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Notice. Collins & Co.

[Collinsville, Conn.?]: Collins & Co., July 28th, 1832. Broadside. 5.75” x 9.5”, printed letterpress in black ink on heavy brown paper, notation in brown ink on verso reads “Notice to Workmen 1832”.

An interesting 19th century labor-related handbill, being a notice to the workmen of Collins & Co. (likely the well-known axe manufacturers) who had abused the trust of their employers, stating: “Our rules have not been enforced. We were willing to see how men would act if left to themselves. The experiment has been tried and the question settled. From small infringements our workmen have gone on to large, until our patience is exhausted, and we cannot suffer the evil to exist any longer.” Apparently, the men had been going home to harvest without leave or notice to their supervisors and were arriving late, going home for breaks and leaving early. Credit is given to those few men in their employ who had no such need for regulation. Collins & Company was founded in 1826 and manufactured the first ready-to-use axes in America. Ultimately a very successful company, this handbill provides evidence of the labor challenges the company faced in their early years.

CONDITION: Good, foxing, two creases from folding, .75” separation on fold.

Item #4944

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