http://66.213.124.233/files/original/07ec2c239781f55fa2e884bd8be37c34.jpg f81533bd7823d6a06bccbd2dbd0cfeaf Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource [page 1] [corresponds to cover of The Columbus Dispatch Sunday Magazine, July 12, 1959] THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Sunday MAGAZINE July 12, 1959 WHERE THOSE PRIZE RIBBONS COME FROM (SEE PAGE 6) BLUE RIBBON FACTORY Little Ashley Firm's Prize Symbols Used Far and Wide at Fairs and Hobby Shows By BOB WALDRON Photos by Jack Hutton Title A name given to the resource Blue Ribbon Factory (p. 1) http://66.213.124.233/files/original/7dcbce11bb192322dcf618a8ebf38642.jpg 13e9bf571d1f383f0695daca3b6018f1 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource [page 2] [corresponds to page 6 of The Columbus Dispatch Sunday Magazine, July 12, 1959] [photo: Engravings of state seals and organization insigne are kept on hand for reproduction in gold on the prize ribbons and badges.] WHEN the chips are down and the judge steps for- ward to hand out the blue ribbon for first prize--whether it be at the county fair or a school track meet or a beauty contest--chances are the colorful award with its all- important gold legend is a product of the quiet town of Ashley, Ohio, in upper Delaware County. From a sturdy old two-story brick schoolhouse, long since abandoned as a seat of learning, the R.B. Powers Company now supplies prize ribbons by the hundreds of thousands for events of every description all over the United States and halfway around the world. "Our firm was one of the first in the country to pro- duce printed ribbons as awards," says the present owner, A.F. Powers. "The business was started back in 1880 by the late R.B. Powers, who first got the idea of supplying ribbon prizes at the Ashley Independent Fair, which in its day was known for its early opening date--the first one in Ohio every summer. "The plant was a one-man operation in its early days, and was down to three during World War II, but now in peak summer periods employment climbs to about 50, including a number of college students home on vacation. Regular employes are mostly local people, many of whom have been with us for years and are expert technicians in their phase of the work. Foreman Webb Welch, for in- stance, is a 25-year veteran. "We are one of the four largest companies in this business in the United States. Every year we supply award ribbons to 70 per cent of the county fairs in Ohio, we have been the winning bidder for the Ohio State Fair's business for the past several years, and we have good cov- Title A name given to the resource Blue Ribbon Factory (p. 2) http://66.213.124.233/files/original/d872428b506774639ee278c0569e0bc2.jpg 18c3fd3c7fb7e0521a0dc9189e2fd934 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource [page 3] [corresponds to page 7 of The Columbus Dispatch Sunday Magazine, July 12, 1959] [photo: A.F. Powers, owner of the Ashley concern, looks over the stockroom where large supplies of ribbons are kept.] erage in Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky and Pennsylvania, where our sales representatives operate directly from the local plant. "California, too, has become a major market for us, and we ship to Alaska, the Dominican Republic, and as far away as the Philippines. We can't do much in Canada or Great Britain because of their high tariffs. Spanish let- tering for ribbons going to the Dominican Republic give us a little trouble sometimes, and we keep a dictionary handy to check the spelling. "We use over a million yards of ribbon a year. I think it is safe to say our employes handle two to three times that many different pieces of varying widths and lengths in a year's time. Satin and a combination of satin and silk are used for the bulk of our orders, but there are a few customers who demand pure silk. "Beside fairs, such events as horse, dog and cat shows, hobbies, stamps, antiques, flowers, live stock, track meets, school science fairs and bathing beauty competitions help make prize-ribbons manufacturing a year-around business. Twenty years ago rabbit shows were very popular, and made us a good winter business, but these have died out, and we keep looking for something else to take their place. Our production is at lowest ebb from November through March, picking up then as fairs open in southern states and hitting a peak in mid-July." In the process of making award ribbons, the desired wordage first is hand-set in brass or bronze type, which is in itself quite expensive--some of the pieces being worth as much as $1.50 each. The type is placed in either an automatic machine or hand operated press, depending on (Continued) [photo: Rosettes, which adorn the more elaborate prize ribbons, require a special sewing machine on which ribbon is pleated.] Title A name given to the resource Blue Ribbon Factory (p. 3) http://66.213.124.233/files/original/cc35b90ba6849d7fb555df3b8a6f1356.jpg a9e998247cc046d9d9f3300f11ad3b99 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource [page 4] [corresponds to page 8 of The Columbus Dispatch Sunday Magazine, July 12, 1959] The Columbus Dispatch Magazine--July 12, 1959 RIBBONS, continued the size of the order, and gold-leaf lettering is pressed on the abric with the aid of heat, which helps to make it adhere properly. Since many prize ribbons are a one-of-a-kind proposi- tion, necessitating frequent changes in legend and color of fabric, the gas heated tipple, or tip, presses get plenty of use. On the machines used in turning out larger orders, both the ribbon and gold leaf move into position over the type automatically. Actually, "gold" leaf is somewhat of a misnomer, for on most jobs a composition leaf is employed quite satis- factorily and at lower cost to the customer. Where pure gold leaf is required, all unused portions are carefully saved and returned to the manufacturer for salvage and credit. Several of the machines used int he Powers plant have been adapted to the ribbon business from other industries such as shoe manufacturing, bookbinding and automobile brake-band cutting. After printing, flat ribbons go to the sewing room for hemming and pressing. Rosettes, which are enjoying great popularity, are a special art. They require a special sewing machine for pleating the ribbon, and as high as 78 different hand and machine operations are required in making some of the most complicated designs. To meet the varied requirements of their many clients, the Powers company has added convention badges, ban- ners and silk screen posters to its production, besides handling a line of trophies. Another natural forward step would be the ticket business, Powers believes. Competition has many rewards. Every time a prize ribbon is handed out, there are two winners--the fellow who gets the award, and the ribbon maker in Asley, Ohio. (The End) Title A name given to the resource Blue Ribbon Factory (p. 4) Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Ashley Description An account of the resource This collection contains a variety of items that show different aspects of the Village of Ashley including history, architecture, fashion, industry, and WWl. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource Columbus Dispatch story of the Blue Ribbon Factory in Ashley, Ohio. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available The Columbus Dispatch; Columbus, Ohio Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource July 12,1959 Type The nature or genre of the resource Still Image Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Newspaper Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 92961172 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-NC/1.0/ Language A language of the resource English Title A name given to the resource Blue Ribbon Factory Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Reporter Bob Waldron; Photographer Jack Hutton Subject The topic of the resource Local business--Village of Ashley--Delaware County--Ohio Newspapers--Columbus Dispatch--Ohio Village of Ashley--Delaware County--Ohio Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived The Columbus Dispatch Sunday Magazine, July 12, 1959