Trico Plant No. 1
Posted by: 
Rayman
N 42° 53.758 W 078° 52.190
17T E 673922 N 4751463
The Trico Plant #1, located in Buffalo, was the manufacturing facility for the first automobile windshield wipers.
Waymark Code: WM127A
Location: New York, United States
Date Posted: 12/22/2006
Views: 15
The Trico Plant #1 in Buffalo is significant architecturally as an outstanding local example of the so-called Daylight Factory. With the exception of a portion of the plant that incorporates an historic brewery building from the 1890s, Trico Plant #1 is constructed of reinforced concrete piers and floors and curtain walls of metal sash windows and brick spandrels. This type of manufacturing building superceded earlier factories that had been built with load bearing brick walls and wood floors.
The plant is also significant for its association with significant contributions the company made to the progress of the automotive industry. Trico manufactured the first windshield wiper blades for automobiles.
Finally, the building is significant for its association with the life of John R. Oishei, the founder in 1917 of Tri-Continental Products, which later became Trico Products Corporation. Together with Buffalo inventor John Jenson, Oishei developed and manufactured the first windshield wiper blades for automobiles. The steady expansion of his business is reflected in the pattern of additions and alterations that Oishei made during the 1920-1950 period of significance. With the wealth Oishei accumulated from his business, he established the John R. Oishei Foundation, the largest philanthropic organization in Western New York.
The Trico business continued to operate at this facility until 1998, when after having transferred most of its manufacturing facilities to Texas and Mexico, the company moved out of its historic building.
Finally, the Trico Plant is significant in the history of manufacturing in Buffalo as one of the city's major employers during the Depression and post-Depression eras.
Street address:
817 Washinton St
Buffalo, NY United States
14203
County / Borough / Parish: Erie
Year listed: 2001
Historic (Areas of) Significance: Person, Architecture/Engineering, Event
Periods of significance: 1900-1924, 1925-1949, 1950-1974
Historic function: Industry/Processing/Extraction: Manufacturing Facility
Current function: Residential: Multiple Dwelling
Privately owned?: yes
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Season start / Season finish: Not listed
Hours of operation: Not listed
Secondary Website 1: Not listed
Secondary Website 2: Not listed
National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed
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