MS 4 - F. W. Wakefield Brass Company (Vermilion, Ohio)

Title	MS 4 - F. W. Wakefield Brass Company (Vermilion, Ohio)
Subject	Business & Commerce
Introduction	The records of the F. W. Wakefield Brass Company, which operated from 1910 to 1966, were donated to the Center for Archival Collections in 1972 by Theodore D. Wakefield, the son of F. W. Wakefield. The company also operated under the names of the Wakefield Company, the Wakefield Corporation, and Wakefield Lighting Ltd., in Canada. The company was a manufacturer of gas, incandescent, and fluorescent light fixtures. Included are minutes of stockholders', board of directors' and executive committee meetings, common and preferred stock certificates, various memos, correspondence and a bound scrapbook. The collection covers the years 1910-1925 and 1930-1966 and consists of approximately seven and one-half linear feet. The collection is available to the public for historical research. There are no restrictions on access, and property, literary, and duplication rights have been dedicated to the public for research purposes. The register was completed by Michael McCleese, graduate student in the Popular Culture Department, Bowling Green State University.
Agency History	The F. W. Wakefield Brass Company was incorporated in Vermilion, Ohio, on June 28, 1910, for the purpose of manufacturing gas and incandescent lighting fixtures, household hardware, and metal novelties. The original board of directors included Frederick W. Wakefield, Albert C. Hofrichter, Ernest H. Wakefield, Arthur J. Copeland, and Walter T. Dunmore. The company continued its manufacturing in Vermilion until its sale in 1966. The original factory burned on December 24, 1924 and a new factory was built on the same location. F. W. Wakefield died in 1932 and control of the company was transferred to his three sons, Albert F. Wakefield, George Wakefield, and Theodore Wakefield. During the Second World War the company was very active in the productionof lighting fixtures for various U.S. naval vessels. After World War II the company shifted its emphasis away from incandescent lighting and began producing fluroescent fixtures for suspended and luminous ceilings. Wakefield Lighting, Ltd. was formed in 1950 for the assembly and sale of their products in Canada. It was headquartered in London, Ontario. On April 6, 1955, the name of the company was changed to the Wakefield Company. On April 28, 1961, the Wakefield Company was simultaneously merged with the Abrasive and Metal Products Company of Detroit and Art Metal Company of Cleveland. Even though corporate headquarters were moved to Detroit, the name Wakefield corporation was adopted by the new company. With the merger, the Wakefield Corporation once again began the manufacture of incandescent lighting fixtures and also made electric heaters. The Wakefield Corporation was split into the Abrasive Products Group, including the Peninsular Grinding Wheel Company and the Sterling Grinding Wheel Company, and Electrical Products Group including Sta-Warm Electric Company of Ravenna, Wakefield Lighting Divisions of Vermilion, Wakefield Lighting Ltd. of London, Ontario, Art Metal Lighting Division and Stuttgart Electrical Products Company. The Stuttgart Electrical Products Company of Stuttgart, Arkansas, was a pilot project of the Wakefield Corporation to investigate the possibilities of a corporate move to Arkansas in an attempt to escape the high labor cost of the North. The Wakefield family was not pleased with the attitude of those board members from the Abrasive Products Group and invited the International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation to make a bid for the purchase of the company. On February 24, 1966, the Wakefield Corporation was sold to the ITT-Wakefield Corporation for the sum of $12,023,406. A company known as the 729 Meldrum Corporation was formed to handle the remaining business affairs of the Wakefield Corporation. It was dissolved on June 30, 1966. At the time of the sale, Theodore D. Wakefield was president and Carl Schroeder was secretary of the corporation.
Scope and Content	The manuscript collection of the F. W. Wakefield Brass Company documents the business history of the company from its date of incorporation in 1910 to its sale to the International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation in 1966. The strengths of the collection are those items dealing with stockholders' meetings, stock certificates, minutes of the board of directors and minutes of the executive committee. In addition there is a separately stored scrapbook dated 1960. The minutes of the board of directors meetings are the most informative of the records. They are complete for the years 1910-1925, 1942-1951, 1960-1966. Of particular interest are the minutes from 1942-1951 where the statements and reports of the company's officers are fully and colorfully reported. This was the period of World War II and its aftermath and the effects, thoughts, problems and beliefs about the war and its shortages and government restrictions are graphically recorded. The return to full peace-time production is also particularly well documented. Other strong points of the collection are the records of the 1960s. Included in this are the reports and results of the merger in 1961 with the Abrasive and Metal Products Company of Detroit and the discussion and subsequent sale of the company to the International Telephone and Telegraph Company in 1966. Most of the collection is from the late 1940s to 1966. Major weaknesses include the fact that there are no records at all covering the years 1925-1930 and all the pre-1925 material is contained in only one volume of minutes of the board of directors. No reason has been found for this lack of documentation of these years. Additional material includes minutes of stockholders' meetings for the years 1935, 1943-1945, 1947, 1954-1955, 1958-1965, preferred stock certificates from 1937, 1939-1955, 1957-1958, and 1961, common stock certificates from 1935, 1938, 1940-1941, minutes of the executive committee 1960-1965 and specifications for their lighting fixtures products from the late 1950s and early 1960s. The collection also includes correspondence with stockholders, proxies, correspondence with legal counsel, organization manuals, articles of incorporation and various inter-office memos. The minutes of the stockholders meetings contain little information other than resolutions offered, result of votes and election of officers. No records of discussion were kept. The correspondence with stockholders consists mainly of form letters about upcoming meetings and stockholder requests to buy or sell shares. The correspondence with legal counsel primarily deals with various changes in the articles of incorporation and discussion of subsequent merger and details of the sale in 1966.
Series Description	PROCEEDINGS MINUTES--BOARD OF DIRECTORS 1910-1966 Arranged chronologically Contains statements and reports by the company's officers; of particular interest are those which discuss the effects of World War II and the return to peace-time production. MINUTES--EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 1960-1966 Arranged chronologically Contains information on stock sales, employee appointments, purchases and appropriations, etc. MINUTES--STOCKHOLDERS 1935-1965 Arranged chronologically Contains mostly information on the voting and election of officers, shareholder proxies, etc. CORRESPONDENCE COMMON STOCK HOLDERS 1930-1961 Arranged chronologically Consists mostly of form letters about upcoming meetings and stockholder requests to buy or sell shares. INCOMING/OUTGOING 1935-1961 Arranged chronologically Contains correspondence with legal counsel primarily dealing with changes in the articles of incorporation and discussion of a subsequent merger (1961). BOARD OF DIRECTORS 1962-1966 Arranged chronologically Letters containing suggestions and comments on topics discussed at Board Meetings. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 1963-1965 Arranged chronologically Contains letters with suggestions and comments on meetings of the Executive Committee. SUBJECT FILES WAKEFIELD LIGHTING LTD. 1948-1966 Arranged chronologically Contains information and files on taxes, building programs, stocks, employees, financial papers, meeting minutes and correspondence. REPORTS MISCELLANEOUS REPORTS 1944-1961 No arrangement. Includes reports on plant and office development, share transfers, sale of stock, annual reports, treasurer's reports and reports and results of the 1961 merger with the Abrasive and Metal Products Company. LEGAL DOCUMENTS STOCK CERTIFICATES 1935-1961 Arranged chronologically Includes both preferred stock and common stock certificates. FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS STATEMENTS 1945-1954, 1961-1965 Arranged chronologically Includes items such as bank account statements, data sheets and financial statements associated with the company's stock sales. SCRAPBOOKS SCRAPBOOKS 1942-1960 No arrangement Two oversize volumes containing photographs, programs, etc., covering events in the company's history. PRINTED MATERIAL WAKEFIELD PRODUCTS SPECIFICATIONS MANUAL n.d. No arrangement. A lengthy manual which lists various specifications for production. THE BRASS WORKER NEWS November 1942-September 1965 Arranged chronologically A company newspaper discussing events and progress at the Wakefield Brass Company (Volume 1, Number 1-Volume 20, No. 2; some issues are missing).
Inventory	Box 1 Folders Articles of Incorporation, 1910; 1925; 1935; 1943; 1952; 1955; 1957 Common Stockholders' Letters, 1930-1932; 1935; 1940-1941; 1945-1948; 1950-1954; 1961 Common Stockholders, 1934-1935 Shareholders' Meeting, 1935 Correspondence--Incoming, 1935 Correspondence--Outgoing, 1935 Proxies and Meetings, 1936-1940 Correspondence--Incoming, 1939; 1943 Correspondence--Outgoing, 1938-1940; 1943 Final Report on Plant and Office Development, 1944 Correspondence--Incoming, 1952 Agreements, Power of Attorney, Correspondence, Regulations, and By-laws, 1925; 1940-1941; 1949; 1952-1953; 1956; 1961 Common Stockholders' Annual Meeting, 1943-1945; 1947 Financial Statement, 1945-1954 Roll Calls, 1948-1953 Statement of Income & Expense Per Employee, 1947-1951 Correspondence--Outgoing, 1951-1953 Permits to Purchase Stock & Lists of Outstanding Stock, 1952 Improvement Program Progress Report, 1952 Common Shares Transfer Record Report of Mary Wakefield Estate Stock Split, 1952 Board Meetings and Related Papers, 1952 Inter-office communication, 1952 Proxies, 1952 Papers related to General Manager's Contract, 1941; 1948-1949; 1952-1958 Box 2 Folders Capital Stock, 1910; 1912-1913; 1915; 1917-1924; 1929-1930 Preferred Stock Certificates, 1925-1931; 1933-1936 Box 3 Folders Authorization for Payment of Dividends to Joint Tenants, 1952-1956; 1958 Stockholders Transactions, RE: transfers, waivers of dividends, notes, 1952; 1954-1959 Documentary Stamp Tax for Stock Transfers, 1942; 1952; 1955; 1958-1960 Stock Transfers, 1952; 1954-1957; 1960 Inquiries and Reports of Sale of Stock, 1952-1960 Report to Board of Directors on "22" Process, 1953-1960 Common Stockholders Meeting and Related Correspondence, 1954 Sale of Additional Stock to Stockholders & Issue of Warrants, 1955-1957 Issuance of Warrants for the Purchase of Stock & Related Correspondence, 1955 Receipts for Stock Delivered, 1954-1957 Stockholders' Meeting, 1955 Box 4 Folders Employee Stock Option Plan, 1955-1957 Stock Correspondence, 1955-1961 Code of Regulations, 1956 Record of Sale of Common Stock, 1956 Stock Warrant Transactions and Correspondence, 1956 Sale of Stock to Shareholders by Warrants, 1956 Treasurer's Report, 1956-1957 Proxies, 1957 Exhibit Book, 1958 Director's Meeting and Exhibit Book, 1960 Box 5 Folders Common Stockholders' Meeting, 1958-1959 Secretary's File of the Wakefield Company, 1956; 1958-1959 Directors' Meetings, 1958-1959 Stockholders List and Mailing List, 1955; 1958-1961 Common Stockholders' Meeting, Related Correspondence, and Proxies, 1960 Secretary's File of the Wakefield Company, 1960 Correspondence Relating to Central National Bank, Transfer Agent, Dividend Disbursing Agent, Registrar, 1960-1961 Merger between Wakefield Corporation and Abrasive and Metal Products Company, Detroit, Michigan, 1960-1961 Receipt of Preferred Stock Certificates for Redemption, 1961 Secretary's File of the Wakefield Company, 1961 Stock Transfer and Proxy Procedure, 1959; 1961 Annual Report, 1961 Call of Preferred Stock, 1961 Box 6 Folders Special Stockholders Meeting, Common and Preferred Stock and Related Correspondence, 1961 Proxies of Common and Preferred Shareholders--Stockholders Meeting, 1961 Miscellaneous Financial Papers, 1961-1962 Financial Statements, 1961-1962 Box 7 Folders Common Stock and Retired Stock, 1946-1955 Box 8 Common Stock Certificates and Retired Stock, 1956-1960 Registered Convertible 3% Twenty Year Note, 1936-1941 Common Stock Certificates Samples, 1955 Box 9 Folders Preferred Stock Certificates and Retired Stock, 1937; 1939-1955; 1957-1958; 1961 Common Stock Certificates and Retired Stock, 1935; 1938; 1940-1941; 1943-1945 Box 10 Folders Share Transfer Ledger, May 20, 1952 Stock Transfers, 1959; 1964-1966; 1975 Box 11 Folders Secretary's File Copy--Operation Kent, 1950 Record of Proceedings of the Stockholders and Directors of the Wakefield Brass Company, 1951 Director's Exhibits, 1960 Box 12 Folders Record Book and Minutes, 1910-1925 Record of Proceedings of the Stockholders and Directors of the F. W. Wakefield Brass Co., 1942-1946 Record of Proceedings of the Stockholders and Directors of the F. W. Wakefield Brass Co., 1946-1951 Box 13 Folders Meeting Minutes--Board of Directors, 1961 Meeting Minutes--Board of Directors, 1962 Meeting Minutes--Board of Directors, 1963 Meeting Minutes--Board of Directors, 1964 Meeting Minutes--Board of Directors, 1965 Meeting Minutes--Board of Directors, 1966 Meeting Minutes--Executive Committee, 1961 Meeting Minutes--Executive Committee, 1962 Meeting Minutes--Executive Committee, 1963 Meeting Minutes--Executive Committee, 1964 Meeting Minutes--Executive Committee, 1965 Index to Committee Minutes, 1961 Meeting Minutes--Stockholders, 1960-1965 Correspondence--Board of Directors Meetings, 1962-1966 Correspondence--Executive Committee Meetings, 1963-1965 Box 14 Folders Data Processing, 1964-1965 Stock Purchases, 1961-1964 Cost of Calling Preferred Stock, 1963-1964 Securities, 1962-1963 Combination of Peninsular and Sterling Operations, 1963-1964 Capital Additions Expenditures, 1964-1965 Administrative Expenses, 1961-1962 Appropriation Requests, 1961-1965 Stock Options, 1962-1965 Insurance Coverage, 1962 Bank Accounts, 1963 Papers and Correspondence Concerning Stocks and Bonds, 1954-1964 Papers Concerning the Abrasives Group, 1961-1965 Financial Records--Electrical Products Group, 1961-1965 Financial Data Sheet, 1962-1965 Annual Report to Stockholders, 1961-1963 Investments--Executive Office and Sta-Warm, 1963 Titan Abrasives Company, 1956 I.T.T.--Wakefield, 1965 Meldrum Corporation Liquidation, 1966 Bonus Records, 1962-1965 Salary Adjustments, 1963-1966 Profit Sharing, 1962-1963 Charitable Contributions, 1963 Over-All Salaried Pension Plan, 1963 Employee Inventions, 1963-1964 Reimbursed Personal Expenses, 1963, n.d. Employee Benefits, 1963-1964 Personnel, 1961; 1963 Public Relations, 1961-1965 Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1962-1966 Miscellaneous Papers Box 15 Organization Manual Wakefield Lighting Ltd.--Taxes, 1962-1964 Wakefield Lighting Ltd.--Building Program, 1953; 1961; 1965 Wakefield Lighting Ltd.--Employee Compensation, 1962-1965 Wakefield Lighting Ltd.--Papers Concerning Stocks, 1960, n.d. Wakefield Lighting Ltd.--Financial Papers, 1962, n.d. Wakefield Lighting Ltd.--Board of Directors Meeting Minutes, 1954; 1961-1964 Wakefield Lighting Ltd.--Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1953-1965 Wakefield Lighting Ltd.--Miscellaneous Papers, 1953-1966; 1948-1965 Box 16 Specifications for Wakefield Products Box 17 Specifications for Wakefield Products Wrapped Volumes Scrapbook, 1960 Scrapbook, including photographs, programs, etc., 1942, 1943, 1945 The F. W. Wakefield Brass Company--The Brass Worker News (Volume 1, Number 1--Volume 20, Number 2) (some issues missing), November 1942-September 1965