People
Charles Wright
Charles
Wright, c. 1930. Charles Wright began working for his uncle George Muirson during World War I, when company Vice-President Robert Bentley was called to military service. Believing that all workers must understand the intricacies of his business, Muirson asked Charles to start work in the foundry. Ralph Rambo worked there at the time, and recalled in his unpublished book Plant Life, “When the early morning smoke and soot and flying parts of scotch-thrift machinery became evident, Charley abruptly departed from our midst. I clearly remember he made just one hurried remark as he shed his overall cocoon, ‘Keee-rist, let me outa here!’”
Wright went on to a long and distinguished career at Muirson, without knowing (according to Ralph Rambo) “one damn thing” about the technical side of the business. He briefly directed the plant after Muirson’s death and before Bentley’s return from service. Thereafter, Wright held the position of Sales Manager and Vice-President until his retirement in 1949. His sales technique was successful, if a bit unorthodox. Rambo wrote of his approach, “I claim he was the only salesman in the world who could enter a tough client’s office, chide and ridicule complaints about high prices or quality, wind up calling him a cranky, old S. of a B. and then walk out with an order for a million labels.” Charles Wright died in 1960.
