Much of Holyoke Wire and Cable's initial success was attributable to Harold Thomas Smethurst. He was a co-founder of the business and provided a solid foundation after its purchase from George W. Prentiss Wire Company in 1920. Mr. Smethurst had overseen its expansion to the 720 Main Street facility.
Michael X. Andrews was another of the company's great leaders. He joined the Holyoke Covered Wire Company as an 18-year-old truck driver in 1916 and ascended to the position of company President in 1946. In effect, he had been with the company since shortly after the inception of the covered wire industry.
The first 15 years of his career were spent in New York City, where the company maintained a sales office near the garment, floral, and millinery districts. The company had manufactured a great deal of covered wire for sale to this market. In 1931, after the New York office closed, he arrived in Holyoke as the plant's general manager.
Mr. Andrews was named the company's Vice President in 1941 and President in 1946. He oversaw the business's growth through several expansions in the vicinity of Appleton and Water Streets. He ably repositioned the company from the garment industry to the burgeoning electronics sector. He managed the transition from rubber coverings to plastic and lacquer-covered vinyl wire coverings.
In 1966, the company's major electronics customers included Philco, RCA, Zenith, American Bosch, Magnavox, Delco Radio, and Remington Rand. Employment had risen from 17 when he started with the company to 525 in 1966. Mr. Andrews, a longtime Holyoke resident, was now celebrating his 50th anniversary with the company.
From 1964 to 1967, sales doubled from $3 million to $6 million annually, and the upward trend was continuing.
In 1967, he received the second annual St. Patrick's Day Citizenship Award.
As will occur with successfully built and operated companies, prospective buyers will approach. In March 1967, 95% of Holyoke Wire and Cable Company's stock was sold to IRC, Inc. of Philadelphia. The soon-to-be owner was a manufacturer of resistors and electronic components in the rapidly expanding computer industry. The company was looking to diversify its product line.
The closing of the sale was projected for late April 1967, and the new company indicated that business as usual would continue at its Holyoke wholly owned subsidiary.
In 1968, IRC, Inc. sold Holyoke Wire and Cable Company to TRW, Inc. (Thompson, Remo, and Wooldridge), a major electronics manufacturer. In April 1969, TRW Inc. named James L. Kelly division manager of Holyoke Wire and Cable.
A major change impacted the 60-year-old Holyoke company in the forthcoming, final chapter.
Citations:
Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; Springfield (Massachusetts) Republican; publication dates and pages are shown.
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