Bob Colburn’s mother, Ruby Harrington, was the daughter of Stephen Harris Harrington, one of the founders of Harrington & King. After many profitable years, the company filed for bankruptcy in 2017. The source of the history below and date it was written (early 1980, perhaps) are unknown.
History of Harrington & King Perforating Co., Inc.
The Harrington & King Perforating Co., was incorporated under the laws of the state of Illinois on May 4, 1883. The company founders were S. H. Harrington, Rockwell King, C. Wright, J. McGregor Adams and Chester A. Dawes. The original Corporate purpose was to perforate sheet metals and other sheet materials with holes of various shapes, sizes and spacings as a manufacturing enterprise. The work was done on order to customers’ specifications, with only a small amount of perforated material carried in stock as shelf items. This original purpose has changed little despite changes in materials, equipment and end uses. The product was used to screen, grade and separate materials as well as for architectural and decorative purposes.
The newly founded Company was incorporated for $20,000, not a large sum when judged by present standards when a single perforating press costs $300,000 or more. Operations were originally in a dirt floored building on the southwest corner of Washington and Jefferson Streets in Chicago. Soon the Company moved to a newer, more acceptable building on the southwest corner of Union and Erie Streets. A New York sales office was established in the late 1800’s.
What was Chicago like in 1883? The street cars were drawn by horses, and neither the automobile nor withholding tax had yet been invented. The May 15, 1883 Chicago Daily Tribune was 12 pages long. A seven room furnished flat in a desirable location was $40.00 per month. One of the Company’s early perforating machines was manually powered by a foot treadle. Heat and power were purchased from a foundry next door and power was delivered by a line shaft through the wall. The machines were driven by ropes from this main shaft. A few of Harrington & King’s early customers are well known companies of today such as Western Electric and Pittsburgh Plate Glass. Most, however, have either gone out of business or have been merged and changed to the extent that their names are no longer familiar.
A depression in teh early 1890’s had a strong influence on the founders and the Company operated in and extremely conservative fashion. The backs of incoming envelopes were used for scratch paper and at inventory time the remaining life of partially used lead pencils was appraised. In 1893 the prevailing labor wage was $.15 per hour for a ten hour day. The work week was six days for a total of $9.00 per week.
Perforated metals were first used as screens for the processing of metallic ores and for the cleaning and grading of seeds and grain. Zinc was often used instead of steel because it was soft and easy to pierce so tools lasted a long time. Stainless steels had not yet been invented.
As time wen ton the Union Avenue headquarters became too small and it was decided to located further west at 5655 Fillmore Street. The Company moved into its new building in 1923.
After Mr. Harrington’s death in 1913, Mr. Judston M. Fuller became President, Treasurer and General Manager. His first job with the company in 1885 was to open the office early and sweep the floors. Mr. Fuller was a talented and imaginative businessman and served as President until he retired in 1947 after 63 years of continuous service.
The Great Depression of the 1930’s was a national and international calamity. H&K operated in the red for two years. Office salaries were cut, factory hours reduced, but not a single employee was laid off during the duration.
From 1947 to 1955 Mr. Foye P. Hutchinson was President of Harrington & King. He continued to operate in accordance with the Company’s strong conservative traditions. He was succeeded by Mr. Judson E. Fuller in 1955. During this time the Company strengthened its position as the leader in the perforating industry and built upon its financially healthy condition. At the same time it added benefits for the employees including profit sharing and retirement plans. In 1969 acreage was purchased in Ramsey, New Jersey and soon after an office building was erected. The new sales office handled business in the New England and Middle Atlantic states.
Mr. J. E. Fuller’s death in 1972 brought to a close 88 years of active Fuller family involvement in The Harrington & King Perforating Co. Jusdon M. and Judson E. Fuller both created and maintained the Company’s fine reputation on expertise, quality of production and many years of honorable business dealings.
Mr. Gordon E. Steil became President in 1972. He came to the Company from the Page Engineering Co. The 1970’s were years of rapid expansion for Harrington & King and the perforating industry as a whole. The Company’s sales rose from less than $5 million in 1970 to over $14 million in 1981. Technologies were changing rapidly in both electronic and mechanical terms and demanded that the Company keep abreast. In 1972 Harrington & King purchased the building across the street in order to provide much needed space. The era of computers had arrived and in 1974 H&K became involved in computers and computerized controls.
On December 31, 1978 a Cleveland, Tennessee perforator’s machinery and equipment was purchased, their building leased and Harrington & King South, Inc., was born. The New Jersey real estate was sold and space was leased in Paramus, New Jersey, in an effort to operate closer to New York. In 1981 warehousing operations were initiated in Houston, Texas and Jan Jose, California. During the last few years more effort and money have been expended for research, development and the modernization of tools and machinery than during any like period in the Company’s history.
As mentioned, the Corporation began with $20,000, but in 1973 a press was purchased which approached $150,000. In 1980 the decision was made to purchase a press which cost more than $1,000,000 by he time it was finally installed! As the industry changes, so must Harrington & King. Good results from these recent efforts have already begun to appear and should increase in the future. The people presently associated with the Company are able, energetic and loyal, and there is a good balance of seasoned experience and new blood.
Harrington & King is indeed one of Chicago’s pioneer companies. Its reputation as a good citizen in its community as well as a solid dependable business partner is unimpeachable. It has endured and prospered along with not at the expense of those in this social and business environment.