Black Manufacturing Company

Black Manufacturing Company was an American clothing manufacturer based in Seattle, Washington. Its principal consumer-facing label was Black Bear, a workwear brand associated with overalls and the durability slogan “Black Bear Means Long Wear.” The company also made mackinaws and overcoats, placing it within the practical work-clothing and outerwear market rather than the fashion sector. The company was operated by George G. Black, who is identified as its proprietor. In 1914, Black Manufacturing Company commissioned or arranged for a building in Seattle designed by architect Andrew Willatzen. That structure later became an official Seattle landmark, giving the company a surviving architectural and civic legacy even after its manufacturing operations ended. The building was subsequently used by Dairygold. The business continued operating until 1982. A 1941 company catalog survives and provides evidence of the brand’s product presentation and period marketing. The Black Bear identity emphasized serviceable construction and extended wear, as reflected in its slogan. Isham F. Norris is also associated with the company as a worker, although the available reference material does not establish an executive or ownership role for him. Black Manufacturing Company is now defunct as an operating manufacturer. Its historical significance rests on three connected elements: its role in Seattle’s apparel-manufacturing history, the Black Bear workwear label, and the preservation of its former company building. The Black Bear name has later been relaunched by Josh Sirlin, but that later activity should be distinguished from the original Black Manufacturing Company, whose operations ended in 1982.

Black Manufacturing Company was a Seattle-based clothing manufacturer whose best-known commercial identity was the Black Bear brand. The company produced practical garments for work and outdoor use, particularly overalls, mackinaws, and overcoats. Its marketing presented the Black Bear name as a mark of durability, using the slogan “Black Bear Means Long Wear.” This positioning reflected the priorities of early and mid-twentieth-century workwear: rugged construction, serviceable materials, and clothing designed for repeated use. George G. Black was the company’s proprietor. The available historical account does not specify the business’s founding year, corporate structure, or the precise origins of the Black Bear label. It does, however, identify the company as an established Seattle manufacturer and records a significant construction project in 1914. In that year, a building designed by Andrew Willatzen was built for Black Manufacturing Company in Seattle. The building later received official landmark status, preserving a tangible reminder of the company’s place in the city’s industrial and commercial history. The company’s product range extended beyond its signature overalls. Mackinaws and overcoats indicate that Black Manufacturing Company served customers needing heavier outer garments as well as work trousers and bib-style workwear. A 1941 catalog survives, offering a historical record of the company’s merchandise and presentation during the period when American workwear manufacturing was an important industrial category. Isham F. Norris is documented as having worked at the company, although the reference material does not provide further details about his position or tenure. Black Manufacturing Company continued until 1982, after which the original business ceased operations. Its former building remained in use and was later occupied by Dairygold. The survival and landmark recognition of the structure have helped maintain the company’s visibility after the end of its manufacturing activity. The Black Bear name has subsequently been relaunched by Josh Sirlin. This later revival represents a continuation or reinterpretation of the historical brand identity rather than evidence that the original Black Manufacturing Company remained active. Accordingly, the original company is best understood as a defunct Seattle apparel manufacturer with a notable workwear label and an enduring architectural legacy.

• 1982

  Original business ends

  [1]Black Manufacturing Companyen.wikipedia.org

  The company continued operating until 1982, after which the original manufacturing business became defunct.

• 1941

  Black Manufacturing Company catalog documented

  [1]Black Manufacturing Companyen.wikipedia.org

  A 1941 catalog survives and records the company’s period product and brand presentation.

• 1914

  Company building constructed in Seattle

  [1]Black Manufacturing Companyen.wikipedia.org

  A Seattle building designed by Andrew Willatzen was built for Black Manufacturing Company. The structure later became an official Seattle landmark.

Durable, practical American workwear emphasizing long wear and utility.

• Workwear

  Black Bear overalls

  Black Bear overalls were the company’s signature branded workwear product. They were marketed around durability and extended service, captured by the slogan “Black Bear Means Long Wear.” The surviving historical references identify the overalls as the principal product associated with the Black Bear label, although detailed specifications, fabrics, and size ranges are not established in the available material.

• Outerwear

  Mackinaws

  Black Manufacturing Company produced mackinaws as part of its heavier work and outdoor clothing range. These garments complemented the company’s overalls by serving customers who needed insulating or protective outerwear. The available source confirms the product category but does not provide detailed information about specific models, materials, or production dates.

• Outerwear

  Overcoats

  Overcoats were another documented category in the company’s product line. Their inclusion shows that Black Manufacturing Company was not limited to one type of work garment and also manufactured substantial cold-weather outerwear. Specific designs, labels, and distribution channels are not identified in the available historical reference.

1. 1Black Manufacturing Companyen.wikipedia.org