Eclipse Gas Stove Company in 1913

Joe Prinzivalle (1891-1949) started working at Eclipse Gas Stove Company in 1913.  He was a molder in the foundry. He likely returned to that job after he finished his hitch in the US Army (8 June 1917 – 26 Sep 1919).

Joe, like many others, ended up with silicosis from working at that factory.Photo date is uncertain.

This image was attained by donation at RPL’s Community Scan Day event on April 8, 2023.

West End Furniture Co. from Rockford, Illinois

Please enjoy these scans from multiple sources about the West End Furniture Co.

All sources can be found at RPL’s Local History Room and Archival Collection.

“West End Furniture Co. was in business in Rockford from 1890 to 1941. The company made bedroom
furniture, bookcases, buffets, desks, folding beds, tables and other furniture and offered lines of “medium”
and “fine grade” furniture. Many Swedish furniture makers settled in Rockford, and at one time it was the
second largest center of furniture manufacturing in the world.” – Source: Terry and Kim Kovel | November 13, 2014 | The Daily Herald (Everett, WA). Accessed on April 7, 2023 from Newsbank.

1904 West End Furniture Co. Catalog Cover and pages 24-25.

The Rockford Furniture Herald, June 1926 cover and page 11.

The Rockford Furniture Herald, December 1926 cover and page 18.

The Rockford Furniture Herald, June 1927 cover and page 11.

The Rockford Furniture Herald, February 1930 cover and page 7.

The Rockford Furniture Herald, 1930 cover and page 15.

Rockford Inventor: Clifford N. Johnson with Johnson Pen Company

Source: Haugen, Doug. “The Johnson Pen Company.” The Pennant, Fall 2021, p. 28-35.

Please use our search tags to find more information about Clifford N. Johnson.

Article is posted with the author, Doug Haugen’s, permission on October 28, 2022 via email.

Gas tanks built by Rockford Gas Light & Coke Company on South Avon Street, built in 1928-1929, razed in 1962 by its successor, Central Illinois Electric and Gas Company

Source: Rockford Republic, May 29, 1928 and Rockford Register-Republic, January 5, 1962

ELLO Annual Furniture Sale

Source:  Rockford Morning Star, May 31, 1998, p. 7A.