A Model Factory in a Model City: A Social Study

[New York: Brown, Green & Adams], 1887. First Edition. Quarto (29cm.); publisher's tan printed side-stitched wrappers; 16pp.; steel-engravings throughout including one full-page. Lacking rear wrapper, upper wrapper separated but present, the whole covered in contemporary pencil scribbles and faint dampstaining, a few shallow losses not appoaching text. Fair to Good condition. Promotional work describing the amenities of the company factory and town founded by the American Waltham Watch Company in Waltham, Massachusetts. The author John Swinton (1829 - 1901) was born outside Edinburgh, Scotland, and arrived in the United States by way of Canada as a young man, having apprenticed as a typesetter for the Montreal newspaper the "Witness." After arriving in New York City, Swinton worked for numerous newspapers, among them the "Times," and it was during this period he first became interested in labor politics, even running (unsuccessfully) for mayor on the Industrial Political Party ticket in 1874. In 1883 Swinton founded the pro-labor journal "John Swinton's Paper," though due to lack of support and an outright boycott organized by the Knights of Labor, the editor and his family was facing penury by 1887. In that year he published the final issue of his "Paper" and wrote the present pamphlet, presumably to stave off the wolf at the door. The present piece depicts Waltham's company town in superlative language, opening with the statement that "In the State of Massachusetts there is not a lovelier or more attractive town than Waltham" (p. [5]). Perhaps the only dampening feature is an illustration of the factory floor on which a small child is smilingly employed. (For additional biographical information see the DAB Vol. 18, p. 252.).