:::Philadelphia's Manufacturing Decline In The 1970s? (Penn: sale, how much, employment)

[NDL]

Philly has a special place in my heart, and although I used to visit Philly from my residence in NY quite often in the 1990's, I never lived in Philly - thus my knowledge base is limited.

On another thread, posters mentioned the manufacturing decline in Philly, that took place in the 70's.

How much of Philly's total employment consisted of manufacturing in the 1970's, and what kinds of products were made in the City?

What were the main causes of manufacturing leaving the City, and where did employers go (e.g. NJ, DE, or far away)?

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by NDL

Philly has a special place in my heart, and although I used to visit Philly from my residence in NY quite often in the 1990's, I never lived in Philly - thus my knowledge base is limited.

On another thread, posters mentioned the manufacturing decline in Philly, that took place in the 70's.

How much of Philly's total employment consisted of manufacturing in the 1970's, and what kinds of products were made in the City?

What were the main causes of manufacturing leaving the City, and where did employers go (e.g. NJ, DE, or far away)?

I'm sure that you've seen me post about the mill closures. Many mill workers went to North Carolina. In fact, in recent years I discovered that many NC-bound mill workers ended up in or near Gastonia, just outside of Charlotte.

[thedirtypirate]

Some informative resources:


https://www.workshopoftheworld.com/o.../overview.html


https://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org...neighborhoods/


https://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org...xtile-workers/


Philadelphia was not dominated by any single one industry. It was known for being very diverse manufacturing products in all industries.

[NDL]

Originally Posted by southbound_295

I'm sure that you've seen me post about the mill closures. Many mill workers went to North Carolina. In fact, in recent years I discovered that many NC-bound mill workers ended up in or near Gastonia, just outside of Charlotte.

And after I put up this thread, you came to mind .

Originally Posted by thedirtypirate

Some informative resources:


https://www.workshopoftheworld.com/o.../overview.html


https://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org...neighborhoods/


https://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org...xtile-workers/


Philadelphia was not dominated by any single one industry. It was known for being very diverse manufacturing products in all industries.

Thanks so much for the enclosed links

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by NDL

And after I put up this thread, you came to mind .



Thanks so much for the enclosed links

There aren't many of us who post on this board who remember the mill closures. For that matter, they didn't all close. The local department stores all carried tablecloths, curtains, and draperies made by Quaker Lace.

[KevinE]

Originally Posted by NDL

On another thread, posters mentioned the manufacturing decline in Philly, that took place in the 70's.

The RCA plant closing in Camden, the sale of Budd Company and the closure of the Philadelphia Navy Yard pretty much decimated manufacturing in the Delaware Valley.

RCA couldn't complete with the Japanese.
The Germans let Budd Co die.
Navy Yard was a victim of budget cuts.

Mind you there were hundreds of parts suppliers that also closed shop when these entities closed.

[NDL]

Originally Posted by southbound_295

There aren't many of us who post on this board who remember the mill closures. For that matter, they didn't all close. The local department stores all carried tablecloths, curtains, and draperies made by Quaker Lace.

Originally Posted by KevinE

The RCA plant closing in Camden, the sale of Budd Company and the closure of the Philadelphia Navy Yard pretty much decimated manufacturing in the Delaware Valley.

RCA couldn't complete with the Japanese.
The Germans let Budd Co die.
Navy Yard was a victim of budget cuts.

Mind you there were hundreds of parts suppliers that also closed shop when these entities closed.

Thank you both, for sharing a bit of Philadelphia's history with me

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by NDL

Thank you both, for sharing a bit of Philadelphia's history with me

You're welcome. It wasn't just the manufacturing. For instance, the Villager clothing line was designed and made in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia College of Textiles and Sciences became Philadelphia University. It's now involved with a merger.

Philadelphia College of Art had a textile major that involved weaving. Moore College of Art had a fashion design major.

[Wells5]

Pennsylvania and Philadelphia in particular were absolutely loaded with industries of all kinds.


You can download for free on Google Books the 4th Industrial Directory of the Commonwealth of PA (1922), which lists industries of different kinds and industries in each city and town. It's amazing to look through.


https://books.google.com/books?id=oI...lvania&f=false

[KoNgFooCj]

Originally Posted by southbound_295

I'm sure that you've seen me post about the mill closures. Many mill workers went to North Carolina. In fact, in recent years I discovered that many NC-bound mill workers ended up in or near Gastonia, just outside of Charlotte.

That's interesting. I've heard a lot of black Philadelphians came from NC in the first place.