The story of StreatorBeing an account of the growth of its institutions civic, social and industrial, with special reference to its manufacturing and business interests; together with an outline of its early history and life sketches of some of its leading citizens . nd farm implements. About twelveyears ago there camea development which di-rected its activities into a new specialty, andwhich greatly increased its Singularly enough the entire business ac-tivity of the company was switched by a singlecustomer. A man came in and wanted a wagonbuilt for vending ice cream on the stree
The story of StreatorBeing an account of the growth of its institutions civic, social and industrial, with special reference to its manufacturing and business interests; together with an outline of its early history and life sketches of some of its leading citizens . nd farm implements. About twelveyears ago there camea development which di-rected its activities into a new specialty, andwhich greatly increased its Singularly enough the entire business ac-tivity of the company was switched by a singlecustomer. A man came in and wanted a wagonbuilt for vending ice cream on the streets. Hemade a great success of it, and then other ambi-tious ice cieam vendors came in and ordered all the adjuncts of a mail-order business. The business grew apace. The companydropped its implement and jobbing businessand went more and more into the making ofvending wagons. Last year they sold one liun-dred of these wagons, which went into nearlyevery state in the union. An odd feature of thebusiness illustrating our curious national traitswas noticed. In the south all the trade demandseemed to be for wagons constriicted to vendChili-con-came; in the west nothing but icecream wagons were wanted; while in the eastthe demand was all for lunch wagons—and this. The Alliance Co. Ice Cream Vendor Wagon. vehicles, until eight were built for Streator. But the local market for ice cream wagonswas glutted and the astute manager, Mr. Win-ninger, saw that he must look further afield,for what could be done in Streator could bedone in other towns. He inaugurated a national advertising cam-paign, taking liberal spaces in the SaturdayEvening Post, the theatrical journals, themagazines and other ex]iensive mediums. Hisentei-prise was rewarded, and inquiries forvending wagons began to pour in from all partsof the country. He organized a regular adver-tising department, with a follow-up system, and was due largely to hungrj^ immigrants at thedifferent ports and stations who wanted cheapfood. T
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookidstoryofstrea, bookyear1912
