Brewster and Company records

1837-1924 [bulk 1897-1924]

Brewster and Company, founded in 1856 in Long Island City, New York, manufactured fine carriages and, later, automobile bodies. Due to competition from mass-produced automobiles, the company went out of business in 1925. James Brewster and Son, organized by other Brewster family members, built carriages from 1838 to 1898. Collection consists of accounting records such as ledgers, journals, specifications, and price and inventory books. For James Brewster and Son there is an inventory book, 1837-1850, listing daily transactions. The rest of the collection is from Brewster and Company and includes expense ledgers and indexes; general journals, 1902-1924; work journals concerning repairs and storage of vehicles; manufacturing journals, 1904-1917, listing expenses in various manufacturing shops; purchase journals, 1913-1922, providing invoice record of expenses; sales volumes recording sales of carriages and automobiles; and day and cash books. Also, specification volumes containing detailed records on the specifications for work on carriages and automobiles, and price books with prices for work performed or for making parts.