Pro-Phy-Lac-Tic Brush Company
Pro-Phy-Lac-Tic Brush Company was a health care business established in 1866 in Florence, Massachusetts.
History
[edit]The Florence Manufacturing Company was founded in 1866 by George A. Burr, S.L. Hinckley, D.G. Littlefield, I.S. Parsons, and George A. Scott.[1] In its early years, the company produced lockets, mirrors, and toilet brushes.[1] By the late 1890s, they were making toothbrushes, aluminum goods, toilet items made from wood, composition brushes, and mirrors.[1] The company changed its name to Pro-Phy-Lac-Tic Brush Company in 1924.[2]
The Wall Street Journal reported the company was the largest producer of toothbrushes in the United States in 1924.[3] The company opened a factory in Shanghai, China with 600 workers in the early 20th century to manufacture brush bristles to send to the Florence location for final production.[3] Makers of a highly advertised Pro-phy-lac-tic toothbrush,[4] the company was acquired by the Lambert Pharmaceutical Co. on February 19, 1930.[5] From 1887 - 1924 the corporation paid a regular dividend on its common stock.[6]
During World War II the company manufactured dummy plastic bayonets for the USN Mk 1 Dummy Training Rifle for the U.S. Navy.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Sheffeld, Charles Arthur (1895). The History of Florence, Massachusetts: Including a Complete Account of the Northampton Association of Education and Industry. The Editor. p. 241.
- ^ Koleszar, Janice K. (1986). Florence, Massachusetts History 1895-1985. Florence, MA: Book Committee of the Florence Civic and Business Association. p. 2.
- ^ a b "Prophylactic Brush Sells Preferred - Has Unbroken Dividend Since 1887 - Is the Largest Maker of Tooth Brushes in the Country". The Wall Street Journal. September 5, 1924. p. 5.
- ^ Pro-phy-lac-tic Brush Co., Wall Street Journal, September 3, 1924, pg. 3.
- ^ Lambert's 1930 Sales 14% Under 1930 Record, Wall Street Journal, March 29, 1930, pg. 1.
- ^ Prophylactic Brush, Wall Street Journal, October 8, 1924, pg. 13.
- ^ "Knife Knotes 9". www.usmilitaryknives.com.
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- Dental companies of the United States
- American companies established in 1866
- Manufacturing companies disestablished in 1930
- 1866 establishments in Massachusetts
- Health care companies based in Massachusetts
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- Defunct manufacturing companies based in Massachusetts
- American companies disestablished in 1930
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