Martin Corp.

In 1905, the Martin Dyeing and Finishing Company was created by William L. and his son Thomas F. in Bridgeton by purchasing the assets of the defunct and fire damaged East Lake Woolen Mills, using East Lake for processing water, and the Philadelphia facility was closed. Oxidized Black was the best black available at that time, but was technically very difficult to produce. William was confident with his abilities, and fully understood the technical challenges of oxidized blacks, so he decided to specialize in Oxidized Aniline Fast Black. A new facility was built and was soon producing 20,000 yds per day of only black. At only 20,000 square feet it expanded, adding square footage and new processes, until it encompassed 170,000 square feet by the end of World War I. On October 29, 1913 a new process was developed for vat dye application that in is use today on every yard of continuously vat dyed fabric. This plant was one of the largest producers of mineral dyed fabrics in the US. It also used continuous and jig dyeing processes and processed as much as a million yards per week, employing almost 500 at its peak. Its proprietary Martexin wax finish made it the choice for most of the hunting clothing worn in the US. During World War II the British government decided on the waxed/oiled cupra ammonium finish for uniforms and the Martin Dyeing and Finishing Company supplied millions of yards to the British who were unable to meet the demand.