Wednesday, November 8, 2017

137. FRANK H. HALE: THE MAN BEHIND ESCO SHOES, The Shoe of Quality, 1929

Reprinted from the Frank H. Hale Permanent Collection Brochure, presented by the American Historical Collection.


FRANK H. HALE Old timer, industrialist, and friend 
of the Filipino people
At the time of his death in Manila in 1952, pioneer shoe manufacturer of the Philippines, Frank H. Hale (b. Aug. 30, 1872) was called “Friend of the Filipino People.” He was also known as “Mang Isko” by millions of Filipinos, who gave him this nickname in appreciation of his contribution to Filipino life. His vision was that every Filipino replaced his or her chinelas with a pair of sturdy, stylish, and affordable shoes.

The brand ESCO became a household word, and its shoes were soon being worn even in remote areas of the Philippines. Mr. Hale became the largest exporter of shoes to the U. S. and Europe. At the outbreak of WWII, Esco was the largest manufacturer of shoes in the Philippines and, according to some economists, possibly in the whole of Asia.

1929 ESCO PRINT AD, from Graphic Magazine.

From humble beginnings as a volunteer cobbler with the U. S. Army aboard one of the American ships sailing to the Philippines in 1898, followed by his setting up shop in Fort McKinley under the auspices of General Pershing, Hale built what became Esco.

1929 ESCO PRINT AD, from Graphic Magazine.

Having grown up on a wheat farm in California that suffered from a wheat market disaster in the U. S., he was determined to create something needed in the Philippines to last for generations to come and to be a stable organization staffed by Filipinos for Filipinos.

1929 ESCO PRINT AD, from Graphic Magazine.

Reinvesting all profits made, he turned the cobbler shop into a modern industry. He arranged for machinery, backed by royalties, to be brought from United Shoe Manufacturing in Boston, Massachusetts, and imported the finest leathers from the U. S., Italy. Argentina and Australia, to manufacture fine shoes capable of competing worldwide in terms of style and strength.

1929 ESCO PRINT AD, from Graphic Magazine.

ESCO became the manufacturer for leading brands in the U. S. and Europe, as well as the contractor for military and industrial shoes in the Philippines. Manpowered by 100% Filipino skilled workers, ESCO became a model corporation where employees were given housing, medical, social and sports facilities. Employees’ families thrived, and some opened up their own businesses backed by ESCO resources.


1929 ESCO PRINT AD, from Graphic Magazine.

Hale then experimented with Philippine materials, opening Tropicraft Corporation, which experimented steel and plastics to increase the strength and life rattan furniture. His admiration of the Philippines led him to call it the “Land of Promise, Opportunity.” He was included in Who’s Who with other leaders of agriculture and industry in the Philippines.He also opened Lyric Music House, bringing in the finest musical instruments from abroad for the tastes of talented musicians of the Philippines.

1929 ESCO PRINT AD, from Graphic Magazine.

During WWII, the Japanese military government confiscated the factories and turned them to their own uses. Mr. Hale was interned in Santo Thomas where he helped sew up older co-interns’ shoes. Reconstruction after the war meant adjusting to new conditions within the new Philippine Republic. He was weak by then but nevertheless
returned to success but on a smaller scale.

The exhibit features Mr. Hale’s personal belongings, generously donated by his granddaughter Ruth Hale Cobb Hill to the American Historical Collection.

SOURCE:
American Historical Collection: http://rizal.lib.admu.edu.ph/ahc/pg_exhibits.htm
Various Graphic Magazines from 1929

11 comments:

  1. Frank Hale was my grandfather's brother. My grandfather was Elmer Hale of Woodland Hills California,his son (my father) was Richard A. Hale of Seattle Washington and my name is Thomas A hale and currently living in Edmonds Washington.

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    1. I am happy to meet a relative of someone for the Philippine economy!!

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    2. Hi Frank - I just responded to a query by Ruth Hale regarding my post on the Santo Tomas Internment Camp. Nice to know one of the Hales live close by. I live in Sammamish, Wa. - Lou Gopal, Producer "Victims of Circumstance" video now showing on YouTube.

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    3. I am the fan of world history in popular culture in TV films comics animation and media thrroughout the world my name is Wayne Moises from California USA.

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    4. Encyclopedia Brittanica 2024-25 edition internet/website.

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    5. I want to request the Youtube Channel to air the Filipino history from past present to the future soon.

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  2. my greatgrandfather Demetrio Roxas was a fine shoe maker of Esco Shoes

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    Replies
    1. Formerly a shoe company in favor of SM City shopping mall Robinson's Mall Ayala Malls & more.

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  3. I am so humbled to hear from Mr. Demetrio Roxas's grandson. Your grandfather and mine must have had quite a time in those days, producing millions of fine shoes that was proudly marketed not only in the Philippines but also in the US.

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    Replies
    1. I like world history is my favorite subject to study learn & read true to life influential people events and places in popular culture in TV films comics animation and media thrroughout the world. waynemoises@gmail.com waynemoises2077@icloud.com.

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    2. World Book Encyclopedia 2024-25 edition to the internet/website.

      Delete