A Digital Collection of Rockford, Illinois History
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.
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.
Source: Swanson, Don. Rockford (Images of America). Charleston, S.C. : Arcadia, c2012. Page 19.
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.
Postcard dated August 1912.
Source: Rockford Republic, May 29, 1928 and Rockford Register-Republic, January 5, 1962
Source: www.datamp.org/patents
Source: Rockford Morning Star, May 31, 1998, p. 7A.
