Name/Title
B+W photos, 4, of a testimonial dinner of United States Testing Co. employees, n.d., ca. 1942-1950.Entry/Object ID
2013.042.0032Description
Black-and-white photos, four, of a testimonial dinner of United States Testing Co. employees, no place, no date, circa 1942-1950.
8" x 10" wide prints; photographs taken by Davis Studios, 2870 Boulevard, Jersey City, N.J. All have photographer's inkstamp on reverse otherwise blank.
United States Testing Company was located at 1415 Park Avenue, Hoboken. The ballroom or hall where this event was held has not been identified. None of the people seen have been identified.
Donor Bill Willard (a long-time employee of the company) provided primary description of scene.
Photos 1 and 2 show the women and men seated at the head table of which two men are enlisted U.S. Navy members and another is in an officer's uniform. This dinner was apparently related to honoring employees serving in the military during World War II, but what specific intent of the event is not known. Patriotic runners are seen on the table.
Behind the head table is a stage with a piano and some seating apparently for musicians of which none are present. A movie screen has been put in place.
Photos 3 is a view from the front of the room to its left side showing a large number of women and men seated at tables. Passage to a side room is seen with more tables and in that room in the background is an open window.
Photo 4 is a view from the back of room looking at the other side of the main hall, again, showing a large number of women and men seated at tables. The windows are open; the head table and stage are in the right background.
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Engineering
Business & Commerce
Sciences
Interiors
Military
Men
Women
Decor
Parties
WarAcquisition
Accession
2013.042Source or Donor
Willard, BillAcquisition Method
GiftCredit Line
Gift of Bill Willard in tribute to United States Testing Co., Hoboken.Made/Created
Date made
1942 - 1950Notes
Date: 1942-1950General Notes
Note
Notes: United States Testing Co., Inc., 1415 Park Avenue, Hoboken. No longer in Hoboken.
Building was erected in 1918. (Initially occupied by B.F. Goodrich Co.) U.S. Testing signed lease Feb. 1, 1926 for building and grounds; company left Hoboken ca. 2000, for Fairfield, N.J., and building was converted to a parking garage; demolished winter 2013.
U.S. Testing was founded 1880 and located in New York City until it moved to Hoboken which became its new headquarters with several branches in other American cities. It became a subsidiary of SGS (Société Générale de Surveillance, a Geneva based company founded in 1878) in 1963 (SGS U.S. Testing Company Inc. filed as a Foreign for Profit Corporation on Wednesday, October 16, 1963 in the state of New Jersey.) In May 1996, the name was changed to SGS U.S. Testing Company, Inc.
Subsidiaries of U.S. Testing that were located at the Hoboken address:
Nationwide Consumer Testing Institute (established circa 1963.)
Research and Testing Co., Inc.
Qualitest Inc.
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Original or Copy: Original
Status: OK
Status By: dw
Status Date: 2013-06-27
