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Seattle's George Broom Sons
started out in 1910 rigging four-masted schooners. It's still
using its Singer Class 7 sewing machines, which have been around
since World War I but has also expanded into high-tech plastics
gear. Here's a wire rope outfit rooted in the past, but moving
into the future..
George
Broom's Sons Inc. was founded by George
Broom Sr in 1910. The company sold custom tarps and ship
supplies and rigged the large sailing ships that packed cargo
up and down the west coast from Alaska to Cape Horn and then
around to the east coast. The company has served the commericial
fishing industry over the years and continues to do so along
with incorporating industrial sewing for all industries.
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The
facility of this marine-oriented rigging shop,
is located on a pier just
west of the Ballard Locks on the Lake Washington Ship Canal
in Seattle, WA. This old wood frame building, about 8Ox4O sq.
ft., has been around since about 1920, along with some outside
covered space
where some
of the wire rope
work is done. 'It still smells of the old hemp and tar we used
to use, says Broom, The building, rented from Time Oil Company,
was
originally a
furniture factory, And
is right down on
the water
very accessible
to Broom's boating customers. The building is crammed with old
pictures, dating back from the 1800s, the old sailing ships
up to the
current
tug
boats. Old block
and tackle gear hang from the ceiling. Old machinery to repair
hatched tents is still used once in awhile, And the current
company still actively uses the old Singer Class 7 sewing
machines,
which have been around since World
War 1.
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