|
The Pusey & Jones Story
Pusey & Jones,
Wilmington, Delaware This project started as a simple page for our website. In a short period of time it has snowballed into a much bigger story than we had envisioned. The "Pusey & Jones Story" is interesting and the more we get into it, the more intriguing it becomes. Apparently it is of interest to others also. This story has received more e-mail response than most projects we undertake. Meanwhile, we will continue to post related Pusyjones articles as long as there is interest. The Pusey & Jones Corporation designed ships and paper machines and were very good at manufacturing both. They made great contributions to both industries. Unfortunately, many companies, despite good staffs and products, sometimes fall on hard times and close their doors. Pusey and Jones did just that in 1956. The first Puseyjones paper machine was built in May of 1867, an 86" wide Fourdrinier. Ironically, the widest Pusyjones paper machine ever ordered did not get built by Pusey & Jones. The 270" wide newsprint machinefor Southland Paper Co., Lufkin, Texas was left on the drawing boards and the shops when the plant closed. Puseyjones had 10 complete paper machine orders on the books or in production from April 1954 to October 1956, an order book that many machinery builders would envy. They undoubtedly had other rebuild and parts orders. (e-mails we have received report a couple additional machines that do not appear on the records as we know them). This then is the drama of Pusey Jones: Good products with forward thinking ideas, a good reputation, a good staff, a fat order book including the largest paper machine ever in their history to build and they closed shop. There are many that will read this document that have never heard of Puseyjones. There are others that were in the paper industry at the time Pusyjones closed their doors. Those of us that were around, were puzzled at the closing because we knew that Puseyjones was a company that built excellent machinery and had a good reputation. I was working at The Beloit Downingtown Plant, only a few miles from Wilmington at the time and many of the ex-Pusey people hired on at our plant in the late 50s and early 60s. I was always impressed by their dedication and pride in Pusey and the Pusey product line. People like Fred Freeze, Bill Poultoric, Ed Klackawitz, to name just a few that some may remember. For those that may have an interest in the history of papermaking or have any information, memorabilia, photos or just comments concerning Pusey & Jones please contact: Luigi Bagnato or Oyvind haugen Other P & J story links:
|
