West Haven Buckle Company
A selected research collection centered on West Haven Buckle Company. No verified reusable factory photographs were found; a named engraved portrait, original advertisements and printed records are included. 1887 Atwater says American Buckle & Cartridge formed in 1885 through consolidation; 1892 Rockey and 1918 Hill say Kelsey established it in 1883. Separate 1911 directory identities are certain. Do not narrate a clean merger/succession without charter records.

id: WB-001
title: Two buckle engravings advertise clothing and suspender fittings, with the company’s stated establishment date of 1853
kind: Advertisements
date: 1901
summary: Two buckle engravings advertise clothing and suspender fittings, with the company’s stated establishment date of 1853.
url: https://archive.org/details/1901NewHavenConnecticutDirectoryCT/page/n444/mode/1up
credit: West Haven Buckle Company; published by Price & Lee; 1901 New Haven Connecticut Directory CT, 894; Internet Archive
notes: Public domain in the United States: published before 1931. Faithful crop of the historic scan; no generated imagery. Cropped to the original advertisement, portrait, or relevant printed text; resized and JPEG-optimized. Original lettering and image content retained. publication year; image creation may be earlier
file: images/buckle_ad_1901.jpg
text_file: 
institution: Clothing & suspender fittings · Washington Avenue works
accessed: 2026-09-08
license_url: 
external_image_url: 
document_file: 

id: WB-002
title: West Haven Buckle Company advertises buckles for clothing and suspenders, repeating its 1853 establishment date
kind: Advertisements
date: 1911
summary: West Haven Buckle Company advertises buckles for clothing and suspenders, repeating its 1853 establishment date.
url: https://archive.org/details/1911-new-haven-ct-directory-full/page/n355/mode/1up
credit: West Haven Buckle Company; published by Price & Lee; 1911 New Haven CT Directory Full, 718; Internet Archive
notes: Public domain in the United States: published before 1931. Faithful crop of the historic scan; no generated imagery. Cropped to the original advertisement, portrait, or relevant printed text; resized and JPEG-optimized. Original lettering and image content retained. publication year; image creation may be earlier
file: images/buckle_ad_1911.jpg
text_file: 
institution: Clothing & suspender fittings · Washington Avenue works
accessed: 2026-09-08
license_url: 
external_image_url: 
document_file: 

id: WB-003
title: George R. Kelsey — signed engraved portrait
kind: Historical illustrations
date: 1887
summary: George R. Kelsey, whose biography describes his management of West Haven Buckle Company. The plate is signed “Geo. R. Kelsey.” This is an engraving, not a factory photograph.
url: https://archive.org/details/historyofcityofn00atwat/page/n851/mode/1up
credit: Engraver unidentified; published in Edward E. Atwater, ed., History of the City of New Haven; History of the city of New Haven to the present time, plate between 538 and 539; Internet Archive
notes: Public domain in the United States: published before 1931. Faithful crop of the historic scan; no generated imagery. Cropped to the original advertisement, portrait, or relevant printed text; resized and JPEG-optimized. Original lettering and image content retained. publication year; image creation may be earlier
file: images/kelsey_portrait_1887.jpg
text_file: 
institution: Clothing & suspender fittings · Washington Avenue works
accessed: 2026-09-08
license_url: 
external_image_url: 
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id: WB-004
title: West Haven Buckle Company — 1911 corporate listing
kind: Directories & historical records
date: 1911
summary: Corporate directory lists West Haven Buckle Co. at 742 Washington Avenue, incorporated 1853, capital $17,000, with Phelps Montgomery, J. C. Hyde and Clarence E. Thompson as officers.
url: https://archive.org/details/1911-new-haven-ct-directory-full/page/n411/mode/1up
credit: Price & Lee; 1911 New Haven CT Directory Full, 829; Internet Archive
notes: Public domain in the United States: published before 1931. Faithful crop of the historic scan; no generated imagery. Cropped to the original advertisement, portrait, or relevant printed text; resized and JPEG-optimized. Original lettering and image content retained. publication year; image creation may be earlier
file: images/buckle_corporation_1911.jpg
text_file: 
institution: Clothing & suspender fittings · Washington Avenue works
accessed: 2026-09-08
license_url: 
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id: WB-005
title: Opening of the West Haven Buckle Company account, naming its 1853 incorporation
kind: Directories & historical records
date: 1892
summary: Opening of the West Haven Buckle Company account, naming its 1853 incorporation. The paragraph continues on page 334.
url: https://archive.org/details/historyofnewhave01rock/page/n407/mode/1up
credit: J. L. Rockey, editor; W. W. Preston, publisher; History of New Haven County, Connecticut, 333; Internet Archive
notes: Public domain in the United States: published before 1931. Faithful crop of the historic scan; no generated imagery. Cropped to the original advertisement, portrait, or relevant printed text; resized and JPEG-optimized. Original lettering and image content retained. publication year; image creation may be earlier
file: images/buckle_history_1892_p333.jpg
text_file: 
institution: Clothing & suspender fittings · Washington Avenue works
accessed: 2026-09-08
license_url: 
external_image_url: 
document_file: 

id: WB-006
title: Continuation describes nearly one hundred employees and distinguishes the American Buckle & Cartridge Company in the southern part of the village
kind: Directories & historical records
date: 1892
summary: Continuation describes nearly one hundred employees and distinguishes the American Buckle & Cartridge Company in the southern part of the village.
url: https://archive.org/details/historyofnewhave01rock/page/n408/mode/1up
credit: J. L. Rockey, editor; W. W. Preston, publisher; History of New Haven County, Connecticut, 334; Internet Archive
notes: Public domain in the United States: published before 1931. Faithful crop of the historic scan; no generated imagery. Cropped to the original advertisement, portrait, or relevant printed text; resized and JPEG-optimized. Original lettering and image content retained. publication year; image creation may be earlier
file: images/buckle_history_1892_p334.jpg
text_file: 
institution: Clothing & suspender fittings · Washington Avenue works
accessed: 2026-09-08
license_url: 
external_image_url: 
document_file: 

id: WB-007
title: West Haven’s industrial survey reports fifty workers at West Haven Buckle Company and identifies Connecticut Fat Rendering and Fertilizer Company among local industries
kind: Directories & historical records
date: 1918
summary: West Haven’s industrial survey reports fifty workers at West Haven Buckle Company and identifies Connecticut Fat Rendering and Fertilizer Company among local industries.
url: https://archive.org/details/modernhistoryofn00hille/page/n442/mode/1up
credit: Everett G. Hill; S. J. Clarke Publishing Company; A modern history of New Haven and eastern New Haven County, 316; Internet Archive
notes: Public domain in the United States: published before 1931. Faithful crop of the historic scan; no generated imagery. Cropped to the original advertisement, portrait, or relevant printed text; resized and JPEG-optimized. Original lettering and image content retained. publication year; image creation may be earlier
file: images/west_haven_industry_1918.jpg
text_file: 
institution: Clothing & suspender fittings · Washington Avenue works
accessed: 2026-09-08
license_url: 
external_image_url: 
document_file: 

id: WB-008
title: 1893 Borough of West Haven map
kind: Sources & research leads
date: Date described in source
summary: Located, not included as asset; inspect labels for Washington Avenue buckle works. Repository specifies CC BY-NC-SA 3.0, so commercial reuse clearance may be needed.
url: https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~26625~1110134
credit: Original publisher or holding institution, linked at source
notes: External source. Catalog facts and source notes are included; the full publication is not necessarily reproduced. A finding aid or retrospective is not an original corporate filing.
file: 
text_file: 
institution: Clothing & suspender fittings · Washington Avenue works
accessed: 2026-09-08
license_url: 
external_image_url: 
document_file: 

id: WB-009
title: 1887 History of the City of New Haven, productive arts chapter
kind: Sources & research leads
date: Date described in source
summary: Kelsey biography pp.538–539 and corporate discussion nearby; follow its references to patent and charter records. Portrait plate between pp.538 and539 is included.
url: https://archive.org/details/historyofcityofn00atwat
credit: Original publisher or holding institution, linked at source
notes: External source. Catalog facts and source notes are included; the full publication is not necessarily reproduced. A finding aid or retrospective is not an original corporate filing.
file: 
text_file: 
institution: Clothing & suspender fittings · Washington Avenue works
accessed: 2026-09-08
license_url: 
external_image_url: 
document_file: 

id: WB-010
title: Connecticut corporation charters and Secretary of State records
kind: Sources & research leads
date: Date described in source
summary: Lead only; seek original 1853 buckle charter, 1902 rendering incorporation filing, and American Buckle & Cartridge filings to resolve month and succession discrepancies.
url: https://portal.ct.gov/sots
credit: Original publisher or holding institution, linked at source
notes: External source. Catalog facts and source notes are included; the full publication is not necessarily reproduced. A finding aid or retrospective is not an original corporate filing.
file: 
text_file: 
institution: Clothing & suspender fittings · Washington Avenue works
accessed: 2026-09-08
license_url: 
external_image_url: 
document_file: 

id: WB-011
title: West Haven Historical Society
kind: Sources & research leads
date: Date described in source
summary: Lead only for original factory photographs and institutional rights clearance.
url: https://westhavenhistory.org/
credit: Original publisher or holding institution, linked at source
notes: External source. Catalog facts and source notes are included; the full publication is not necessarily reproduced. A finding aid or retrospective is not an original corporate filing.
file: 
text_file: 
institution: Clothing & suspender fittings · Washington Avenue works
accessed: 2026-09-08
license_url: 
external_image_url: 
document_file: 

id: ED-L-WB-ADD-001
title: James C. Hyde buckle patent: eleven drawing figures
kind: Illustrations
date: 1887-09-06
institution: West Haven Buckle Company
summary: The drawing breaks a buckle into frame, tongues and a tubular pivot bar. The patent explicitly assigns Hyde’s invention to West Haven Buckle Company.
url: https://patents.google.com/patent/US369526A/en
credit: USPTO patent, hosted by Google Patents
notes: Available at the linked repository; image or full record is not included in this download. PDF drawing sheet; application filed July 18, 1887. New source, not in existing catalog. Reuse: Public domain in US: published 1887
file: 
text_file: 
accessed: 2026-09-12
license_url: 
external_image_url: https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/60/82/d5/57c8c245e82d30/US369526.pdf#page=1
document_file: 

id: ED-L-WB-ADD-002
title: Alphonso M. Hyde slide buckle patent: drawing sheet
kind: Illustrations
date: 1926-12-21
institution: West Haven Buckle Company
summary: A later West Haven Buckle Company patent shows how a sliding bar grips webbing. Comparing it with the 1887 drawing follows changes in fastening design.
url: https://patents.google.com/patent/US1611588A/en
credit: USPTO patent, hosted by Google Patents
notes: Available at the linked repository; image or full record is not included in this download. Application June 8, 1926. Named inventor and assignee verified on patent page. New source. Reuse: Public domain in US: published 1926
file: 
text_file: 
accessed: 2026-09-12
license_url: 
external_image_url: https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/f4/18/cf/49eb34a8e34045/US1611588.pdf#page=1
document_file: 