cals were used.) "They look real" became the offi-
cial company motto. At its peak, Arcade put out
300 different items hiring 700 to 800 people in its
1 8 departments.
By 1935, Arcade had a line of inexpensive home-
shop machines that used the "Arcade," "Arcade
Craft Tools," and "Craftmaster" names. In 1941,
Arcade introduced the Homecraft line of home
woodworking machinery to supplement (and sup-
plant) the previous offerings. The Homecraft line
was bought by Rockwell Manufacturing Co., in 1 946.
In 1 952, Rockwell moved the manufacturing from
Freeport, IL to Tupelo, MS. Rockwell's woodworking
machinery line now belongs to Delta Manufacturing
Company.
from 1 899 to 1 900 when the city had a population
of 1 3,258.)
The Freeport Novelty Company received its official
charter July 26 th , 1901 under Albert Baumgarten,
along with Louis and Edward Strohacker. These
three comprised the original holders of $ 100,000 in
capital stock in the company, 7 5% of which be-
longed to Albert. At a stockholder's meeting held
August 1 5 th of that year, these three, along with
Fred Yerlach and Jacob Schnur, were made the Di-
rectors of the company. This cleared the way for
the State to declare them an official company on
August 21, 1901. By 1902, Baumgarten was no
longer associated with Arcade and became the
President of the new Freeport Novelty Co., which
had moved to Oak Place and advertised itself as
"Manufacturer of hardware specialties." In 1902,
The Start of Freeport Novelty Co.
Millie Baumgarten became treasurer of the new
We know that Albert Baumgarten was integral to
company, a title she would hold to 1907. Millie was
the Arcade Manufacturing Company from its begin-
the oldest daughter of Albert and lived with the
ning, not only as a founding partner, but as an in-
family on Clark Avenue. The company moved again
ventor as well. His first patent with the new com-
in 1903 (Hooker Ave.) and in 1905 (Hancock Ave).
pany was issued to the Morgan brothers in 1 886, for
Patents from this period include ones for elastic
a method of closing boxes. He was also included in
flooring, another lemon squeezer, an umbrella clasp
several coffee mill patents by the brothers, a
and a bottle holder. Albert's last patent, was for
scraper patent in 1893, and spring hinge patent
yet another corkscrew. This was submitted in
granted in 1 894, awarded to
1 903, but not granted until after his death in
Michael Redlinger and assigned
1 907 or early 1 908.
to the three Arcade partners.
In 1907, fillings with the state indicated the pri-
Albert's first patent in his own
mary function of the company had changed from
name (1899) was for a nut
that of a general manufacturing business to
cracker. He went on to invent
"manufacturers of peanut and gum vendors." Mil-
a towel holder, several lemon
lie assumed the role of both President and Treas-
squeezers, a number of cork-
ure of the company in 1 908 and the Strohacker
screws and a way of capping
brothers broke away to found the Structo Manu-
bottles. In all, Albert received
facturing (Toy) company, the originators of the
a total of 1 8 design or me-
erector set, which was eventually sold to A.C. Gil-
chanical patents in his own
bert Co. In early 1 909, Johanna took control of
name.
the Presidency, with another daughter, Rose, as
Albert Baumgarten was listed
treasurer. The company disappeared from the re-
as Vice-president of the Ar-
cords by 191 0. The factory ceased to do busi-
cade Manufacturing Company
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _, ness, and Millie (who owned them) sold the build-
in city listings from 1 896 to
ings to the Freeport Manure Spreader Company. In
1901, but in 1900, he became listed as proprietor
July 191 8, the Secretary of State filled to have the
and manager of the newly listed Freeport Novelty
charter of the company cancelled and the court dis-
Company, located at 54 & 56 Liberty Avenue. (He
solved the corporation September 27, 1 926. Jo-
also served a one-year term as Mayor of Freeport
hanna, Albert's wife, died in 1931 in Oregon State
at a daughter's home.
T ..... ,,; .. 4 -~
llt.U4,SII.
' • IHld Oct. 10, IUt.
GLnveruvr:
22
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