Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
LICORICE PRODUCTS COMPANY
LICORICE PRODUCTS COMPANY.
Licorice Products Company was organized around 1920 and began manufacturing licorice penny goods on January 1, 1920. Martin B. ANDELFINGER of Brooklyn, New York was an employee for twenty-six years of the National Licorice Company and became president and general manager of the local firm. W. H. Harvey of Brooklyn served as the company vie-president while Russell B. Anderfinger, the son of the president, was the secretary and treasurer. (1)
The factory used by the company was purchased from Augustin A. COOPER in 1929 for an undisclosed amount of money. (2) The 1939 Dubuque City Directory listed 100 W. 2nd. In 1951 it was still located there. The company was one of five licorice manufacturing companies operating in the United States in 1920. (3) An estimated four tons of candy was produced daily.
Licorice Products produced approximately twenty varieties of licorice candy made into shapes of pipes, firecrackers, and cigarettes. (4) The candy was packed into five-pound boxes for sale. Most licorice was made into sticks or lozenges. Lozenges were shipped in three hundred fifty pound drums. The factory supplied only wholesalers. The company's principal buyers were the Rigby Candy Company and Chase Candy Company of Chicago.
In 1942 the company was one of twenty-six locally to qualify for honor certificates issued by the United States Treasury Department. The honor was made to those companies which had 100% employee participation in payroll deduction for the purchase of United States defense bonds. (5)
Andelfinger, the founder, eventually retired and moved to Monrovia, California. His son, Russell, took his own life on February 17, 1947 because of business worries. (6)
On October 19, 1951 stockholders of the company amended the articles of incorporation of the company. The name of the company was changed to Tractoy, Inc. The objects and purposes of the company were to design, fabricate, manufacture and sell scale model farm implements and accessories. (7)
See: PENTHOUSE (FIRST)
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Source:
1. "Local Licorice Eaten in Hawaii," Telegraph-Herald, March 31, 1929, p. 67
2. "Licorice Products Co. Buys Building," Telegraph-Herald, February 8, 1929, p. 42
3. "Dubuque Celebrating 175 Years," Telegraph Herald, December 16, 2008, P. 1
4. "Licorice Company Here Ten Years," Telegraph-Herald, August 24 1930, p. 36
5. "26 Firms Win Certificates in Bond Drive," Telegraph-Herald, March 1, 1942, p. 43
6. "Candy Factory Head Ends Life," Telegraph-Herald, February 18, 1947
7. "Notice of Amendment of Articles of Incorporation," Telegraph-Herald, November 20, 1951, p. 14