Draper Corporation

The Draper Corporation, originally known as Draper Company, was a prominent manufacturer of power looms for the textile industry. Established in Hopedale, Massachusetts, it operated for over 130 years and played a significant role in the cotton textile industry. The company traces its origins to Ira Draper, who patented improvements to power looms in 1816 and later sold his interests to his son James in 1830. Ebenezer Draper acquired the business in 1837 and moved operations to Hopedale by 1841, eventually incorporating as W.W. Dutcher & Co. after acquiring the rights to the Dutcher temple. Ebenezer retired in 1868, leaving George A. Draper to lead the company’s expansion into ring spinning technology, securing patents for over 12 types of spindles by 1887. The company gained fame with the development of the Northrop Automatic Loom, patented globally by 1895 and selling over 60,000 units by 1900. This innovation revolutionized textile manufacturing, enabling workers to operate multiple looms simultaneously. In 1913, employees struck for better wages and working conditions, but the strike ended after three months without resolution. By 1917, the company was renamed Draper Corporation and became part of the "Big Three" textile machinery makers in the Blackstone Valley. It supported the southern U.S. textile industry's growth by financing mills equipped with its looms. Draper continued to innovate until being acquired by Rockwell International in 1967. Facing competition from advanced Japanese machinery, production ceased in the mid-1970s. Today, Kristin Draper operates Draper Knitting, a descendant of the original business. The historic ...