Morris, Mann, & Reilly

[harrymorris]

I am a descendant of Harry Morris. He became a patriarch of my family by way of some wild circumstances. Things in Chicago really haven't changed that much . . .

I am most interested in any material you may have, or know of, regarding Harry (who died in March of 1951) and/or MM&R. The second M was John F. Mann, a poobah of the Chicago business community, traveling all over the country pumping the city, and the R was Reilly, not a Chicago guy, a New York City guy. They all tolerated each other.

I'd be interested in anything you might know. Every scrap helps.

Thanks.

JT

[oel]

Hi welcome to the forum.

An interior image of the premises of the jewellery manufacturer, Morris, Mann & Reilly at 70, Ship Street, Providence, Rhode Island:




This image is from 1913.


JEWELRY FACTORY for
MORRIS, MANN & REILLY

Morris, Mann & Reilly Open Factory at Providence, R. I., for the Production of High-class Gold and Sterling Silver Plated Jewelry

A brand new jewelry factory for Morris, Mann & Reilly. This news has been heralded throughout the novelty goods and jewelry trade during the past few weeks, but now the plant is completed, fully equipped and in full operation. The new factory is located at 70 Ship St., Providence. R. I., among others in the city, which has been made famous for its jewelry manufacturing industries.

This new Morris, Mann & Reilly enterprise adds another, and while it is not the largest, the growth of this Chicago concern warrants the belief that it will soon take rank among the bigger and more successful factories of the East.

The factory will be under the management and supervision of Louis Goldstein, a jewelry manufacturer with many years experience, who for eleven years was in charge of the large manufacturing plant of L. Davidsburg & Co., Providence and New York. He has full charge of the manufacturing of the new Morris, Mann & Reilly factory and has in his employ about 30 to 50 skilled workers at the present time.

The machinery and all other equipment of the factory is entirely new and of the latest construction. Everything is strictly modern in every respect, and arranged for the convenience of the employes.

In this new factory nothing of the ordinary jewelry jobbing lines will be made. Everything here will be of the high-grade kind for the highest grade department store and jewelry trade, including gold and silver plated jewelry, that in appearance, rivals the solid gold and sterling silver articles found in the exclusive shops. The idea will be to make better jewelry to sell at prices which are better than they could give their trade under ordinary conditions as jobbers of these goods.

The creation of new lines and new patterns in gold and silver jewelry produced in the Providence factory will be under the direction of Mr. Harry Morris and Mr. Louis Goldstein. And, the creation of new and original designs on which the firm will have exclusive control, will be a main feature of the output of the new factory. The entire output will be distributed by the firm, and no goods will be manufactured for outside concerns.

The completion of this new factory is an important factor in the business of Morris, Mann & Reilly, in that it will shorten the journey between the maker and retailer, and give the retailer exclusiveness that he would not otherwise get.

At present vanity purses, coin receptacles and jewelry novelties of this character are foremost with the manufacturers and distributors of novelty jewelry, especially of the character that is finding its distribution through the channels of the popular department store. Silver and gold plated vanity novelties are the chief article of production in the Morris, Mann & Reilly jewelry factory at the present time. The factory is equipped with a complete plating plant, a feature of which many older manufacturing jewelers cannot boast.

The line is of wide variety in clever and unique designs of hand etched, as well as pressed designs. Orders are being taken on these, and while it is but a few weeks since the first article was turned out of the factory, a large amount of the new goods have been distributed.

The concern of Morris, Mann & Reilly was established twelve years ago with a total of seven employes, three of whom were partners. The business has had a steady and substantial growth, and the business placed on a progressive basis. They claim credit for being the first concern in the market known as a jewelry jobbing house, to engage in the manufacture of the goods they sold.

The establishment of this new factory in the heart of the jewelry manufacturing district sets at rest, to a certain extent, the long felt need and the desire of the company to establish a high class jewelry factory of their own where they could create and develop their own ideas that their trade might have the advantage of exclusiveness and individuality.

This fond hope has been realized, and now as a stir is created among jewelry trade circles, following this announceemnt, the firm launches forth from now on as high grade jewelry manufacturers and distributors in the strictest sense of the word.

Source: The Dry Goods Reporter - 1913

Trev.


See:
viewtopic.php?t=32952&start=40


Oel.

[harrymorris]

Thanks for your help. Beyond this, I'm hoping for any tidbits, old letter-style information, about Harry on the personal side.

[dognose]

Morris, Mann & Reilly - Chicago, New York and St. Louis - 1917

Trev.

[harrymorris]

Thank you, dognose.

[dognose]

Morris, Mann & Reilly Remove Uptown.—Morris, Mann & Reilly, manufacturers of fancy goods, with headquarters in Chicago, have removed their New York plant and salesrooms to the handsome, modern building, recently completed, at 134-142 West 37th street, just west of Broadway. The two lowest floors and the basement are occupied by Morris, Mann & Reilly.

Source: Notions and Fancy Goods - February 1915

Trev.

[harrymorris]

Got it. :)

[dognose]

An image of a luncheon given by Morris, Mann & Reilly, to the Ladies of the Illinois Ph. A. at the State convention at Chicago in 1921:



Trev.

[dognose]

Morris, Mann & Reilly - Chicago, New York and Providence - 1915

Trev.

[dognose]

Harry Morris, of Morris, Mann & Reilly, Inc., Chicago, was in the city recently visiting the manufacturing jewelers.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 13th December 1922

Trev.

[harrymorris]

dognose, what is the "Illinois Ph. A."???

Thanks.

[dognose]

I presume: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_Phi

Trev.

[dognose]

Morris, Mann & Reilly - Chicago, New York and Providence - 1916

Trev.

[dognose]

J.P. Mann, of the firm, Morris, Mann & Reilly, delivered an address on "Trade Extension" before the recent meeting of the Chicago Jewelers' Association. It was a speech filled with the sort of energy and enterprise which Mr. Mann displays in his business and contained many features of deep interest and great value.

Source: Crockery & Glass Journal - 5th December 1912

Trev.

[dognose]

Morris, Mann & Reilly - Chicago, New York and Providence - 1914

'PANDORA'

Trev.

[dognose]

Morris, Mann & Reilly - Chicago, New York and Providence - 1914

'PANDORA'

Trev.

[dognose]

Morris, Mann & Reilly - Chicago - 1930

MARCASSITE COSTUME JEWELRY

Trev.

[dognose]

Morris, Mann & Reilly - Chicago, New York and Providence - 1914


Morris, Mann & Reilly - Chicago, New York and Providence - 1914

'PANDORA'

Trev.