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Collection on the Crescent Manufacturing Company, 1909-1962

Overview of the Collection

Title
Collection on the Crescent Manufacturing Company
Dates
1909-1962 (inclusive)
Quantity
2 boxes including 81 photographs, (1.07 cubic feet)
Collection Number
2005.24 (accession)
Summary
Photographs and other materials related to the Crescent Manufacturing Company in Seattle, known for producing the maple flavoring Mapleine and other extracts, as well as importing spices, coffee and nuts
Repository
Museum of History & Industry, Sophie Frye Bass Library

P.O. Box 80816
Seattle, WA
98108
Telephone: 2063241126 x102
library@mohai.org
Access Restrictions

The collection is open to the public by appointment.

Languages
English.
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Historical Note

The Crescent Manufacturing Company was established in Seattle in 1883 by Albert C. Larsen, as Larsen Extract Company. In 1886, the company was sold and re-named the Crescent Manufacturing Company. Shortly before the Alaskan Gold Rush, the company was sold to J. W. and W. J Kahle. The company’s original location was at 122 S. Jackson, then 315 Occidental Ave, and later moved to Sixth Avenue and Pike Street.

Crescent was most famous for their Mapleine imitation maple flavoring, the first on the market to not change flavor through time and temperature fluctuations. Mapleine was premiered at the Puyallup Fair in 1908. In addition to Mapleine and 75 other imitation extracts, Crescent imported and milled spices, coffee, and nuts. In 1926, the company moved to a plant at Railroad Ave South and South Connecticut Street (later Alaskan Way South and Royal Brougham Way). The Crescent factory of 1927 boasted the most modern communication technology, as well as a variety of spice mills and coffee-roasting equipment.

During the Depression, Crescent was able to retain all employees by implementing across-the-board pay cuts, from owners to employees. During World War II, spices sourced from Asia were unavailable, so Crescent worked to create and market imitation spices. After the war, competitors used Crescent’s imitation spices as a slur against them, but Crescent chose to use them as a marketing tool. In 1957, Crescent debuted the Gold Shield coffee line, but faced stiff competition from major brands. Eventually, they decided to sell Gold Shield to another company. At this time, Crescent also re-packaged their nuts, selling them in cup measurements instead of by “nines” price points. This innovation led them to become leaders in pre-packaged nuts for cooking.

In 1971, Crescent had outgrown its plant at Maynard and Dearborn, and the offices moved to the Hanford Center to give the plant room to expand. In 1989, Crescent was sold to McCormick and Company, and in 1990, Crescent consolidated its factory, laboratory, and offices into one building in Kent, Washington. Mapleine is still produced in limited quantities.

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Content Description

The collection includes an album of photographs of the factory, with accompanying typed descriptions; loose photographs of the Crescent factory, employees and product exhibits; trademark certificates, histories of the company and ephemera. The photo album is embossed on the front “Property of Crescent Manufacturing Co.”. The album contains 22 photographs of the interior workings of the “daylight” (makes use of natural light through large windows on each floor) factory at Railroad South and South Connecticut (now Alaskan Way South and South Royal Brougham), each accompanied by typewritten notes on facing page with handwritten corrections and notations.

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Use of the Collection

Alternative Forms Available

View selections from the collection in digital format by clicking on the camera icons in the inventory below.

Restrictions on Use

The Museum of History & Industry is the owner of the materials in the Sophie Frye Bass Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from MOHAI before any reproduction use. The museum does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.

Preferred Citation

Collection on the Crescent Manufacturing Company Plant, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle

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Administrative Information

Location of Collection

3a.3.10 (Box 1)

Location of Collection

1a.4.16 ; (Box 2 - oversize)

Location of Collection

VI.a.20 (oversize)

Acquisition Information

Source: Michael Maslan; received March 31, 2005 and December 18, 2009.

Processing Note

Processed by Jessica Warner, 2010.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Coffee industry--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Factories--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Food industry--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Spice trade--Washington (State)--Seattle

Corporate Names

  • Crescent Manufacturing Company (Seattle, Wash.)

Geographical Names

  • United States--Washington (State)--Seattle

Form or Genre Terms

  • Photographs

Finding aid prepared by Jessica Warner
2010

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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