American Fraternity, College, Military Badge/Pin Makers

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American Fraternity, College, Military Badge/Pin Makers

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American Fraternity, College, Military Badge/Pin Makers

A topic for adding information regarding the American manufacturers of Fraternity, College, Military Badges/Pins/Medals/Emblems etc.

If you have some examples or details of the marks, history, etc. of these firms you'd like to share, here's the topic to post them.

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Re: American Fraternity, College, Military Badge/Pin Makers

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M. SICKLES & SONS

900, Chestnut Street, Philadelphia


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M. Sickles & Sons - Philadelphia - 1919

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Re: American Fraternity, College, Military Badge/Pin Makers

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N.S. MEYER Inc.

New York


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N.S. Meyer Inc. - New York - 1961

N.S. Meyer Inc. were established in 1868 and in business until 2000, when they were acquired by Vanguard, another well known supplier of military insignia.

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Re: American Fraternity, College, Military Badge/Pin Makers

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WILLIAM LINK COMPANY

Newark, New Jersey


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William Link Company - Newark, N.J. - 1918


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Established in 1871.

See: http://www.925-1000.com/ax_Link.html

And: http://www.925-1000.com/americansilver_L2.html

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Re: American Fraternity, College, Military Badge/Pin Makers

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C.H. EDEN Co.

Attleboro, Massachusetts


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C.H. Eden & Co. - Attleboro - 1902

Thought to have been founded as the S.M. Einstein Co. by Samuel Mauritz Einstein, it later, around 1901, was restyled to C.H. Eden & Co. following Charles Eden joining the business.

Charles Eden is believed to have died in 1918, but the business continued.

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Re: American Fraternity, College, Military Badge/Pin Makers

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THE GUSTAVE FOX Co.

14-16, East Fourth Avenue, and, 411-413, Race Street, Cincinnati


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Established in 1873.

Makers in 14kt, 10kt, Silver and Plated emblems.


The New "Push-On" Attachment.—A folder issued by the Gustave Fox Company, 411 Race street, Cincinnati, Ohio, illustrating their "Push-On" name-plate for automobiles, and also their line name-plates, medals, badges, etc.

Source: The Metal Industry - May 1921

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Re: American Fraternity, College, Military Badge/Pin Makers

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C.G. BRAXMAR Co.

36, Cortlandt Street, later, 10-12, Maiden Lane, later 242, West 55th Street, New York


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C.G. Braxmar Co. - New York - 1913


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C.G. Braxmar Co. - New York - 1920

Established in 1879 by Charles Braxmar.

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Re: American Fraternity, College, Military Badge/Pin Makers

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HENRY C. HASKELL

25, Maiden Lane, later, 11, John Street, New York


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Henry C. Haskell - New York - 1890

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Henry C. Haskell - New York - 1896


The mark of Henry C. Haskell:

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See: http://www.925-1000.com/americansilver_H.html

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Re: American Fraternity, College, Military Badge/Pin Makers

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FRINT & COMPANY

507, Communipaw Avenue, Jersey City


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Frint & Company - Jersey City - 1914

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Re: American Fraternity, College, Military Badge/Pin Makers

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HEFTER-REIB Co.

85, East 10th Street, later, 43-51, West 4th Street, New York


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Hefter-Reib Co. - New York - 1912

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The Hefter-Reib Co. - New York - 1913

The Hefter-Reib Co. went into voluntary dissolution in 1917.

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Re: American Fraternity, College, Military Badge/Pin Makers

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CARON BROTHERS

151-157 ouest, rue Craig, later, 233-239, Bleury Street, Montréal

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Caron Frères - Montréal - 1911

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Caron Freres - Montreal - 1914


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Further information regarding the firm of Caron Brothers can be found at: The Canadian Trade, Information, Advertisements, Etc.

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Re: American Fraternity, College, Military Badge/Pin Makers

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HILBORN-HAMBURGER Inc.

122, Dayton Avenue, Passaic, New Jersey, and Utica, New York


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Established in 1926 by Jerome M. Hilborn & Jerome M. Hamburger, who were formerly with N.S. Meyer Inc. of New York.

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Re: American Fraternity, College, Military Badge/Pin Makers

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R.M. JOHNSON & SON

67, Washington Street, and 26, West Washington Street, later, Marshall Field Annex Building, 25, East Washington Street, Chicago


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R.M. Johnson & Son - Chicago - 1913

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R.M. Johnson & Son - Chicago - 1924

Established in 1867.

Examples noted are marked on reverse: R.M. Johnson & Son - Masonic Jewelers - Chicago - Official

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Re: American Fraternity, College, Military Badge/Pin Makers

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J.F. NEWMAN

19, later, 11, John Street, New York - 31, North State Street, Chicago - 150, Post Street, San Francisco - 105, East 11th Street, Kansas City


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J.F. Newman - New York - 1887


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J.F. Newman - New York - 1897


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J.F. Newman - New York - 1904


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J.F. Newman - New York - 1908


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J.F. Newman - New York - 1922

Established in 1876.

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Re: American Fraternity, College, Military Badge/Pin Makers

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KAPPA SIGMA

JEWELRY AND PRICES

A circular recently issued by a Chicago jewelry firm points out the expense to fraternity members incident to royalties accruing to their fraternity offices on the sale of badges and fraternity jewelry, as well as the expense necessarily added to the cost of jewelry by the employment of a corps of salesmen.

Looking back over forty years or so of fraternity life, one traces the jewelry situation from its infancy, when each fraternity endeavored to secure some jeweler to make its badge at whatever price they could get it made for–through the following period when jewelers competed with each other extravagantly for the business of fraternities–up to the present, when the practice is almost universally the appointment of a single official fraternity jeweler.

Regarding the merits of these several methods one could scarcely argue in favor of the original one because the cost of the badge was extremely high, although its quality was, as a rule, far inferior to that now produced. There was also an entire absence of that which we are accustomed to call "service" on the part of the fraternity jeweler.

Through the second period, that of unlimited competition, the experience of all fraternities was practically identical, viz., while there was nominal competition, so far as the fraternity members were concerned, the competition seemed to be almost exclusively centered upon the maximum price which a fraternity jeweler could induce a fraternity member to part with for an inferior piece of goods. We should certainly hate to return to that period of "unlimited competition." As an example of the extravagances and excessive profiteering, it may be pointed out that the Kappa Sigma badge which sold for about $12 when the various jewelers were competing with one another was immediately contracted for by Kappa Sigma in 1913 at a price of $6.50, and is sold under our present contract for $5.50. This reduction was secured solely through the limitation of "competition" by the appointment of a sole official jeweler, and in spite of the "extravagance" of the service resulting from the employment of a corps of salesmen.

Kappa Sigma has never said to its members that they must buy solely of the official jeweler. Kappa Sigma has only told its members that the official jeweler makes a badge of specified quality, which specifications we examine with each renewal of contract. Other jewelers are privileged, being non-official and not under contract to the fraternity, to make jewelry on any specifications which they themselves stipulate, not necessarily on those which the fraternity stipulates. We have, therefore, no assurance that their product is up to our standards, and we surely anticipate that it will seldom, if ever, excel our standards. Competing jewelers have not yet been able to meet the standards and prices which the "official jeweler" places on Kappa Sigma jewelry, with the result that very close to 100 per cent. of Kappa Sigma badges are voluntarily purchased from the official jeweler. This has.been the case for some years past.

Kappa Sigma insists that every penny of the reduction of costs obtained by the employment of an official jeweler be returned to the consumer by means of the reduced price which he pays for the goods. Not one penny has ever been paid to the fraternity or to any other person in the way of royalty or other rebate.

The elimination of the salesman is an end much to be desired by every one concerned; by the manufacturing jeweler, because he is one of the largest items of expense; by the consumer, because he forms the major portion of the overhead expense which must be tacked on to the price of his badge, and by fraternity officers, because–perhaps the less said about traveling salesmen the better! A firm now endeavoring to enter the field proposes to replace the salesman by a mail order business. We certainly wish them success. We hope some one will show how to eliminate the salesman and still replace him by a satisfactory substitute. One must not forget, however, that it costs money to sell goods by mail. Kappa Sigma recently circularized its members with a view to increasing the subscriptions to the Caduceus. The expense of one circular and its mailing amounted to approximately $1,000 The increase in the number of subscriptions was a little short of paying the bill, though, of course, renewals will prove the campaign a success.

Mail ordering is expensive salesmanship and is devoid of service. To the alumnus neither salesman nor mail order gives really effective service, though the expense of mail order business to the chapters is lower than to individual alumni.

We await with interest the success which will be attained. by a mail order fraternity jewelry house. At the same time we advise Kappa Sigma to examine carefully the standard of quality, as well as the prices, of any goods presented to them in this way.


Source: Caduceus - Volume 38 - Issue 2 - Kappa Sigma Fraternity - 1922

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Re: American Fraternity, College, Military Badge/Pin Makers

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CHAS. F. IRONS, later, IRONS & RUSSELL Co.

95, Chestnut Street, Providence, Rhode Island, and, 9-11, Maiden Lane, New York, and 10, South Wabash Avenue, Chicago


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Chas. F. Irons - Providence, R.I. - 1895


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Irons & Russell Co. - Providence, R.I. - 1919


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Irons & Russell Co. - Providence, R.I. - 1921


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Irons & Russell Company - Providence, R.I. - 1950


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C F I, later, I. & R.

Irons & Russell Co. also used the letter 'I' contained within an upright lozenge as a trade mark.

The business of Charles F. Irons and Charles A. Russell. It was established in 1861 by Charles F. Irons in his own name, and he later took his nephew, Charles A. Russell, who had worked for the company since 1881, into partnership in 1893. Charles Irons was born at Providence on the 17th April 1839, he never married. He died in 1930.

Irons & Russell Co. was acquired in 1968 by S. Scarf Inc., a division of Barrows Industries.

The company was noted as a maker of the Silver Star during WWII.

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BUNDE & UPMEYER Co.

121-123, Wisconsin Street, and, 101, Mack Blk, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and 65, Nassau Street, New York


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Bunde & Upmeyer - Milwaukee - 1896


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Bunde & Upmeyer - Milwaukee - 1904


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Bunde & Upmeyer - Milwaukee - 1905


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Bunde & Upmeyer Co. - Milwaukee - 1915

The business of Louis W. Bunde (1858-1936) was established in the 1880's.

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Re: American Fraternity, College, Military Badge/Pin Makers

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ROEHM & SON

Grand Circus Park, Detroit


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Roehm & Son - Detroit - 1891


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Roehm & Son - Detroit - 1895

Established in 1849.



R.J.F. ROEHM & COMPANY

21, Wilcox Street, Detroit


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R.J.F. Roehm & Company - Detroit - 1908



VETERAN JEWELER DEAD

R. J. F. Roehm, Pioneer of Detroit Trade, Passes Away in His 83rd Year


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Detroit, Mich., Dec 6.–Robert J. F. Roehm, president of the Roehm Co., fraternity and manufacturing jewelers, 304 Scherer building, and one of the oldest retail and manufacturing jewelers in Michigan, died Tuesday night, Dec. 4, at his home at 47 Grove Ave., Highland Park, a suburb of Detroit.

Mr. Roehm was 82 years old and had lived in Detroit for the past 70 years. Born in Germany, he came to Detroit in 1847, and entered immediately in the jewelry business, being interested in that trade practically all his life. He was with the Green & Wright Co., from 1872 to 1886, when he organized his own firm with his sons, the establishment being located on Woodward Ave. as Roehm & Sons.

Several years ago Mr. Roehm retired from active retail trade, and his son Edward R. Roehm took over the fraternity jewelry department of the business, which he still operates on the fifth floor at 240 Woodward Ave. Robert J. F. Roehm later established the Roehm Co., of which he became the president, with Herbert S. Baker secretary', and George R. Barry, treasurer.

Mr. Roehm is survived by his widow, and two sons, Edward R. and Frank J. Roehm, the latter being a watchmaker and jeweler, room 302 Woodward building. Woodward Ave. and Clifford St.; by a sister –Mrs. Pauline Heidt, and five brothers– William F., Herman, Charles L., Julius and Emil Roehm.

Not only was Mr. Roehm one of the oldest jewelers in the city and State, but be was the oldest member of the Detroit boat club, and the third oldest member in Detroit Commandery, Knights Templar. He was a member of the Westminster Presbyterian church.

The funeral services were held from the home, Thursday. Dec. 6, at 2 o'clock, under the auspices of the Knights Templar, the burial being in Elmwood cemetery.


Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 12th December 1917

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Re: American Fraternity, College, Military Badge/Pin Makers

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THE DORST COMPANY

3rd and Vine Streets, Cincinnati, Ohio


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The Dorst Company - Cincinnati - 1919

Thought to have been established in 1888 as Jonas, Dorst & Co.. The business was later styled The Dorst Company and by c.1940 as the Dorst Jewelery Co.. In 1983 the business was acquired by the brothers, William and Douglas Turnbull and in 1995 the company was renamed as The John Gray Awards Company.

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Re: American Fraternity, College, Military Badge/Pin Makers

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M.C. EPPENSTEIN & Co. later A. DAVIS & Co.

163, State Street, Chicago


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M.C. Eppenstein & Co. - Chicago - c.1890


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M.C. Eppenstein & Co. - Chicago - c.1890


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M.C. Eppenstein & Co. - Chicago - c.1890


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M.C. Eppenstein & Co. - Chicago - c.1890

Max Eppenstein was also one of the principles of the Illinois Watch Case Co. and the Rockford Watch Co.

M.C. Eppenstein & Co. were succeeded by A. Davis & Co. by 1904, they are thought to have ceased trading shortly afterwards.

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