History of SARGENT Manufacturing Co. manufacturers of architectural hardware for commercial, construction, institution- al and industrial markets. From within a 358,000-square-foot production facility in New Haven, CT, a full line of security locksets, door closers, exit devices and ac- cess control systems for new construction, renovation and replacement applications is produced. For a notion of how this all began, we must look to the founder, Joseph Bradford Sargent, and the path he followed. S Joseph Sargent and the Other Sargent Joseph “Joe” Bradford Sargent was born in 1822 in the small town of Leicester, MA. Only two years later, a man by the name of James Sargent was born in Vermont. Many years later, James founded the company to- ince its beginnings in 1864, SAR- GENT Manufacturing has been producing hardware and contin- ues to be one of the world’s foremost day known as Sargent & Greenleaf. Although Joe and James weren’t related (nor did their companies work together) they were on parallel journeys in the same field with the same last name. James eventually developed safe locks that today are world-renowned. Business from the Start Joe’s father was a partner in a company called Southgate & Sargent, which made hand cards (unfamiliar to most of us today) that were used to clean wool used in spin- ning wheels, a common device of the time. This venture may have inspired the thought of owning his own business in young Joe, who later worked in a dry goods store. He was promoted at the store and decided — with some knowledge and determination — to leave Massachusetts and move south to Georgia with his brother Edward to start a mercantile business of their own. Aſter saving a considerable sum of money from their business success, the two brothers leſt for New York City to begin a commis- sion enterprise. Later, joined by their third brother, George, they named their business Sargent & Co., which acted as a sales agent for a national hardware company. Their Company With the closing of their main supplier, Joe de- cided to move back to New Britain, CT, where he established J.B. Sargent & Co. As his own company grew, Joe searched for expansion acreage in the area. Though property wasn’t obtainable in New Britain for him to expand his facilities (the others in hardware wouldn’t sell), he discovered a perfect site in New Haven to relocate his plant. In 1864, with $300,000 — a considerable amount for the time — Joe incorporated his company as Sargent & Co. With robust energy, he built his new plant. Covering one acre of land, and with 100 em- ployees, it began production in the spring of 1865. With it still supplying the Sargent & Co. commission house in New York — along 1822 – Joseph “Joe” Bradford Sargent born in Leicester, MA 1864 – J.B. Sargent incorporates in New Haven as Sargent & Co. 1854 – Sargent & Co. formed in New York by brothers Joe, Edward and George Sargent Joseph B. Sargent, founder of SARGENT Manu- facturing Company. 1855 – J.B. Sargent & Co. formed by Joe Sargent in New Britain, CT 1889 – Joe Sargent travels the world and realizes United States leads in lock market 1886 – Manufacturing of pneumatic door checks begins 1865 – Production begins in new plant in New Haven 48 KEYNOTES MARCH 2014 1887 – Plant expands to 16 acres, 40 departments and 1,700 employees 1908 – Automatic electroplating device first used 1907 – Joe Sargent dies at age 89; George H. Sargent elected company president 1894 – Sargent enters pin tumbler market 1900 – Joe Sargent travels to Italy to se- cure more employees WWW.ALOA.ORG
