Abbot-Downing Company Records, 1813-1945

Title:

Abbot-Downing Company Records, 1813-1945

Creator:

Abbot-Downing Company (Concord, N.H.)

Accession / Call Number:

1963.027

Object ID:

M 1930-001

Date:

1813-1945

Physical Description:

27 boxes and 182 volumes ; 35 linear feet ; approximately 22,000 items

Level of Description:

Collection

Abstract:

The collection of the Abbot-Downing Company Records is divided into two parts. Part I (1813-1910) contains materials, such as construction, decoration, and customer descriptions, that tells the story of Concord coaches and wagons which were shipped all over the world. Part I also contains the first account book of Lewis Downing, 1813-1824. Part II (1911-1945) contains the bulk of the collection and is composed chiefly of financial records of the Abbot-Downing Company after it was reconstituted in 1911, chiefly the Abbot-Downing Truck and Body Company, 1918-1932. These records consist mostly of sales accounts, cash books, vouchers, journals, ledgers, correspondence, factory appraisals, and mortgages. After 1932, the name Abbot-Downing Truck and Body Company disappeared from the Concord city directory and the company's records for the most part pertain to the care of the property by Josiah E. Fernald, Real Estate.

Scope and Content:

The Abbot-Downing Company Records contain approximately 22,000 items in 27 boxes and 182 volumes. The inclusive dates are 1813-1945. There are some early records, but the greatest part of the collection consists of the financial records of the company after it was reconstituted in 1911, largely records of the Abbot-Downing Truck and Body Company, 1918-1932. The collection has been divided into two parts: Part I. 1813-1910; Part II. 1911-1945. Part I contains the most valuable records, including order books for wagons, 1847-1870, and for coaches, 1858-1902. Included are notes for the construction and decoration of each vehicle, with the names and addresses of customers. Drawings, catalogs, and photographs made by the company demonstrate the great variety of vehicles that they manufactured. Of special interest are the commercial vehicles. The collection also includes miscellaneous financial records, including the first account book, 1813-1824, of Lewis Downing, newspaper clippings, photographs, and miscellaneous information about the Abbot-Downing Company and its coaches. Part II contains records of sales, cashbooks, vouchers, journals and ledgers, business correspondence, motor sales orders, conditional sale contracts, records of material mortgaged to Josiah E. Fernald, and other financial papers. There is a detailed appraisal of the plant in 1918, when the Abbot-Downing Truck and Body Company was incorporated and a more elaborate system of bookkeeping introduced. After 1932, the records pertain mostly to the care of the property by Josiah E. Fernald, Real Estate. The name of the Abbot-Downing Truck & Body Company disappeared from the Concord city directory at this time.

Arrangement:

This collection has been divided into two parts: Part I. 1813-1910; Part II. 1911-1945.

Subjects:

Industries , Carriage industry , Carriages and carts , Stagecoaches , Account books

Locations:

Concord, NH

People:

Downing, Lewis, 1792-1873 , Abbot, J. Stephens, 1804-1871 , Downing, Lewis, Jr., 1820-1901 , Fernald, Josiah E., 1856-1949

Organizations:

Abbot-Downing Company (Concord, N.H.)
Abbot-Downing Truck & Body Company (Concord, N.H.)

Credit Line:

Digitization supported by the Bagan Foundation.

Location Code:

TL/1W

Restrictions:

Available for research.

Preferred Citation:

Item title, Abbot-Downing Company Records, 1930.001. New Hampshire Historical Society, Concord, NH. Date accessed.