Coast Manufacturing & Supply

Donated by: Ensign Bickford
Manuscript Number: MS 004

Series Arrangement:
Series 1: Executive Correspondence
Series 2: Financials
Series 3: Securities
Series 4: Operations
Series 5: Photographs
Series 6: Market Research Reports

Coast Manufacturing & Supply, a branch of Ensign-Bickford & Co. based in Livermore, California, produced safety fuses. The collection primarily consists of business records of Ensign-Bickford presidents Henry E. Ellsworth (1935–1944) and J. Kell Brandon (1944–1951), along with correspondence and reports from Coast Manufacturing & Supply vice presidents and general managers Ralph E. Merritt and his successor, James A. Merritt. Materials include year-end financial statements (1922–1962), corporate performance analyses (1932–1934 and 1945–1956), executive correspondence (1943–1951), documentation of a fiberglass project (1947), and photographic images of employees as well as fuse production processes (1978).

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To request an item from the archives please provide the collection name and the row number of the desired item in an email to simsburyfreelibrary@gmail.com with the subject ARCHIVE REQUEST.

	Original Row					Manuscript Number	Accession Number	Collection Title	LOC	Call #	Box	Folder	Series	Description	Start Date	End Date	Notes
wdt_ID	Original Row	wdt_created_by	wdt_created_at	wdt_last_edited_by	wdt_last_edited_at	Manuscript Number	Accession Number	Collection Title	LOC	Call #	Box	Folder	Series	Description	Start Date	End Date	Notes
50	1	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	MS 004	01/02/2020	Coast Manufacturing & Supply	ARC	2.10.4.1	1	1	Series 1: Financials	Year End Financials by MacHugh, Hill & Co	1922	1926	By MacHugh, Hill & Co, T. W. Norris, Pres: , 1922 on Jun 21, 1923 1923 on Feb 26, 1926 1926 on Mar 23, 1927 (No reports for 1923 or 1924.)
51	2	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	MS 004	01/02/2020	Coast Manufacturing & Supply	ARC	2.10.4.1	1	2	Series 1: Financials	Year End Financials by Lester Herrick and Herrick	1927	1929	By Lester Herrick and Herrick,T. W. Norris, Pres., 1927 on Mar 29, 1928 1928 on Feb 2 1929 1929 on Feb 19, 1930
52	3	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	MS 004	01/02/2020	Coast Manufacturing & Supply	ARC	2.10.4.1	1	3	Series 1: Financials	Year End Financials by Lester Herrick and Herrick	1930	1934	By Lester Herrick and Herrick, T.W. Norris, Pres. 1930 on Feb 20, 1931 1931 on Feb 29, 1932 1932 on Feb 15, 1933 1933 on Feb 9, 1934 1934 on Feb 21, 1935
53	4	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	MS 004	01/02/2020	Coast Manufacturing & Supply	ARC	2.10.4.1	1	4	Series 1: Financials	Year End Financials by Lester Herrick and Herrick	1935	1939	By Lester Herrick and Herrick,T. W. Norris, Pres. 1935 on Feb 12, 1936 1936 on Apr 24, 1937 1937 on Mar 21, 1938, 2 Enclosures: J.R. Ensign 1938 on Feb 26, 1939, Reviewed by J.R. Ensign 1939 on Feb 26, 1940
54	5	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	MS 004	01/02/2020	Coast Manufacturing & Supply	ARC	2.10.4.1	1	5	Series 1: Financials	Year End Financials by Lester Herrick and Herrick	1940	1944	By Lester Herrick and Herrick, T. W. Norris, Pres. 1940 on Apr 4, 1941 1941 on Apr 29, 1942 1942 on May 26, 1943 1943 on Apr 14, 1944 1944 on May 7, 1945, enclosure to H. E. Ellsworth
55	6	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	MS 004	01/02/2020	Coast Manufacturing & Supply	ARC	2.10.4.1	1	6	Series 1: Financials	Year End Financials by Lester Herrick and Herrick	1945	1949	By Lester Herrick and Herrick, T. W. Norris, Pres. 1945 to 1946; R. E. Merrit, Pres 1947 - 1945 on Apr 23, 1946 1946 on Apr 8, 1947 1947 on Jan 30, 1948 1948 on feb 18, 1949 1949 on Feb 28, 1950, enclosure: 1949 at a glance.
56	7	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	MS 004	01/02/2020	Coast Manufacturing & Supply	ARC	2.10.4.1	1	7	Series 1: Financials	Year End Financials by Lester Herrick and Herrick	1950	1954	By Lester Herrick and Herrick, R. E. Merrit, Pres. 1950 on Mar 1, 1951, 3 enclosures: Results for 1950 at a glance, letter from Ralph E Merritt dated Mar 9, 1951, letter to the stockholders dated Mar 6, 1951 1951 on Mar 26, 1952, 3 encl
57	8	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	MS 004	01/02/2020	Coast Manufacturing & Supply	ARC	2.10.4.2	2	1	Series 1: Financials	Year End Financials by Arthur Young & Co.	1955	1959	By Arthur Young & Company (merged with Lester Herrick and Herrick), 1955 on Feb 24, 1956 4 enclosures: 1) Coast Manufacturing & Supply letter to stockholders dated Mar 30, 1956 from R. E. Merritt with attachment, results for 1955 at a glance.<br
58	9	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	MS 004	01/02/2020	Coast Manufacturing & Supply	ARC	2.10.4.2	2	2	Series 1: Financials	Year End Financials by Arthur Young & Co.	1960	1962	By Aurthur Young & Company, 1960 on Mar 23, 1961 1961 on Apr 4 1962, 2 enclosures 1962 on Feb 20, 1963, eclosures: 1. From Ralph E. Merrit to Mr. J.K. Brandon 2. Report for Stockholders Meeting May 31, 1961.
59	10	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	MS 004	01/02/2020	Coast Manufacturing & Supply	ARC	2.10.4.2	2	3	Series 1: Financials	John E. Ellsworth: "Odd Notes"	1929	1934	John E. Ellsworth's "odd notes" file regarding Coast Manufacturing & Supply 1. Correspondence and reporting on labor payroll and sales dollar analysis from 1932 & 1933, with historicals back to 1929. 2. Proposed organization and functional char
60	11	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	MS 004	01/02/2020	Coast Manufacturing & Supply	ARC	2.10.4.2	2	4	Series 1: Financials	J. E. Ellsworth: Sales Dollar, Labor, Payroll Analysis	1932	1934	J. E. Ellsworth's memos: May 22 1934 - Sales dollar analysis Aug 3 1934 - Labor and payroll analysis Feb 21 1933 - Sales dollar analysis Apr 7 1932 - Sales and Payroll analysis
61	12	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	MS 004	01/02/2020	Coast Manufacturing & Supply	ARC	2.10.4.2	2	5	Series 1: Financials	Annual Corporate Performance Analysis	1945	1965	Graphs representing corporate performance from 1945 to 1956: Chart A- Four Graphs: Total Revenues, Net Earnings, Capital Expenditures and Depreciation Charges, Employees and Employee Costs. Chart B - Four Graphs: Operating Profit, Net Profit on
62	13	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	MS 004	01/02/2020	Coast Manufacturing & Supply	ARC	2.10.4.2	2	6	Series 1: Financials	Quarterly Balance Sheet with Profit/Loss	1964	1965	Balance Sheet as of Mar 31, 1965 and Profit and Loss Statement Period Jan 1 to Mar 31, 1965 and compared with Jan 1 to Mar 31 1964. Dated Mar 31, 1965. Balance Sheet as of Jun 30, 1965 and Profit and Loss Statement Period Jan 1 to Jun 30, 1965 an
63	14	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	MS 004	01/02/2020	Coast Manufacturing & Supply	ARC	2.10.4.2	2	7	Series 2: Securities	Stock Holders of Record for 1906 to 1914	1906	1914	Stockholders of record for Coast Manufacturing & Supply
64	15	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	MS 004	01/02/2020	Coast Manufacturing & Supply	ARC	2.10.4.2	2	8	Series 2: Securities	Sale of Stock -Arlington Company to E.I. du Pont	1915		Unsigned carbon copy of agreement for the sales of stock in Arlington Company to E.I. du Pont de Nemours in 1915 naming owners as Messrs: H.S. Chapman, C.B. Chapman, J.R. Ensign, J.S. Ellsworth, and F.A. Gudger.
65	16	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	MS 004	01/02/2020	Coast Manufacturing & Supply	ARC	2.10.4.2	2	9	Series 2. Securities	Report on Security Holdings	1921	1939	Security holdings reports and executive communications between Harry E. Ellsworth and Ralph E. Merritt and others for 1939, 1938, 1936, 1931, 1927 and 1921.
66	17	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	MS 004	01/02/2020	Coast Manufacturing & Supply	ARC	2.10.4.2	2	10	Series 3: Operations	Trip Report, Elbert H. McCollum - Mexico	1935	1936	Narrative Record of Elbert H. McCollum: Trip to Mexico and Commencement of Operations of Mexican Fuse Factory, Aug 13, 1935 to July 25, 1936. Brown Note book, 9" x 7", 83 pages typed.
67	18	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	MS 004	01/02/2020	Coast Manufacturing & Supply	ARC	2.10.4.2	2	11	Series 3: Operations	Land Use Report	1946		By Desmond & Yarwood, Land Architects & Site Planners dated Nov 18, 1949.
68	19	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	MS 004	01/02/2020	Coast Manufacturing & Supply	ARC	2.10.4.2	2	12	Series 4: Photographs	Pictures of Plant and Employee Housing	1910	1925	Picture #1: 8" x 10" photograph with note attached dated Jan 15, 1980 states: "picture of boiler room where primacord buildings are. It shows the lower fuse rooms and company houses on main road - Route 10. Wood structure that holds steam pipes going fro
69	20	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	MS 004	01/02/2020	Coast Manufacturing & Supply	ARC	2.10.4.2	2	13	Series 4: Photographs	Employee Group Pictures Book #1 and Book #4.	1963		Book #1: 7 - 8" x 10" photographs with the following numbers: 2368 - 1, 2368 - 3, 2368 - 21, 2368 - 11, 2368 -5, 2368 -4, 2368 - 9. Book #4 - 8" x 10" photographs with the following numbers: 2368 - 13, 2368 - 16, 2368 - 2, 2368 - 10, 2368 - 14.
70	21	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	MS 004	01/02/2020	Coast Manufacturing & Supply	ARC	2.10.4.2	2	14	Series 4: Photographs	Fuse Process	1978		19 - 8" X 10" photograph images of the fuse process, some multiple copies.
71	22	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	MS 004	01/02/2020	Coast Manufacturing & Supply	ARC	2.10.4.2	2	15	Series 5: Market Research Report	Impregnated Materials and Related Products	1956		Edward A. Krupotich, A Study of Product Opportunities for Impregnated Materials and Related Products, SRI Project No. I-1570. Menlo Park, CA: Stanford Research Institute, March 1956.
72	23	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	MS 004	01/02/2020	Coast Manufacturing & Supply	ARC	2.10.4.3	3	1	Series 6: Executive Correspondence	Harry E. Ellsworth and T.W. Norris	1942	1946	Executive correspondence between Harry E. Ellsworth and T. W. Norris, President of Coast Manufacturing & Supply.
73	24	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	MS 004	01/02/2020	Coast Manufacturing & Supply	ARC	2.10.4.3	3	2	Series 6: Executive Correspondence	Harry E. Ellsworth Re: T.W. Norris Retirement	1946		Executive correspondence between Harry E. Ellsworth and Ralph E. Merritt and others regarding the retirement of T.W. Norris.
74	25	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	awmsflweb	02/26/2026 05:48 PM	MS 004	01/02/2020	Coast Manufacturing & Supply	ARC	2.10.4.3	3	3	Series 6: Executive Correspondence	Harry E. Ellsworth and R. E. Merritt	1946	1948	Executive correspondence between Harry E. Ellsworth and Ralph E. Merritt, President of Coast Manufacturing & Supply.

Language: English
The collection is open for research.
The collection is in good condition.

Copyright has been transferred to the Simsbury Free Library for materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of this collection. Copyright status for other collection materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S. C) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Web Finding Aid: Sarah Neagoy, 2026