Wm. E. Wright & Sons Co.

 It all began with bias tape. Designed to enclose raw edges, bias tape can be made from a single piece of fabric , obviously cut on the bias into strips. It can be single folded or double folded. However, bias binding can be found in the notions section of any fabric store.  It is available in a wide range of colors and several widths, along with a plethora of trimmings for any home sewing need.

Manufactured bias tape was the brain-child of Wm. E. Wright.   

Following a career as a traveling dry goods salesman, Wright moved to NYC and partnered with William Nagel to establish a business , W & N, to manufacture prepackaged, folded bias tape for home sewers.  In 1897 they formed Wm.E. Wright Co. Following Nagel's death, Wright bought his late partners shares.

When two of his sons joined the firm in 1905 ( later many relatives would become involved) the firm's name was changed to Wm. E. Wright & Sons.  It was following WWI that Wright was able to purchase color fast dyes from Germany, with a guaranty printed on each package. He also expanded his products into the British Commonwealth counties of Canada, Britain and New Zealand.  Wright died in 1926 and the company remained in the family.  To remain solvent prices were reduced from 15 cent tapes to 5 cents and sold their products to such stores as Woolworth and Kresge. The company also moved to a more fiscally favorable location of West Warren MA.         

Patterns from Supplement No.1

Some examples from my sewing notions collection

Following the move the company introduced rickrack and novelty trims.  The family owned  company entered into a series of acquisitions and limited partnerships. In 2001 Conso-Simplicity buys Wrights and the company name is changed to W.m. Wright Co.