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“Wherever the phrase ‘rubber heel’ is used, the name ‘O’Sullivan’ suggests itself, and Humphrey O’Sullivan can arrogate to himself the title of originator, patentee, and exploiter of the merits of the rubber heel… “(Cutter, 1544).

Overview
Humphrey O’Sullivan was the founder of a company now known as O’Sullivan Films and is credited with the invention of the rubber heel. While this is a disputed fact, Humphrey O’Sullivan holds two US patents, 628127 and 618128 (“Heel for Boots or Shoes” and “Safety Heel”, respectively). (http://www.patentplaques.com/blog/?p=2681).

Early Life
Humphrey O'Sullivan was born October 7, 1853, to Irish parents Timothy and Catherine Barry O’Sullivan in Skibbereen, County Cork, Ireland. He attended a state school and then was offered a position in a nearby school as a teacher. He began learning the printer’s trade in 1868 while serving a five-year apprenticeship with J.W. Potter & Sons. Humphrey O’Sullivan began as a skilled typesetter and worked his way up to the position of assistant foreman. When the youngest Potter son became the general manager of the ‘Irish Daily Telegraph’, Humphrey O’Sullivan was put in charge of the afternoon edition of the paper.

While under the employ of Potter & Sons, O’Sullivan was tutored by Rev. D. McCartie, who trained him in literature, culture and the development of his natural talent as an orator. Humphrey O’Sullivan competed in an oratorical contest for five points sterling donated by Sir Wilfred Lawson, M.P. in Munster Hall, Cork, and later in the Rotunds at Dublin.

“Mr. O’Sullivan spoke with earnestness, displayed a deep knowledge of his subject, and presented his points with such clearness and eloquence that he was adjudged the winner on both occasions” (Coburn, 350).

After completing his apprenticeship he joined the Printer’s Union, and for a time was in the employ of Guy Brothers, job printers, of Cork. In 1874 he came to New York on the ‘City of Chester’ steamship. (Coburn, 351)

Typographic and Printing Career
Humphrey O’Sullivan immigrated to the United States carrying his certificate of membership to the Cork Printers’ Union. His card allowed him to begin work in a Yonkers printing shop. However, he soon moved on to Lowell, Massachusetts where his older brother James owned a retail shoe store, and there he joined the ‘Lowell Courier ‘(or ‘Vox Populi’). He was later given a better position on the ‘Sentinel’ in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Because of the lack of typographical unions in Lowell or Lawrence, and the delicate state of the printing trade at that time, Humphrey returned to Lowell to join his brother in the shoe business on January 26, 1877 (Coburn, 350).

In 1893, a clothing business was added and the Associate building erected, where the business was located when the O’Sullivan Rubber Company was incorporated in 1899 to manufacture and market the O’Sullivan Rubber Heel, invented and patented by Humphrey O’Sullivan.. (Coburn, 350)

The officers of the company were James O’Sullivan, president; Humphrey O’Sullivan, treasurer and advertising manager; J. Munn Andrews, secretary and manager.

Invention of the Rubber Heel
“While developing trade and gaining force in his chosen avocation of shoe dealer, Humphrey O’Sullivan saw the possibilities of the rubber heel attachment to boots and shoes. His practical mind grasped the thought, and he knew no rest until he had devised a rubber heel of enduring quality, which the commercial world recognized at once as an article of practical value and undoubted merit. He had his invention protected by patent granted in the United States, likewise in Great Britain, Ireland and upon the continent of Europe. Withdrawing from active participation in the affairs of the shoe firm, Humphrey O’Sullivan devoted his talents to the exploitation of the rubber heel.” (Cutter, 1544)

“The success of this invention is national history, and perhaps there is no single article of wear in such universal use as the O’Sullivan Rubber Heel. Mr. O’Sullivan is one of the greatest national advertisers, and as he is his own advertising manager all the credit of placing the heel upon the market through the medium of printer’s ink goes with the honor of the invention to Mr. O’Sullivan. It is one of the great successes of merchandising on a large scale and forever stamps Mr. O’Sullivan’s name as one of the greatest geniuses of the business world. This business led to that greatest of all footwear inventions—the rubber heel—an article of manufacture now everywhere associated with the name O’Sullivan, and under the inventors name and patents this article is made in the United States, Continental Europe …” (Coburn, 351).

Legacy
“Humphrey O’Sullivan, capitalist, national advertiser and public-spirited citizen, with whom this article deals, is one of Lowell’s front rank citizens, and one whose name is familiar to not only the millions of people in this country but to many in various countries of the world. …” (Coburn, 349)

“He was rich in courage and ambition, which was capital that enabled him to overcome the many obstacles which confront the newcomer from foreign shores”.

“His name, in Lowell, is synonymous with business integrity, financial strength, and kindly qualities of heart and mind, which endear him to those who best know him... His name is a household word for kindness done for every worthy cause. Within measure of his means, his charity is boundless as the wants of humanity, and this generosity, so characteristic of his kindly heart, endears him to the good-will of his fellow citizens. Forceful with determination to conquer all obstacles, the dominant quality of an aggressive personality, he has climbed the ladder of success and stands preeminent in Lowell for sound judgment, financial strength, a leader of men in business pursuits”. (Cutter, 1544)

Humphrey O’Sullivan founded the O'Sullivan Rubber Company with a $25,000 investment that is now worth hundreds of millions of dollars. O'Sullivan had plants in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Nevada producing rubber and vinyl products for the automotive, medical, and industrial markets. The Winchester, Virginia plant remains in operation today under the name O’Sullivan Films, Inc. (Gary B. O’Sullivan, The Oak and Serpent).