The West Branch Novelty Company, Milton Pa

The West Branch Novelty Company, Milton Pa

1892-1950

The Company began in the loft of the West Branch Knitting Company. By 1901 the company was the largest single importer of bamboo in the entire United States.  In 1900 they began making cedar chests, and by 1915 they had ceased all bamboo operations. In 1950 the facility was bought out by a York firm, but the sale did not include the West Branch Novelty name.  It briefly became the DeWitt Furniture Manufacturing Company, eventually becoming Milton Wood Products, manufacturing Yorktowne Cabinets into the 1970s.

On December 9th 1926, The Miltonian published the following history of the West Branch Novelty Company: [Modern Photos Added]

"In the year 1892 one of the towns most interesting and profitable business houses was founded.  The "West Branch Novelty Company" began with three employees.  The business grew until today it boasts a payroll of seventy-two men and women. The business grew until today it boasts a payroll of 72 men and women. It is interesting to know just how this organization started and how it was developed through the years.

 When the town was in its infancy Mr. Lieberman of Brooklyn NY came to Milton with the idea of starting a bamboo furniture plant. He employed two men to help him and established a business of the top floor in the West Branch knitting mill. An exclusive line of bamboo furniture was made as well as screens, jardiniere stands, casels, tabaret stands, and other furniture novelties. The entire bamboo plant consisted of two rooms, one slightly larger than the other.

In preparing the wood, pieces of card were wrapped around the bamboo, after each piece of card had been thoroughly soaked in coal oil. This was done in the larger room and now the furniture was taken to the smaller of the two rooms, called the “smoke room”. And here the marks were burned into the bamboo. This was a dangerous job because it was necessary to watch it carefully so that it would not catch fire. It was common occurrence for the bamboo to blaze and to be subdued.

The business grew so rapidly that in 1894 Mssrs. Marshall Reed, Harry Frick, Frank and George Chapin bought out all interests and moved the plant to the top floor is what is now the Chalfont building.   At this time the building was not brick but a frame construction. For a time they employed 3 or 4 men. They gradually added employees one by one.

 In 1899 they moved to their present location [Arch & Locust Street.  Current Trate Surplus Building? ]. At that time they had only 2 frame buildings. One of these buildings is now almost entirely offices. The growth of the plant was so rapidly increasing that it found necessary to build a much larger brick that has been motorized and electrified. This modern brick building was constructed alongside the frame one which is now on arch St. These buildings are continuous from upper Market Street to locust st.

A West Branch Cedar Chest finished to look like a bamboo chest.

In 1900 they started making  “West Branch Cedar Chests”, Discontinuing bamboo furniture in 1915. It's astounding to believe that one cedar chest must enter such different and numerous processes to become the finished product. Almost the entire bulk of the cedar from which the West Branch chests are made is obtained from the mountains of Tennessee. This cedar wood is the same as used in making lead pencils. 

The novelty company uses from 5 to 600,000 feet of lumber a year. This shipped lumber is green when it is taken from their siding and hauled in trucks to the dry kiln. Here one row of lumber is laid each piece a slight distance apart, strips of wood are then laid on it crosswise and then another layer of cedar corresponding to the first layer. The kiln is heated to degrees from one hundred fifty to one hundred sixty Fahrenheit. It is usually necessary to allow the cedar strips to dry for six days, although sometimes the cedar wood is extremely dry when shipped.   The cedar wood is unusually difficult  to dry because it so very oily.  It must test to five degrees degrees moisture. Because the wood is so oily it is difficult to ascertain the exact proportion of oil and water.

 From the dry kiln the cedar strips are taken to the machine department where they are cut to the desired lengths and widths. Then they are glued into panels, planed, polished and shaped. The chest is now ready for the cabinet department. Here the hinges and locks are put on the chests. After this is done they are taken through a very critical inspection. If the smallest defect is found, this is immediately remedied, and then they are ready for the trimmers. After they have been carefully trimmed the feet are put on.

From the cabinet department they go to the finishing department.   Here two coats lot shellac are applied. The cheaper grades of chests are now ready for the stock room. The more expensive chests are rubbed down to a dull satin finish. In this manner they differ from the cheaper chests which are shipped in their natural gloss.

Now, they too are ready to be taken the stock room.  In the stock room all cedar shavings  are brushed out and brass decorations are added to the chests so ordered. As they are sold they are taken to the crating room to be carefully wrapped and crated. From here the chests go to the depot from which they are to be shipped, to all parts of the United States. The "West Branch Cedar Chests" are famous throughout every state in the union.

The West Branch Novelty Company carries a very exclusive line of walnut and mahogany chests which are cedar lined. This wood is five-ply, each ply intercrosses, so that the wood has no chance to warp. This wood, when shipped, is cut to a almost the desired lengths and widths, SO that it is necessary only to trim it. These chests go through almost the same detailed operations. They are also shellacked and varnished and are always rubbed dull.

The walnut and mahogany chests are in great demand, although the demand is greater for the natural cedar chests. At the present time the West Branch Novelty Company ships from twenty to twenty-five thousand chests annually. 

George C. Chapin was president of the company until his death in 1924. Since that time the office has been held by his son, E.D. Chapin. Merril V. Best is the treasurer of the company. Mr. Best, in 1924, succeeded D. Chapin, the president at this time. Earl M Long controls the sales and advertising end of the business It is easy to believe that the West Branch Novelty Company has, for the past ten years, enjoyed a very remarkable growth, and are taking steps to repeat the success in the future."

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During the First World War the plant interrupted its regular production schedules to make boxes for the shrapnel shells and toxic gas shells which were being manufactured then by the American Car and Foundry Company here and by the Milton Manufacturing Company.

In 1950, the manufacturing operation was sold to York manufacturers, and they shifted from manufacturing cedar chests to bedroom furniture, and small tables.  An article in the local papers stated: "the original firm's name did not change hands.  The new enterprise is expected to be known as the DeWitt Furniture Manufacturing Company."  Plans were being discussed, at that time, to start a new firm "under the West Branch title, in Milton or vicinity" to continue making cedar chests.

If the West Branch Novelty firm was ever revived at a new location, I could find no record of it.  

There was a fire in the DeWitt plant on April 30th 1951, but it was relatively small, damaging only a mid section of the roof.  A sprinkler system is credited with saving the building. At the time, the company was making television cabinets for Air King, and combination radio and phonograph cabinets for General Electric.

The Dewitt Furniture Company was sold January 15 1952, to Washington Cabinet Corporation. In December of 1953, 30% of the workers were laid off from Washington Cabinet Company.  By September of 1954 the company was bankrupt.  The company was sold at public sale to Colonial Products Inc, a Dallastown Woodworking firm, and it's name was changed to Milton Wood Products.  In March of 1970, The Wickes Corporation of Michigan acquired the Colonial Products company of Red Lion and Milton Wood Products Company, Milton.  At the time, the Milton facility was one of 9 plants manufacturing yorktowne wooden and steel cabinets, counter tops, vanities and furniture. 

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By 1901 the company was the largest single importer of bamboo in the entire United States. A large brick building was constructed in 1912 at the north end of the Arch Street property on land purchased from the estate of Henry A. Fonda, formerly occupied by the flour mill of Elias Bickel. In 1935 another large addition was built to house the machine department.

By 1913, production of bamboo furniture had decreased and the company focused primarily on cedar chests.