What Is This? Found Another Rwc. Dif. C-4?

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One of the backbones of Worcester's industrial economy was The Royal Worcester Corset Factory founded by David Hale Fanning. Established in 1861 as a hoop skirt factory, the business reoriented to corsets, and by 1912 had become a sprawling factory on Wyman and Hollis Streets, with an extension on Grand Street.

The Royal Worcester Corset Factory gained national acclaim during these years and touted itself as the "factory of America" for its modern amenities and progressive treatment of workers. It became an international supplier, shipping corsets to such places as Cape Town, Stockholm, Shanghai, and Buenos Aires. In its publicity, the Royal Worcester Corset Factory claimed to be the largest corset manufacturer in the world. It was also able to boast of being the largest employer of female workers in the country. Women counted for about 90% of their work force. However, since this was still the turn of the century and the suffrage movement was underway, women's salaries were often only about 40% of their male counterparts.

The Royal Worcester Corset Company offered a variety of styles and sizes in an effort to match the right corset with the right physique. As one advertisement lamented, "It is not to be wondered at that many women today can trace present ill health to the wearing of corsets that were not in any way adapted to their forms or constitutions." The company produced three brand names: "Royal Worcester," "Bon Ton," and "Adjusto" (for 'fleshy' women). Prices ranged from $1-3 for the Royal Worcester corset and $3-5 for Adjusto to $3-15 for the Bon Ton corsets. In 2009, those prices would roughly equal $24.41 to $366.16.

Although Royal Worcester Corset Company closed its doors and sold its factory in 1949, it is remembered as a thriving place in the commercial life of Worcester. The home of its founder, David Hale Fanning, was eventually acquired by Clark University and is now the site of Wright Hall dormitory. Today, the once bustling corset factory is occupied by Royal Worcester Apartments between Grand and Wyman Streets.