H. B. GLOVER COMPANY

H. B. GLOVER COMPANY. H. B. Glover, founded by Henry B. GLOVER was one of the oldest manufacturers of men's wear west of Chicago and one of the oldest companies of its type in the nation. Founded prior to 1863 as a small auction room on Main Street, the company began large-scale manufacturing of clothing in 1876. (1) Its factory, listed in the 1878-79 Dubuque City Directory was located at 744 to 752 Main. It had forty-eight steam-powered sewing machines and in the production of sixty dozen garments, the company used 2,600 yards of material daily.

In 1895 the firm employed three hundred fifty people of which three hundred were women. The company pioneered adjustable pajamas and sweat-proof pockets. A "pocketeer" in overalls provided many pockets for holding tools.

In 1910 the company specialties included Glover overalls, Glover duck coats, and its Brighton nightwear and shirts. So large was the business that branch factories were established in Guttenberg, Dyersville and Maquoketa. (2) The company expansion led to employment of five hundred in its factories with additional employees in office work and eighteen traveling salesmen. (3)

By the 1920s, Glover introduced leather jackets. Depending on the jacket, ads and labels read "Tailored By Glover", "H.B. Glover", or "Glover Sportswear". In 1921 H. B. Glover began a series of "Buy At Home" advertisements designed to introduce the public to their products and encourage merchants to handle home products with no freight, express "or drayage" charges. (4) Glover had an endorsement deal in 1925 with the "Four Horsemen" of the Notre Dame football team, who sported their leather jackets. (5)

Advertising card.

The first full color double spread advertisement of any product in a nationally known magazine was run by the H. B. Glover Company in the December 3, 1927, issue of the Saturday Evening Post. The company was also one of the first clothing manufacturers to choose the Midwest over one of the coasts in which to establish itself. (6)

According to the 1936 article “World of Romance Behind Glover Company Products”, Glover took great pride in their materials. (7)

             “Most of the raw materials used in Glover Sportswear 
             (Jackets, Coats, Ski Pants, Snow Suits, etc.) originate 
             in the West and the Glover company in selling its goods 
             is emphasizing this very fact. Wool from Wisconsin, Montana, 
             the Dakotas; Mohair from Del Rio and San Angelo; Sheel 
             leather, Horsehide, Piggrain, etc., from the great plains 
             . . . all these find their way into Glover Sportswear. And 
             yet not all grades of woolens and leathers are good enough 
             for Glover garments. The selected Western Range Woolens, 
             for example, are chosen with infinite care. The choicest 
             portion is bought right on the range, direct from the sheep 
             raiser, thereby eliminating costly brokerage fees and the 
             handling of the wool in dirty, crowded warehouses.”

A strike at the company in 1890 was the basis of a book entitled 7 1/2 Cents, written by Richard BISSELL, son of the company president. (8) This story was made into the hit musical Pajama Game.

See: OVERALLS

The 1886-87 Dubuque City Directory listed 103 to 121 6th.

The 1916-1917 Dubuque County Directory listed 470-490 Iowa as the company address.

The 1939 Dubuque City Directory listed 480-498 Iowa.

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Source:

1. Riechman, Leona. " 'Glovers' Known All Over U. S. A.," Telegraph Herald, April 30, 1930. p. 8

2. "The Dubuque Overall Industry Gives Employment to 1,300 Persons," Telegraph Herald, February 16, 1910, p. 1

3. Ibid., p. 12

4. "Glover Starts 'Buy at Home' Campaign Here," Times-Journal, June 17, 1921, p. 5

5. Stewart, Spencer. "The Art of Vintage Leather Jackets," Online: http://vintageleatherjackets.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-hb-glover-company-dubuque-iowa.html

6. "The H. B. Glover Company," The Fedora Lounge. Online: http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?72733-The-H-B-Glover-Co

7. "1930s H. B. Glover Utility Jacket," Vintage Haberdashers, Online: http://vintagehaberdashers.com/tag/h-b-glover/

8. "Susan Adams Bissell," The Stone City Art Colony and School 1932-1933, Online: http://projects.mtmercy.edu/stonecity/otherartists/adams.html

This rare photograph shows the H.B. Glover factory east of Washington Park on the site of what became a parking lot for First National Bank and its successors. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

1889 H. B. Glover advertising calendar

Clothing tag. http://vintageleatherjackets.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-hb-glover-company-dubuque-iowa.html

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