A Small History of

Johnson & Bassett

Founded - June, 1870
Worcester, Massachusetts

Manufacturers of Wool Spinning Machinery

First address - Merrifield Buildings, 180 Union Street until October 1, 1886
Second address - Bassett Building, Corner of Foster and Bridge Streets in 1887

And a restoration project currently under
way at Falls Mill, Belvidere, Tennessee.
U.S.A.

Established 1873

Last updated: January 1, 2012.

Below
A Johnson and Bassett Spinning Mule

A wonderful relic from the past ? it sure is!
My name is John Lovett and my hobby is restoring machinery from the American Textile Era.
Above, one of the many different machines that Johnson & Bassett manufactured in Worcester, MA.
But this one is a little special due to its age, its an " 1883 " model and the oldest one that I know of today.
Over the years, 1830's to the early 1900's many other different companies produced the Spinning Mule, known
also as a Spinning Jenny, but as more modern machinery evolved the production of these came to a sudden halt.
The history of this type of machine can be traced back to 1779, when Samuel Crompton invented the Spinning
Mule in the U. K. although the self acting type ( automatic ) spinning mule was later developed during the 1830's.

More to come about this particular mule soon !!

If you are ever up in Tennessee, pay us a visit or spend an enjoyable time in our log cabin, for more information

see Falls Mill.Com

A small history is provided below on the Johnson and Bassett
Company Principles, and below that a short story of the company.

Joseph Massa Bassett, of Johnson & Bassett, Manufacturers of Wool Spinning Machinery, was
born in Eden. Vermont, August 31, 1834, died in Paris, France, September 10, 1906, son of George Bassett.

Joseph M. Basset received his education in the district schools of his native town, and when not in school worked with his father on the farm. In April, 1851, when he was sixteen
years old. he came to Worcester and found employment in the Court Mills. Six months later, on account of illness, he returned to his home and remained there for two years, working
most of the time as clerk in a general store. In March, 1854, he returned to Worcester, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was employed for a time in a lumber yard. For eight
years he was bookkeeper in a factory making woolen machinery. He resigned to become a partner in the firm of E. C. Cleveland & Company, but after four years he sold his interests to
his partner. During the following year he was a partner in the firm of Bassett & Holibs in the wool business, returning again to the manufacture of woolen machinery in partnership with
Mr. Cleveland under the firm name of Cleveland & Bassett. Two years later this firm was dissolved. In July, 1870, the firm of Johnson & Bassett was formed for the manufacture of wool
spinning machinery and continued until the death of Mr. Johnson in March, 1880. Mr. Bassett then purchased from the heirs of his partner their interests and continued the business under
the same name to the time of his death. The business was located in a spacious factory on Foster street and the product of the factory found a way to the spinning mills in all parts of the
country, Mr. Bassett became one of the leading manufacturers of the city and highly prosperous. Mr. Bassett was fond of travel and enjoyed the business trips that took him to all parts of
this country and Europe. He traveled much for pleasure in later years. In politics he was a Republican and for six years served on the school committee of the City.

Mr. Bassett married, April 16, 1857, Elizabeth Alden Kennan, who was born in Vermont also, and they had five children, three sons and two daughters, but two of whom grew to
maturity; George Massa. ( see below ) and Arthur J., a music teacher of note, living in Worcester.

Mr. Bassett was educated in private and public schools in Worcester, graduating from the Worcester High School in the class of 1882. He entered Amherst in 1882, completing his course
in 1886, and immediately became associated in business with his father, and in 1893 was admitted to partnership in the firm of Johnson & Bassett. His father retired in 1898, and since that time
George M. Bassett has been managing director of the business. Mr. Bassett is a director in the Mechanics National Bank, vice-president and member of board of investment of the Mechanics
Savings Bank. He was a stockholder and director in various other industries. And was a member of the Worcester Club, the Tatnuck Country Club, the Quinsigamond Boat Club, and the
Commonwealth Club of Worcester, the Brookline Country Club, of Brookline, Massachusetts, and the New York Club of New York City. In politics was a Republican.
(1)

Below
The Company of Johnson & Basset in 1898
Corner Foster and Bridge streets, Worcester.

~ A small history from 1899 below ~

Johnson & Bassett
Manufacturers of Self-Operating Woolen Mules, Self-Operating Jacks, and Self-Operating Heads for Jacks, Corner Foster and Bridge Streets, Worcester.
Much of the machinery in use at the present day seems to be endowed with intelligence, for the tendency is to make all such devices as purely automatic
as possible, and the principle has been wonderfully developed, particularly in the manufacture of machinery designed for the use of makers of textile fabrics.
One of the most ingenious and efficient of such machines is the Self-Operating Woolen Mule made by the old-established firm of Johnson & Bassett, and
that these Mules combine an unusual number of good points, is proved by the extensive sale they have met with among the most enterprising and successful
manufacturers. The undertaking carried on under the firm-name of Johnson & Bassett was founded in 1852 by Messrs. Johnson & Co,. the present style being
adopted in 1870. Mr. J. M. Bassett is now the sole proprietor of the business and spares no pains to maintain the enviable reputation the enterprise enjoyed for so
many years. We need hardly say his efforts are successful, for the production of his factory meet with a larger sale every year, and every detail of their constru-
ction is given careful and skillful attention, the result being machines which look well, run well, wear well and sell well, and which can be confidently guaranteed
to give satisfaction. Mr. Bassett is a native of Eden, Vt., and was connected with the Worcester School Board for six years, he being very generally and favorably
known in this city. He owns the building occupied as a factory, and the premises are very extensive, comprising three floors, each having an area of 7500 sq. feet.
Employment is afforded to sixty hands, and Self-Operating Woolen Mules, Self-Operating Jacks and Self-Operating Heads for Jacks are manufactured in quantities
that allow the most extensive orders to be filled at very short notice.
(2)

Below, one of the early Patent numbers registered in 1869.

More to follow on the Textile Mule, soon!
featuring some good links as to where these are still in operation.

Below,
A look at one of the Johnson & Bassett spinning mules that once graced the spinning room at Wilde Yarns in Philadelphia,
now closed as of 2009, but the last of over a dozen plants that once stood along Main Street, the Wilde Yarn Mill was started in
1882 at the lower end of Manayunk by brothers John Wilde and Tom Wilde and by 1884 was in full production manufacturing
woolen carpet yarn.
The model below is from the early 1900's.

References :
(1) - History of Worcester County, Massachusetts., Volume II, Page.1739 - Published 1899.
(2) - Leading Business Men of Worcester and vicinity, Page.89 - Published 1899.