Vintage Cove - The Jewellery Makers
ANSON - Olof Anderson was a Swedish immigrant to America, who founded the Anderson Tool & Die Company in 1938, making items for jewellery manufacturers. During WWII the machinery was adapted to milling machines and entered into war production work. In 1945 Anderson formed Anson Incorporated and began men's jewellery production. The company was purchased by the C&J Jewelry Group in 1993.
AVON - Avon was founded in New York in 1886 as Califorinia Perfume, changing its name in 1939 to Avon Products Inc. They first offered jewellery as a gift with other purchases in 1963, and commenced selling jewellery individually with their signature logo in 1970. Over the years, Avon has been associated with great jewellery names such as Krementz, Trifari, Tiffany, Kenneth J Lane, Nina Ricci, and more. Avon jewellery has become much sought-after collector’s items due to its limited nature. Once Avon has run a jewellery line, they discontinue it.
BAER & WILDE - The Baer & Wilde company was incorporated in 1919, having previously been a subsidiary of the Attleboro Manufacturing Co (which later became Swank Inc.). In 1918 Baer & Wilde introduced the KUM-A-PART Cuff Buttons that were such a huge success, they stopped producing all other lines of jewellery and specialised on the Kum-A-Parts. The Company may have ceased in 1931 (this has not been confirmed)
BINDER BROS - BB, with the two B's inside interlocking circles. This is the mark of Binder Brothers Inc, of New York, established in 1922.
BALLOU - BAB is a mark of Ballou Jewelry, established in 1873 by Barton Ballou and currently in its 5th generation of jewellery designers. The BAB stamp was first used in 1949.
CORO - CORO, COROCRAFT, FRANCOIS, PEGASUS, VENDOME. Founded in the early 1900s, designers Emanuel Cohen and Gerard Rosenberg started their own shop in New York, selling costume jewellery and accessories. The name Coro incorporates the first two letters of each surname. They became very successful and very well known for their high quality, designs and volume of jewellery at affordable prices. Coro made jewellery from 1920 until the 1970s. They also produced jewellery under different company names, such as Vendome, Corocraft, Francois, and Duette. The Francois mark was used for the higher end of the market and attracted the wealthier clients. The Vendome mark was a jewellery line started in 1944, also attracting the higher end of the market. The Corocraft mark was used since 1937 for higher end pieces. The Pegasus mark was used after WWII. Coro ceased trading around 1979. Coro Inc. in Canada is still in operation today. Coro was once the largest costume jewellery manufacturing operation in the world.
DANTE - Pronounced don-tay. Dante Inc. primarily manufactured men’s jewellery and accessories. The company ceased operations in the 1970s. Their jewellery was of exceptionally high quality and was not always marked.
DOLAN & BULLOCK - A remarkable array of finely crafted men's jewellery, including money clips, key chains, cuff links, identification bracelets & pocket watches. Established in 1917, Dolan & Bullock has been one of the most respected names in men's precious jewellery characterised by innovative styling, superior craftsmanship and unsurpassed quality.
E.A. ADAMS - E.A.Adams & Son Inc, in Rhode Island, US, used to supply jewellery parts to many of the major jewellery houses of America, but went out of business in the early 1980s.
FREEMAN-DAUGHADAY - The Freeman-Daughaday Company were a manufacturer of quality men’s jewellery in Chartley Village, Norton MA. Their commencement date is not known, but they were registering patents as early as 1919. The company stayed in Chartley up until 1946, when they moved to Providence RI.
FORSTNER - The Forstner Chain Corporation was established in 1922 in Irvington NJ. Renamed to Forstner Jewelry Manufacturing Corp. in 1950. Initially using block lettering, the logo was changed to script lettering in 1937. Forstner has marketed under the following names: Fortune, Snap-Lock, Trustyle, Dapper, FCC, Forsit, Dubl-Lock, as well as Radio (1920), Numum (1923), Image of a Carosel (1935), Climatest (1949), Bolita (1950), Forstar (1950), Remembrance (1954), Teenette (1958), backward F with arrow through centre (1962), Token of Love (1965)
FOSTER - An American manufacturer of men’s jewellery, such as tie clasps. Further details are still being researched.
HADLEY - The Hadley Jewelry Co was established in 1913, Rhode Island, USA. Arthur Hadley, the company’s founder, died in 1941. It is unconfirmed whether the Company continued beyond its founder's death.
HAYWARD - The Walter E Hayward Co was founded in 1851 and is considered one of the oldest fine jewellery manufacturer's in the US. The company merged with the A&Z Chain Co in 1970 to form the A&Z Hayward Co.
HICKOK - HICKOK USA. The Hickok Manufacturing Company were making men’s jewellery in Rochester NY from 1934. Hickok also used the Hi-Art mark since 1953.
KREISLER - Kreisler was making jewellery from 1914 to 1952, when the jewellery line was discontinued.
KREMENTZ - Krementz & Co was founded by George Krementz in 1866 in Newark NJ, USA. The company originally manufactured men’s jewellery, and started making women's jewellery in the 1930s. In the 1950s, the Krementz hallmark changed from block lettering to script. The Colibri Group purchased the company in 1997, and continues to produce jewellery with the Krementz name.
MONET - The Monocraft Products Company was founded in Providence, RI in 1928 by two brothers, Michael and Jay Chernow. The company first produced gold plated monograms on handbags. The business expanded and around 1937 began manufacturing jewellery under the name of Monet. In the 1940s, the company started using sterling silver and silver plating along with the gold plated metals previously used as base metal. Monet was also responsible for several technological advancements in jewellery - the friction ear clip and the barrel clutch for pierced earrings. The Monocraft Products Company was acquired by General Mills in 1968, then purchased by Crystal Brands Jewellery Group in 1989, purchased in 1994 by Chase Capital Partners, Lattice Holding, and in 2000 was purchased by Liz Claiborne Inc. with production of the jewellery moved out of the U.S. Originally using the mark of MONET, the company has used the mark of MONET with a copyright symbol since 1955.
NAPIER - Napier Jewellery was first founded in 1875 as Whitney and Rice, then within 10 years became the E.A. Bliss Co. After World War 1, it became Napier Bliss Co, and in 1922 it became The Napier Co. The mark of NAPIER in block lettering has been used since 1922. In the late 1980s, the company was purchased by Victoria & Co and changed its mark to Napier in script lettering. Napier ceased producing jewellery on 15 October 1999. Nothing but excessive stock was last being sold by those dealers that were lucky enough to have it.
NIPPY CLIP - Nippy-Clip was a product name of Stratton of Mayfair Ltd in the 1950s and 1960s. Often stamped “imitation”, this is the UK term for fashion jewellery (ie. Not precious metal). Stratton was established in the UK in 1860 and is a market leader in its field. Stratton’s world famous name is synonymous with both quality and design.
PARKWAY - Fairly recent by vintage standards, but still over 20 years old, Parkway Jewelry Co Inc was established in the 1980s in Philadelphia, USA.
PITMAN & KEELER - The Pitman & Keeler Company was established in the early 1900s in Attleboro, Massachusetts USA, and quickly became known for their high quality pieces. Pitman & Keeler’s “Security” line was a unique style of snap link cuff links, with a small button on the reverse side that you press to effortlessly separate the two halves. No more fiddling and fumbling to get them apart.
R & G CO. - mark is either "R&G Co." or those same letters inside a padlock. Established in Attleboro MA, USA, in 1880. The company name changed to Ripley & Gowan Co in 1930.
ROBBINS CO. - Established in 1892, the products of Robbins Co ranged from personalised jewellery to fine art. In 2007, they merged with The Tharpe Co to form The TharpeRobbins Co.
SARAH COVENTRY - Sarah Coventry Inc was founded in 1949 in Newark NJ, USA. Sarah Coventry jewellery was only sold at home jewellery parties. Although the jewellery bore the name Sarah Coventry, the items were sourced from local jewellery manufacturers. The company did not design or manufacture the jewellery itself. The founder, Charles Stuart, filed for bankruptcy in 1981 and discontinued operations in 1984. The Sarah Coventry business commenced trading again in 2003.
The mark Coventry was first used in 1949, for both men’s and ladies jewellery. In 1950, the company started using the marks Sarah Coventry and SC. In 1951, the mark of Sarah was first used. And the mark of Sarah Cov came into existence in 1960.
SHIELDS - Sheilds Fifth Avenue was a prestige store located in New York during the 1940s-1960s, and only carried their own exclusive 'high end' jewellery designs. The business closed in the late 1960s.
SIMMONS R - The R.F. Simmons Company, of Attleboro Massachusetts USA, was founded in 1873 by Robert Fitz Simmons. By 1887 the company had over 200 employees, with offices in New York and agents all over the world. The company was acquired by Jostens in 1962. Other Simmons marks used are Armilla, Betsy Ross, Brenda, Floradora, Slident, Stubby, Tyton, Venetian, Victorian, R.F.S. & Co., R.F.S. Co., and Simmons' Chains.
The Simmons company claims to be the first jewellery house to issue a catalogue (1881); the first to stamp goods with the makers ID; the first to offer a guarantee of satisfaction (1880s); the first to use safety chains (1890s); the first to produce a practical lock bracelet.
SPEIDEL - The Speidel Corporation, founded in 1913, began producing jewellery in 1935. Although now under different ownership, The Speidel Company is still operating business today.
The mark of DEFENDER was used since 1930. The SPEIDEL mark was used since 1932. And the OLD WORLD JEWELS mark was used since 1949.
SOPHOS - Founded in 1868 in Birmingham UK, Lambournes Sophos Ltd specialised in spats, braces, buttons and studs. The company quickly established a reputation for quality, design and reliability, to become one of the most respected names in the menswear trade. In the mid-1930s, the range was increased to include cuff links, collar studs, tie slides, armbands, belts, garters, sock suspenders, and leather goods. The company was run by the Lambournes family until 1981 when it was sold to The Arnold Willis Group.
STRATTON - Stratton compacts were designed and produced in Birmingham, England by Laughton & Sons Ltd from 1923. Some of the earliest Stratton compacts carry the name "Stratnoid", which was also the trade name for the company's knitting needles. In 1940, four of their five factories were destroyed during World War II. By 1946, they were up and running again. In 1997, this company was taken over by Cork International. Although they are still making compacts with the Stratton name, they are no longer manufactured in England.
SWANK - Samuel Stone and Maurice Baer founded the Attleboro Manufacturing Company in the USA in 1897. By 1927, they were using the name Swank. In 1936, the business became incorporated as Swank Products Inc. And changed their name to the current Swank Inc. in 1941.
Subsidiary company Baer & Wilde was incorporated in 1919. Parts were interchanged between companies, ie. some Swank parts are labelled B&W Plate. Another mark used by Swank is Nu-Lok.
TAUNTON - Taunton Pearl Works Inc, in Taunton Massachusetts, were making men’s fine jewellery in the US from at least 1912. The mark of Anchor (with an anchor symbol) was used from 1912. The Champion and Pioneer marks were used from 1921. The Smartfit mark was used from 1928. The Clipper mark was used from 1944. The Revere mark was used from 1957.
TRIFARI - There is much history to Trifari Jewellery. First known as Trifari & Trifari, the company was founded by Gustavo Trifari and his uncle in 1910. The name changed to just Trifari after Gustavo’s uncle left. In 1917 Leo Krussman joined, and then Carl Fishel in 1925. They renamed the company Trifari, Krussman and Fishel, and started using the mark KTF.
The originating founders, and sons of those founders, ran the company from 1910 to 1975. From 1975, Trifari was purchased by a number of other companies - Hallmark Jewelry Co. (1975 to 1988), Crystal Brands (1988 to 1994), Chase Capital Partners, a division of the Monet Group (1994 to 2000), and by Liz Claiborne in July 2000. Liz Claiborne moved operations to Puerto Rico soon after purchase.
Early Trifari Jewellery is very collectable and some pieces are now very rare to find.
VENDOME - The Coro design house made jewellery from about 1920. They produced jewellery under the Vendome name from 1944 to 1970. In general, the Coro name was on the more moderately priced jewellery. Corocraft, Vendome and Francois were the higher priced lines.
WOLF-BROWN - Wolf-Brown of California was a premier maker of military awards and insignia.
