and paste is used.
, and its recently introduced successor
the iPoint Evolution, are electric sharpeners with titanium blades. The iPoint received a GOOD DESIGN award
from the Chicago Athenaeum, Museum of Architecture and Design in the office products category in 2010.
, stainless steel
and aluminum. Next to regular rulers, the company also manufactures Twist-It flexible rulers that can’t be broken and rulers with Microban, an ingredient that inhibits the growth of bacteria.
. The major competitor in the measuring category is Helix International Ltd.
Wood
Wood is a hard, fibrous tissue found in many trees. It has been used for hundreds of thousands of years for both fuel and as a construction material. It is an organic material, a natural composite of cellulose fibers embedded in a matrix of lignin which resists compression...
en furniture
Furniture
Furniture is the mass noun for the movable objects intended to support various human activities such as seating and sleeping in beds, to hold objects at a convenient height for work using horizontal surfaces above the ground, or to store things...
used by printers
Printer (publisher)
In publishing, printers are both companies providing printing services and individuals who directly operate printing presses. With the invention of the moveable type printing press by Johannes Gutenberg around 1450, printing—and printers—proliferated throughout Europe.Today, printers are found...
and trellis units
Latticework
Latticework is a framework consisting of a criss-crossed pattern of strips of building material, typically wood or metal. The design is created by crossing the strips to form a network...
in Seneca Falls
Seneca Falls (village), New York
Seneca Falls is a village in Seneca County, New York, United States. The population was 6,861 at the 2000 census. The village is in the Town of Seneca Falls, east of Geneva, New York. On March 16, 2010, village residents voted to dissolve the village, a move that would take effect at the end of 2011...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. The company expanded
Economic expansion
An economic expansion is an increase in the level of economic activity, and of the goods and services available in the market place. It is a period of economic growth as measured by a rise in real GDP.The explanation of such fluctuations in aggregate economic activity is one of the primary...
rapidly and became one of the largest manufacturers
Manufacturing
Manufacturing is the use of machines, tools and labor to produce goods for use or sale. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished goods on a large scale...
of desk
Desk
A desk is a furniture form and a class of table often used in a work or office setting for reading or writing on or using a computer. Desks often have one or more drawers to store office supplies and papers. Unlike a regular table, usually only one side of a desk is suitable to sit on . Not all...
and school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
ruler
Ruler
A ruler, sometimes called a rule or line gauge, is an instrument used in geometry, technical drawing, printing and engineering/building to measure distances and/or to rule straight lines...
s in the world
World
World is a common name for the whole of human civilization, specifically human experience, history, or the human condition in general, worldwide, i.e. anywhere on Earth....
. Throughout its history it remained in Westcott family
Family
In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...
hand
Hand
A hand is a prehensile, multi-fingered extremity located at the end of an arm or forelimb of primates such as humans, chimpanzees, monkeys, and lemurs...
s until it was purchased
Purchasing
Purchasing refers to a business or organization attempting for acquiring goods or services to accomplish the goals of the enterprise. Though there are several organizations that attempt to set standards in the purchasing process, processes can vary greatly between organizations...
by Acme Shear Co., which later changed its name to Acme United Corporation
Acme United Corporation
Acme United Corporation is a supplier of cutting, measuring and safety products for the school, home, office, hardware and industrial markets. The company was organized as a partnership in 1867 and incorporated in 1882 under the laws of the State of Connecticut...
.
Because Westcott was such a strong brand
Brand
The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...
, Acme United started selling dozen
Dozen
A dozen is a grouping of approximately twelve. The dozen may be one of the earliest primitive groupings, perhaps because there are approximately a dozen cycles of the moon or months in a cycle of the sun or year...
s of other school and office items
Office supplies
Office supplies is the generic term that refers to all supplies regularly used in offices by businesses and other organizations, from private citizens to governments, who work with the collection, refinement, and output of information .The term includes small, expendable, daily use items such as...
, like scissors, pencil sharpeners and paper trimmers under the Westcott name. Nowadays, Westcott sells 60 to 80 million scissors and 15 to 18 million rulers worldwide annually.
1808 - 1871
Henry Westcott was born in NewportNewport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
, Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
in 1808 where he learned the sash
Sash window
A sash window or hung sash window is made of one or more movable panels or "sashes" that form a frame to hold panes of glass, which are often separated from other panes by narrow muntins...
and blind
Window blind
A window blind is a type of window coverings. There are many different kinds of window blinds, using different systems and materials. A typical window blind is made with slats of fabric, wood, plastic or metal that adjust by rotating from an open position to a closed position by allowing slats to...
makers' trade. Later, he started his own company
Company
A company is a form of business organization. It is an association or collection of individual real persons and/or other companies, who each provide some form of capital. This group has a common purpose or focus and an aim of gaining profits. This collection, group or association of persons can be...
together with his brother Edwin and Hiram Miller to manufacture sash, door
Door
A door is a movable structure used to open and close off an entrance, typically consisting of a panel that swings on hinges or that slides or rotates inside of a space....
s and blinds. After retiring from this business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
, he moved to Seneca Falls in 1847 to embark in the manufacture of an improved churn
Churn
Churn may refer to:* Butter churn, a device used for churning butter* Churning , the process of creating butter out of milk or cream* Churn drill, a large, older drilling machine that bores large diameter holes in the ground- People and places :...
and butter pail
Bucket
A bucket, also called a pail, is typically a watertight, vertical cylinder or truncated cone, with an open top and a flat bottom, usually attached to a semicircular carrying handle called the bail. A pail can have an open top or can have a lid....
on which he had secured patent
Patent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
s. Also this business proved to be a success because Henry Westcott invented
Invention
An invention is a novel composition, device, or process. An invention may be derived from a pre-existing model or idea, or it could be independently conceived, in which case it may be a radical breakthrough. In addition, there is cultural invention, which is an innovative set of useful social...
and built machine
Machine
A machine manages power to accomplish a task, examples include, a mechanical system, a computing system, an electronic system, and a molecular machine. In common usage, the meaning is that of a device having parts that perform or assist in performing any type of work...
ry to make the wooden products he sold, while competitors were still making them by hand. In 1868, at the age of 60, he sold his interest in the company.
1872 - 1893
In 1872 Henry, along with his two sonSon
A son is a male offspring; a boy or man in relation to his parents. The female analogue is a daughter.-Social issues regarding sons:In pre-industrial societies and some current countries with agriculture-based economies, a higher value was, and still is, assigned to sons rather than daughters,...
s Charles and Frank, established the firm Westcott Brothers to manufacture a variety of wood specialties. While Charles concentrated on operating the factory
Factory
A factory or manufacturing plant is an industrial building where laborers manufacture goods or supervise machines processing one product into another. Most modern factories have large warehouses or warehouse-like facilities that contain heavy equipment used for assembly line production...
and Frank on selling the products, here too, Henry’s experience
Experience
Experience as a general concept comprises knowledge of or skill in or observation of some thing or some event gained through involvement in or exposure to that thing or event....
and inventive genius
Genius
Genius is something or someone embodying exceptional intellectual ability, creativity, or originality, typically to a degree that is associated with the achievement of unprecedented insight....
were responsible for the company’s growth. When Henry retired
Retirement
Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to...
in 1890, the company was renamed to Westcott Bros. Co. and expanded into numerous products like toy block
Toy block
Toy blocks , are wooden, plastic or foam pieces of various shapes and colors that are used as building toys...
s and other game
Game
A game is structured playing, usually undertaken for enjoyment and sometimes used as an educational tool. Games are distinct from work, which is usually carried out for remuneration, and from art, which is more often an expression of aesthetic or ideological elements...
s.
1894 - 1920
When C. E. and M. R. Jewell joined the business in 1894 it was renamed to Westcott-Jewell Company. At first, the company continued to manufacture a wide variety of products like bicycleBicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
-holders, stands and hangers, but they quickly started concentrating on rulers, made in all sizes
Measurement
Measurement is the process or the result of determining the ratio of a physical quantity, such as a length, time, temperature etc., to a unit of measurement, such as the metre, second or degree Celsius...
and finishes
Wood finishing
Wood finishing refers to the process of embellishing and/or protecting the surface of a wooden material. The process starts with surface preparation, either by sanding by hand , scraping, or planing. Imperfections or nail holes on the surface may be filled using wood putty or pores may be filled...
, both for office use and for advertising purposes. This was the start of a flourishing period for the company.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the Westcott-Jewell Co. employed
Employment
Employment is a contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. An employee may be defined as:- Employee :...
about a hundred people and its plant was one of the largest of its kind in the United States with a total floor space of 45000 square feet (4,180.6 m²). By now, their products were being shipped to all parts of the United States and export
Export
The term export is derived from the conceptual meaning as to ship the goods and services out of the port of a country. The seller of such goods and services is referred to as an "exporter" who is based in the country of export whereas the overseas based buyer is referred to as an "importer"...
ed to many different countries
Country
A country is a region legally identified as a distinct entity in political geography. A country may be an independent sovereign state or one that is occupied by another state, as a non-sovereign or formerly sovereign political division, or a geographic region associated with a previously...
.
In February 1907, disaster
Disaster
A disaster is a natural or man-made hazard that has come to fruition, resulting in an event of substantial extent causing significant physical damage or destruction, loss of life, or drastic change to the environment...
struck as a big fire destroyed part of the factory. Although the building was equipped with a, for those days, modern sprinkler system
Fire sprinkler
A fire sprinkler system is an active fire protection measure, consisting of a water supply system, providing adequate pressure and flowrate to a water distribution piping system, onto which fire sprinklers are connected...
, damages ran up to $10,000. Luckily, the loss on building and stock was covered by insurance
Insurance
In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
.
In 1920, the company again changed its name from Westcott-Jewell Company to Westcott Rule Company.
1921 - 1968
During and after World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the company continued to produce thousands of rulers and other measuring instrument
Measuring instrument
In the physical sciences, quality assurance, and engineering, measurement is the activity of obtaining and comparing physical quantities of real-world objects and events. Established standard objects and events are used as units, and the process of measurement gives a number relating the item...
s.
After remaining in family hands for 96 years, the Westcott Rule Co. was sold in 1968 to Acme Shear Company of Bridgeport
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, which was a manufacturer of shears and medical equipment
Medical equipment
Medical equipment is designed to aid in the diagnosis, monitoring or treatment of medical conditions.-Types:There are several basic types:* Diagnostic equipment includes medical imaging machines, used to aid in diagnosis...
. The company’s 55 employees could hold their job
Job (role)
A job is a regular activity performed in exchange for payment. A person usually begins a job by becoming an employee, volunteering, or starting a business. The duration of a job may range from an hour to a lifetime . If a person is trained for a certain type of job, they may have a profession...
and the products continued to be sold under the Westcott brand.
1968 – Present
Acme Shear changed its name to Acme United Corporation in 1971 to better reflect its diversified product mix. When hard times fell upon Acme United during the mid 1990s, the company decided to close and sell the old Westcott factory and move its production to the lower cost and more efficient facility in North CarolinaNorth Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
.
But that wasn’t the end for Westcott, to the contrary. It had become such a well-known brand that Acme United started using the name on a wide variety of school and office products such as trimmers, pencil sharpeners, erasers, math tools, craft tools, etc.
Scissors
Westcott sells a wide assortment of scissors. Starting from regular, everyday scissors to scissors with titaniumTitanium
Titanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22. It has a low density and is a strong, lustrous, corrosion-resistant transition metal with a silver color....
coated blades or non-stick
Non-stick surface
A non-stick surface is a surface engineered to reduce the ability of other materials to stick to it. A non-stick coating may be applied to a substrate to produce such a surface. One common application of non-stick coatings is cookware. Until recently, Teflon has dominated this market. However,...
coated blades to use in areas where lots of glue
Adhesive
An adhesive, or glue, is a mixture in a liquid or semi-liquid state that adheres or bonds items together. Adhesives may come from either natural or synthetic sources. The types of materials that can be bonded are vast but they are especially useful for bonding thin materials...
and paste is used.
iPoint pencil sharpener
The iPoint pencil sharpenerPencil sharpener
A pencil sharpener is a device for sharpening a pencil's writing point by shaving away its worn surface. Pencil sharpeners may be operated manually or by an electric motor.-History:...
, and its recently introduced successor
Successor
A successor can refer to* Someone who, or something which succeeds or comes after * Successor , an American Thoroughbred racehorseIn history:* The Diadochi, or Successors to Alexander the GreatIn mathematics:...
the iPoint Evolution, are electric sharpeners with titanium blades. The iPoint received a GOOD DESIGN award
Good design awards
The Good Design Awards are chosen annually by The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design in cooperation with The European Centre for Architecture, Art, Design and Urban Studies...
from the Chicago Athenaeum, Museum of Architecture and Design in the office products category in 2010.
Rulers
Westcott sells rulers in wood, plasticPlastic
A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...
, stainless steel
Stainless steel
In metallurgy, stainless steel, also known as inox steel or inox from French "inoxydable", is defined as a steel alloy with a minimum of 10.5 or 11% chromium content by mass....
and aluminum. Next to regular rulers, the company also manufactures Twist-It flexible rulers that can’t be broken and rulers with Microban, an ingredient that inhibits the growth of bacteria.
Competitors
The major competitor in the cutting category is Fiskars CorporationFiskars
The Fiskars Corporation is a metal and consumer brands company founded in 1649 at Fiskars Bruk , a locality now in the town of Raseborg, Finland, about 100 km west of Helsinki on the old main road from Turku to Vyborg...
. The major competitor in the measuring category is Helix International Ltd.
Helix (company)
Helix is a family run United Kingdom based manufacturer of scholastic stationery. It currently employes 75 people, and exports to over 65 countries, with offices in Chicago and Hong Kong and with UK headquarters based in Lye, West Midlands.- History :...