HANSEN GLOVE CORPORATION
The Hansen Glove Corporation was founded in 1871 as the Cream City Hat
Company, a partner-
ship of two brothers, J. E. and 0. C. Hansen, who carried on a retail hat
business and a prominent
wholesale and retail fur trade. In 1880 a five story building was purchased,
located on East Water
St. between Wisconsin Avenue and Michigan St. in Milwaukee. In 1890 the brothers
dissolved
partnership, J. E. Hansen retaining the fur business and 0. C. Hansen the
hat business. 0. C.
Hansen then started manufacturing gloves. In 1901 the company was incorporated
under the name
of 0. C. Hansen Mfg. Co. The company expanded steadily, and in 1930 the corporate
name was
changed to Hansen Glove Corporation.
Until 1942, all manufacturing was confined to the City of Milwaukee. Then
the Company depart-
ed from this policy and established branches in four cities in the State
of Wisconsin, located in
Kewaunee, September, 1943; Kiel, October, 1943; Merrill, December, 1943;
and Clintonville,
January, 1944. Later the plant in Kewaunee was closed. In 1947 a new factory
was opened in
Ironwood, Michigan, where the company manufactures leather gloves exclusively.
Manufacturing was then discontinued in Milwaukee, but the distribution
warehouse was still
maintained. The Hansen main office is in downtown Milwaukee with sales offices
in New York
City and Chicago.
The officers are: Edward Gerhardy, President; Walter R. Bliedung, Vice
President;, Joseph C.
Barth, Treasurer; Carlton W. Bliedung, Secretary; Jack Bletsch, Vice President
in Charge of Sales;
Lawrence J. Stanton, Assistant Treasurer.
The products currently manufactured and distributed are fabric gloves,
wool knit gloves and
mittens for men, women and children, and leather dress gloves for men.
In the early days the work glove was the major item, and a large volume
was turned out for oil-
field workers, engineers, electrical workers, etc. The coming of the automobile
brought the heavy
gauntlet. The closed car again changed glove styles, and now an unlined or
light-weight wool
lined glove is sufficient for most occasions.
The company has also designed and produced special gloves such as those
worn on Byrd expedi-
tions. Gloves of various types were manufactured for the Armed Forces during
both world wars
and other models are being produced currently under government contracts.
Gloves are distributed to the consumer through thousands of department
stores, men's and
women's wear stores and specialty stores in every state in the union, Alaska,
Canada, and South
Africa. Consumer advertising is done nationally.
Approximately five hundred persons are employed. All work is done on hand-controlled
power
machines, equipped with safety devices. Working conditions are ideal in modern
plants, with full
benefit of daylight. The workers are unionized.
When work gloves were distributed, such names were known as 'The Corker",
"Dan Patch',
"Built Like A Hand', 'Oil Driller's Special", "Iron Horse",
etc. In the twenties, "Aristocrat",
"Rob Roy", 'Ambassador', 'Baronet" were promoted in extensive
national advertising.
In the post war era, there were new brands such as "The Short Snorter',
"Pig's Whiskers" and
"Hansen Occasion-designed gloves" in men's and "Personality
gloves" and "Costume-knits", in
women's.
Today, as new fashion promotions and new fabric materials are being developed
seasonally,
such names as "Pignylon', "Short-stop', and "Glove 55"
are being nationally publicized.
Page Sponsor: Hansen Glove Corl.
