Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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6 "STICKLER The theme at Clinton Mills is anal ity?from President Robert M. Vance to the last yard of cloth. This theme ties in with the company's policy of constant modernization to keep abreast of the times, and expansion where practicable and profitable. Mr. Vance, fifth member of the Bailey family to hold the presidency of the Clinton based firm, is a stickler for quality. "Our company, fortunately, has enjoyed a long reputation for a superior quality product," he said. "It is a reputation of long standing and has been enhanced through the years." He pointed out that the firm buys its supply of cotton early in the season in order to have consistent quality in cotton and the commodity mix. "We try to improve all the time," he points out. "We buy new machinery when it is needed and try to maintain a high degree of quality control through all the manufacturing processes." Clinton has a profit-sharing plan and the employees take pride in their work. They share in the profits and are vitally interested in the kind of product they help to make. They know that if the company is to make money (in which they share) there must be a quality product. The firm develops fabrics that will fit customer needs, for specific purposes. In an industry which has known good times and bad and in which reduced work weeks are not uncommon, Clinton considers six days a normal work week. "In the past 20 years, I doubt there have been possibly three months in which the plants have been on short time," Mr. Vance said. Starting in 100(5 as Clinton Cotton Mill with 5.000 spindles, and 150 looms in :i Qinolo rvlnn* i *.. u.w. ?iiv vw,,,r,,n> nun grown to six plants with u total of 225,000 spindles and over 4,500 looms, as well as knitting machines and finishing and dyeing equipment. The four plants in Clinton produce three and a half million yards of carded cotton and polyester and combed cotton fe ics each week. In 1070 the company went into the knit goods field, the first digression from woven goods, with the purchase of a substantial interest in Elastic Fabrics of America, of Fort Washington. Pa., near Philadelphia, a warp knitter FOR SUPERIOI by Manuel Rogers (Reprinted from Sot ": %t/. SvSffiiki'i ' President Kol> and finisher of stretch fabrics for the fniinHntinn (inrmnnt nnrl hMi iin.ui UIIU OWlillWVUI IIIdustries. The firm is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Clinton. Also in 1970. Clinton merged with Superior Knits of Greensboro, N. C., now a division of Clinton Mills. Last year a 100,000 square foot building was erected for Superior, which produces, dyes and finishes double knit fabrics for men's and women's outerwear. i ncre s a growing iuture Tor knits,' Mr. Vance said, "and certainly no diminishing use of our wovens." Entry into the burgeoning knits field, especially warp knits, is indicative of the alertness of Clinton management to expansion potential. "Knits require high quality yarn, and continuous testing is going on at both plants on possible yarn combinations," Mr. Vance said. "Textured yarn is being used now but spun yarns will be used also when it is feasible." "There is a growth potential of large proportions in all of textiles," Mr. Vance said. "The future looks good and we want to he a part of it. We are constantly trying to make our products better. We try to project five years ahead after careful study of the out CLOTHMAKER { QUALITY" ithern Textile News) phS"' JfliBI ft J P i mm - ? yj -^gfl ert M. Vance (Clothmaker Photo) look. We feel our present products have expansion possibilities and we will continue the study of all of them." The company established its own sales organization, Clinton Cottons. Inc., in 1948, located in New York. In 1971 the name of this organization was changed to Clinton Mills Sales Corporation to reflect the more diversified products of Clinton Mills. ^ Clinton Cotton Mill was founded in 189(5 by Mercer Silas Bailey, a Clinton native who was a farmer and merchant lip U'ae nrneiflntil nf 1 - - ? .. v..> |y* vutMVtil UI V. IIUIUI1 cliui also of Lydia Cotton Mill, founded in 11)02, until his death in 192(5. At that time his son, W. J. Bailey became president of Clinton and another son, C. M. Bailey, was president of Lydia. W. J. Bailey became president of Lydia as well as Clinton in 1936 and headed the ^ firms until his death in 1948. He was succeeded by P. S (Si) Bailey, a grandson of M. S. Bailey, in 1948. At his death in 1958, Mr. Vance, also a grandson of the founder, became president of both mills. Mr. Vance, a Davidson mHnato nn/^ veteran of considerable action aboard cruisers in World War II, had been (Continued on page 7) ^