Abstract: |
Walter K. Bailey was a Cleveland, Ohio, businessman. A native of Cleveland and the son of L.A. Bailey, founder of the Bailey
Company department store, Walter Bailey was raised in East Cleveland and graduated from Oberlin College in 1919. He went to
work for the Warner & Swasey Company, a leading manufacturer of machine tools, especially turret lathes, and telescopes and
optical equipment, in 1919. By 1928, the company was the world's leading manufacturer of turret lathes, and during World War
II produced half of all the turret lathes made in the U.S. After learning the business on the shop floor, he joined the national
sales force of Warner & Swasey in 1921, moving up in management and eventually becoming vice president of sales in 1942. During
World War II he was in charge of manufacturing operations, and became vice president of the company in 1949. He was president
and chief executive officer from 1955-1962, chairman of the board and chief executive officer from 1962-1964, and chairman
of the board until his retirement in 1967. Under Bailey's leadership, Warner & Swasey diversified and acquired several smaller
companies, growing into a major international producer of machine tools and related products. Bailey also was active in various
philanthropic organizations in Cleveland, and served as a trustee of Oberlin College, the Musical Arts Association, and Fairmount
Presbyterian Church. The collection consists of a Warner & Swasey Company history compiled in 1975 by Walter Bailey. Included
is an illustrated typescript; followed by supporting documents, reports, illustrations, publications, and newspaper clippings.
A corporate history file contains reports, newspaper clippings, photographs, and publications collected after completion of
the written history.
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