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Discover a fascinating glimpse into early 20th-century American industry with this antique stereoview card from the renowned Keystone View Company. This stereograph, titled \"First Drawing or Straightening of Fibers— Silk Industry (Spun Silk), So. Manchester, Conn.,\" captures a detailed scene within a bustling silk factory in South Manchester, Connecticut. The image depicts numerous workers, primarily women, diligently operating machinery used for processing silk fibers, showcasing a significant aspect of industrial life and textile manufacturing during the era. The scene is rich with historical detail, from the machinery to the workers\' attire, offering a unique 3D perspective into the \"largest silk factory in the world\" as described on the reverse.The reverse side of this stereoview provides an extensive educational description, detailing the intricate process of \"STRAIGHTENING SILK FIBERS.\" It explains how raw silk is processed from cocoons, through boiling, drying, and various mechanical stages like \"picking or drawing machines\" and \"combs,\" to create \"laps\" of silk ready for spinning. The text also notes the geographical coordinates (Lat. 42° N.; Long. 73° W.) and explicitly states, \"Copyright by The Keystone View Company.\" This stereoview is a compelling piece for collectors of antique photography, industrial history, or those interested in the history of Connecticut and the American textile industry.Specifications:
Item Type: Stereoview
Publisher/Manufacturer: Keystone View Company
Subject Matter: Silk Industry, Factory, Textile Manufacturing, Workers, Machinery
View Title & Number: #23 - \"First Drawing or Straightening of Fibers— Silk Industry (Spun Silk), So. Manchester, Conn.\" (View #20312)
Format/Mount Type: Cardboard mount
Materials: Cardboard, Photographic paper
City/State/Province/Country: Meadville, Pa., New York, N.Y., Chicago, Ill., London, England (Publisher locations); South Manchester, Conn. (View location); United States (Country of Origin)
Logos/Graphics: \"Keystone View Company Manufacturers Copyrighted Publishers MADE IN U. S. A.\"
Identifiers: View numbers 23 and 20312; Copyright by The Keystone View Company; Lat. 42° N.; Long. 73° W.
Year of Production: 1908
