24 W o r c e s t e r 3 0 0 : C i t y o f I n n o v a t o r s
1822-1921
A
n old-world crasman of fine
ceramics would lead a break-
through innovation in grinding
wheel technology. Among many
Worcester stories of innovation,
John Jeppson's stands out. He
was first hired as a skilled potter
to set kilns and fire emery wheels; but he would later
oversee production at F.B. Norton Co. and then, head
an enterprise that would supply abrasives to a global
market. A cast of contributing characters helped
along the way, including his brother-in-law, Sven
Pulson.
Jeppson emigrated from Sweden in 1869, first to
New Jersey, then to Worcester where Swedes had al-
ready congregated to work in then-growing concerns
like Washburn & Moen and Reed & Prince. With the
help of Pulson, he joined Frank B. Norton & Co., a
John Jeppson, (1844-1920)
A Swedish immigrant created
an abrasives powerhouse
e Norton dominance
Employees outside the Norton works, circa 1890s
Among many
stories of
Worcester
innovation, John
Jeppson's journey
stands out. By the
early 1880s it was
estimated to have
as much as 10
percent of the
national grinding
wheel market.
Image | Worcester Historical Museum
Image
|
Worcester
Historical
Museum
