How Broome history column's beginning is tied to a dog sweater company

This column all started when I ran across an article from Jan. 10, 1919 that explained that Binghamton firefighters had knit 1,019 pair of socks for United States soldiers.

Knitting machines had been placed at several fire stations and the men used the machines to knit those socks. Volunteers at the Red Cross under the direction of Mrs. Rena Spaulding in Binghamton finished hand sewing, closed the toes of those socks.

This was an effort that had begun in 1918 during World War I. While looking for more articles about this knitting effort, I ran across a March 22, 1919 article where the local Red Cross was asking for useful garments, including knit pieces, for pieces of clothing being gathered nationally to assist the refugees of World War I entering the country.

I thought, perhaps, there were more articles similar to this, or photographs that could be used to augment the column. The result of this research was something altogether different, but related.

My research pulled up an article about the Binghamton Knitting Company. It was not just an advertisement, but a May 1950 article about the firm being the first company in the country to make mass produced sweaters for dogs.

Yes, I said dogs. Of course, the company produced sweaters and other knitwear for all members of the family. Dogs, as most owners will tell you, are also members of that family.

The owners of the Binghamton Company felt that they should also produced sweaters for our furry friends. The firm had opened in 1927 when F. W. Hardler took over a knitting plant on Wall Street in Binghamton.

The firm operated on the third floor of that building, and began the manufacture of dog sweaters about that same time. These small wool sweaters to keep the canine set warm in colder months were only a part of the firm’s products.

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By 1950, the Binghamton Knitting Company was producing 120,000 sweaters each year. The firm was just then beginning the move into synthetic fibers, as nylon and other types of non-wool material.

The company had made sweaters with zippers until the need for that material during World War II lessened demand. Rather, then, buttons were the items on all of their sweaters at this time. Specialty sweaters used to give out for school sport events, was another popular item from the firm.

A few years later, the company moved from Wall Street to 11 Alice St. on the east side of the city. It took over the former Cream Dove Manufacturing plant.

There the company continued to make its wide assortment of sweaters. The company also operated an outlet store on the site of the factory. In fact, I was the receiver of some of those sweaters from that outlet store thanks to the generosity of my parents.

An advertisement in the newspaper from 1995 shows that they continue to manufacture and sell their famous dog sweaters. I can also recall that the trip to the outlet store not only included the dog sweaters — made for winter weather, but included what could only be described as rather garish Christmas sweaters.

Perhaps, they were competing for one of those seasonal sweater awards. No matter what, though, these were well-made sweaters — mainly of wool. My sweaters lasted for many, many years, and only left my possession when my body shape no longer allowed it to fit comfortably.

If you think I am going to tell you this is one of those bygone firms, as I often do, you would be wrong. A quick check of Facebook, webpages and other items, shows that the Binghamton Knitting Company, also going by Commercial Knitting Company, continues to make specialty knitwear, and was still operated by members of the original family.

You can order your team sweater or other similar items, and have it made locally in Binghamton. They are still at the 11 Alice St. factory, although the outlet store has closed. My concern is that the last updates to their sites were all made in 2021, and I hope it has not become another casualty of the pandemic.

Who, then, will make those neat sweaters for our doggy friends?

This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: How Broome history column's origins are tied to a dog sweater company