Oliver Typewriter Company Images
Photo Date: 1895 - The City of Woodstock offered an abandoned brick factory building, originally built in 1893 for the short-lived Wheeler and Tappan Pump Company, to the Oliver Typewriter Company on the condition they remained in Woodstock for five years. Oliver Typewriter accepted the offer and took over the building in early 1896.
Photo Date: 1898 - The Oliver Typewriter Company sponsored one of the finest bands in northern Illinois which performed weekly concerts on the Woodstock Square as well as other events throughout McHenry County and the Chicagoland area.
Photo Date: 1902 - The Oliver Typewriter Company sponsored a semi-professional baseball team well-known as one of the best in the Midwest at the time. The team produced at least one future major leaguer: third baseman George Moriarty who caught the eye of Chicago Cubs management during a 1903 exhibition game in Woodstock. Though he didn't join the Cubs, Moriarty went on to a long career in the major leagues, most notably with the Detroit Tigers, and later became a respected American League umpire.
Photo Date: c.1903 - In 1903 the Oliver Typewriter Company formed its own fire department for the factory located in Woodstock, IL. On many occasions the Oliver Fire Department assisted in extinguishing fires in town alongside the City of Woodstock’s fire department.
Postcard Image Date: c.1902-1906 - This colorized postcard was produced between 1902, when the separate office and gateway was built in front of the original factory building, and 1906, when a large addition was erected on the eastern side of the factory.
Photo Date: c.1903-1906 - In 1905 the Oliver factory was turning out 125 machines every 10 hours (the usual workday). There were nearly 700 employees.
Photo Date: c.1911 - Taken in front of the Oliver Typewriter complex, a man stands between the railroad tracks in front of the main entrance on Newell street. The large electric sign was installed in 1911 and a large Printype Policeman was added to the sign in 1912.
Local amateur photographer Guss Persson took photos and sold them as postcards between 1905 and 1916. This print is postcard size but has no printing on the back.
The Oliver Typewriter Company took over the Tappan Steam Pump factory in 1896 and closed in 1928 when Alemite bought the factory.
Postcard Image Date: c.1906 - This postcard shows the 1906 addition to the Oliver Typewriter factory. Three years after the 1903 expansion, this addition added 103' x 80' to the front and east with a gangway connecting the two buildings and space for a toilet room. The enameling room was expanded as was the polishing room. A separate company manufactured the covers for the typewriters in a new space provided for them. In all, it nearly doubled the size of the factory.
Photo Date: 1907 - This photograph shows assembly workers in the Oliver Typewriter Straightening Department. Photo by Medlar.
Photo Date: 1907 - This photograph shows assembly workers in the Oliver Typewriter Screw Machine Department. Photo by Medlar.
Photo Date: 1907 - Photograph of posing employees of the Woodstock Typewriter factory main assembling department. Photo by Medlar.
Photo Date: 1907 - Photograph of Oliver Typewriter Company's Repair Department inside the Oliver factory building in Woodstock, IL. Photo by Medlar.
Photo Date: 1907 - The men in the photo are attaching the keys on the typewriter to the metal arms that control the type bars (also called strikers). Each striker has a metal letter on the end corresponding to the key that strikes the inked ribbon and leaves an imprint on the paper. The letters are in what looks like muffin tins in front of each station. Photo by Medlar.
Photo Date: c.1907 - Oliver Typewriter Company factory workers walking down railroad tracks in Woodstock, IL after a work shift. Written on the photograph is "When the Oliver Whistle Blows."
Postcard Image Date: c.1907-1909 - This colorized postcard was taken by E.C.Kropp of Milwaukee between 1907 and 1909. It is an aerial or "birds eye view" taken from a south-east vantage point. The Oliver Typewriter factory had an extensive addition in 1906 which is featured in this photo. The original building, to the left of the addition, has two red smokestacks on either side of the gable roof.
Photo Date: c.1910 - Factory employees in front of the Oliver Typewriter Company's factory building in Woodstock, IL.
Photo Date: 1910 - Part of the big July Fourth celebration that Woodstock produced and invited all of McHenry County to attend. Photo was taken from Melvin Tripp's photography studio's corner on Cass and Main streets. The movement of the band members make them slightly blurred. A large crowd is gathered both on the sidewalks on Benton Street and inside the Square park can be seen. Photo by Tripp.
Photo Date: 1911 - Memorial Day celebratoin and parade May 31, 1911.
Postcard Image Date: 1912 - Colorized postcard showing a brick archway sign that reads 'The Oliver Typewriter Company'. The office is in the center and a factory building is at the right.
Postcard Image Date: 1912 - This postcard shows the Oliver Typewriter Office with the original factory building behind it and the Printype electic sign to the left. The Printype sign was erected in late 1911 with the policeman added in 1912.
Postcard Image Date: 1912 - Colorized postcard showing the Oliver Typewriter office, original factory building, and the 1906 addition to the factory situated behind the Chicago and Northwestern railroad tracks.
Postcard Image Date: 1912 - This colorized postcard shows the layout of the Oliver Typewriter campus with the buildings to the east of the Chicago and Northwestern railroad tracks. Right to left: office, factory buildings, electric shed, and foundry.
Photo Date: 1912-1915 - This black and white "real photo" postcard shows the Oliver Typewriter office and sign, the original factory building and the 1906 addition.
Postcard Image Date: 1913 - This colorized postcard printed by Wm. G Hoffman of Chicago shows a close up of the buildings north and west of the Oliver Typewriter campus. It shows the PrinType sign featuring the Printype Policeman "The Guard of Efficiency" that was lit up for the first time in December 1912.
Postcard Image Date: c.1906-1914 - This colorized postcard shows men leaving the Oliver typewriter factory by the main brick sign on the Chicago Northwestern railroad tracks.
Postcard Image Date: 1924 - Colorized postcard showing the front of the factory office next to an ivy-covered factory building.The message on the back reads "Inquired at this office this A.M. about employment and will go to work this P.M. Have located a place to board and room. Lodging is very high and [illegible] at that. Shoot me a letter General Delivery. Ray"