History of Fleisher’s Yarn Company

Last updated on August 17th, 2023 at 10:52 pm

First posted September 13, 2022.  A collection of historical tidbits, news articles, clippings, biographical notes and more.  I started collecting these bits back in 2017, with plans to write a reasonably comprehensive article on the history of Fleisher Yarns Company up until it sold(?)/merged(?) with Bear Brands in the mid to late 1930s but haven’t had time to actually write such an article.  However, I’ve collected lots of info and it occurs to me that my collected notes as they are may be of interest, even if not fleshed out into a “proper” article/blog post, so here ya go!

1840

September 18, 1840:  Simon B. Fleisher born in Meadville, Pennsylvania (child of Benjamin Wolf Fleisher (Sr.) and Hannah Technor Fleisher) (Benjamin and Hannah have four sons:  Henry A., Simon B., Moyer, and Benjamin W. (Jr.).  (Hannah Technor Fleisher would marry Abraham Adler after Benjamin dies.  She has a daughter, Mathilde, with Mr. Adler who dies in 1875 at the age of 27.) (Source:  The Jews of Philadelphia, 1894)

1842

February 19, 1842:  Moyer Fleisher born (child of Benjamin Wolf and Hannah Technor Fleisher).

1857 or 1858 (not sure)

Simon B. Fleisher begins work at Messrs. Kohn & Adler, a millinery house and general dry goods dealers.  (Note that Adler is Simon’s stepfather, the second husband of Simon’s mother.) (Source:  The Jews of Philadelphia, 1894)

Moyer Fleisher apprenticed to a watchmaker.  (Source:  The Jews of Philadelphia, 1894)

1861

Moyer Fleisher, having “gained a thorough knowledge of the [watchmaking] trade”, becomes a machinist “at the same time following the watchmaking business.” (Source:  The Jews of Philadelphia, 1894)

1862

Simon B. Fleisher ceases work at Messrs. Kohn & Adler, begins his own dry goods store.  Around this same time, he “purchased and sale of oil property”. (Source:  The Jews of Philadelphia, 1894)

1863

June 1863:  Moyer Fleisher enlists as a private in Company D, 32nd Regiment of Pennsylvania State Militia, for the “cause of the Union, and remained in military service until the close of the Civil War, when he was discharged.” (Source:  The Jews of Philadelphia, 1894)

1865

Simon B. Fleisher sells out his interest in his dry goods store, moved to New York City “where he engaged in the manufacture of cigars, and later on in the tobacco business.” (Source:  The Jews of Philadelphia, 1894)

Moyer Fleisher leaves the Union army after end of civil war, returns to Philadelphia, and “engaged again in the watchmaking business with G.W. Russell.” (Source:  The Jews of Philadelphia, 1894)

Moyer Fleisher “invented, manufactured, and introduced the first clamp skates, which superseded the method of strapping skates, then in vogue.”  (note to self: not sure exactly which year, need to check patents)

1866

Simon B. Fleisher sells out (quits?) the cigar and tobacco business in New York City, moves back to Philadelphia, “bought a plant for the manufacture of braids” and “began the manufacture of worsted braids … to which was added the making of worsted and woollen yarns.” (Source:  The Jews of Philadelphia, 1894)

Simon B. Fleisher marries Cecilia Hofheimer (of New York City).  “Mrs. Fleisher is a pianist whose artistic playing has won the praise of the critical.  Their home is visited by persons of culture and by lovers of music…” (Source:  The Jews of Philadelphia, 1894)  (Son Samuel S. Fleisher born November 28, 1871, son David Teller Fleisher born 1878,)

Moyer Fleisher “entered into partnership with his older brother, Simon B. Fleisher, in the manufacture of worsted goods, the firm name being S.B. & M. Fleisher.”  (Moyer retires 16 years later.) (Source:  The Jews of Philadelphia, 1894)

1867

Business officially founded (registered?) as S.B. & M. Fleisher.

1868

Moyer Fleisher “entered into partnership with his older brother, Simon B. Fleisher, in the manufacture of worsted goods, the firm name being S.B. & M. Fleisher.”

1870

January 5, 1870:  Benjamin Wilfrid Fleisher born in Philadelphia.

October 4, 1870:  Simon B. Fleisher filed a patent for a display box, specifically built to store and display Star Alpaca brand braids.

I, SIMON B. FLEISHER, of the city and county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented and produced a new and original Design for Alpaca Braid-Box, of which the following is a specification. The nature of my design is fully represented in the accompanying drawing. The design consists in forming a rectangular box, the interior of which is subdivided by means of partitions into twenty-five convenient spaces for holding braid. The lid of the box, inside and outside, is lettered as follows:
Twenty-Five Dozen, The Star Alpaca Braids, Every piece has our ticket inside. On the front part of the box is lettered, Alpaca Braids. Between the words alpaca and braids is inserted a star,`
each point of which has one of the following letters, F. S. B. 86 M. In the center of the star is placed a Wreath, in which is inserted the words Trade-Mark.

1875

Moyer Fleisher marries Alice H. Teller (daughter of David and Rebecca Teller of Philadelphia).  (As of 1894 reports, they have three sons.)

1876

Fleisher Yarns receive the “highest award” at the Centennial Exposition, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  (Notes:  Not sure if it was their yarn or their braid products that won awards.)

1884

Moyer Fleisher retires from Fleisher “on account of ill health.”

1886

Locations:

  • S.B. & B.W. Fleisher 79 Franklin, New York City

1887

The Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago lists S.B. & B.W. Fleisher at 152 Fifth Avenue, Chicago (branch office, I presume).

1888

Postcard dated November 25? 29?, 1888, from S.B. & B.W. Fleisher, “Star” Braids and Worsted Yarns, Cor. [corner] 25th and Hamilton Sts., addressed to Messers. Jas G. Kitchen & Co, 55 N. Front St., Philadelphia.  Images source:  Ebay user B&A Postal History (check their store out, lots of nifty items for sale).

On the back of the postcard is the following handwritten note:

Gentlemen:
We shall make “B” noils(?) again in the course of a week or two.  We will then exchange the off bag for you if you so wish it.  Let us know if this will be satisfactory ? you ? oblige.
Yours Resp. [Respectfully] SB & BW Fleisher
B [Benjamin]

Postcard dated Nov 25, 1888 from SB & BW Fleisher

Front of 1888 Fleisher postcard

1892

Tariff reports, duties on woolen goods paid by S.B. & B.W. Fleisher, Star Braid Works

1893

Company name seen as Fleisher Worsted Works, Philadelphia in advertisements.

Farm, Stock and Home Volume 10 reports that S.B. & B.W. Fleisher, “yarn and braid manufacturers”, received “highest and only award” at world’s fair for their yarns.

Fleisher’s competition entry at the World’s Columbian Exposition 1893 Official Catalogue

Envelope postmarked December 14, 1893 addressed to Chenery(?) Manufacturing Company in Portland, Maine.

1894

Location:

  • 28 S. Sixth

June 27, 1894:  Bulletin No. 49. Committee on Finance, United States Senate.  Replies to Tariff Inquiries, Schedule K  – Wool, and Manufacturers Of.

1897

Marketing Communications

1898

Samuel S. Fleisher founds the Graphic Sketch Club offering free art classes for lower income boys in the Jewish Union building at at 422 Bainbridge Street.  This would grow fast, eventually becoming the Fleisher Art Museum which to this day, continues to provide art classes for the greater Philadelphia community “regardless of economic means, background, or artistic experience.”  More than 16,000 children and adults enjoy free and low cost art classes and workshops every year, along with outreach programs etc. provided to thousands of public school students annually.  Fleisher Art Museum web site (so nifty)

1900

April 14, 1900:  S.B. & B.W. Fleisher Company incorporates as S.B. & B.W. Fleisher, Inc., capital stock $700,000, surplus $700,000.

Fleisher registered a trademark for the following logo in 1900; this logo was primarily used on the various pattern books published by Fleisher:

1905

Ad Sense, Volume 19 article entitled “An Interesting Trademark Story” (and it is, indeed, interesting!)

1907

(I need to research this.  blah blah book printed 1990 reports Benjamin W. Fleisher lost “a considerable part of his personal fortune in stock market speculation” and had a “nervous breakdown”, and that in 1907, he went on a round-the-world trip stopping at Yokohama.  States he worked for The Japan Advertiser as a reporter then business manager, then bought the paper in 1908 – that’s a heck of a fast promotion from reporter to business manager to buying the paper in just a year!) https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_United_States_in_Asia/IWdZTaJdc6UC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=fleisher+yarn&pg=PA166&printsec=frontcover

Ahh … found out more details on what happened to Benjamin Wilfrid Fleisher!  From Dictionary of American Biography by Edward T. James and John Arthur (published 1973):  “Around the turn of the century he speculated heavily with both personal and company funds and ended by losing nearly $1 million.  Disgraced and disowned by the Fleisher family, he took his wife and young children to Paris.”  He then ended up in Japan where he achieved success with a newspaper, the Japan Advertiser, remaining in Japan until he sold the newspapers and printing plant to the Japan Times in October 1940 then returned to the United States.

1908

June 28, 1908:  Great article about Samuel S. Fleisher’s Fleisher School of Free Art (the next evolution of the Graphic Sketch Club); much easier to read at the Library of Congress link to this article.

1910

Blue Book Textile Directory reports capitalization $1,500,000.  S.B. Fleisher, President; E.A. Fleisher, Secretary and Treasurer.  “Braids, woolen yarns and 1 to 40 worsted yarns (Bradford System).”  “Dye and finish.”  “Employs 900.”

Locations:

Headquarters(??)

  • Main and Rector Streets, Manayunk, Pennsylvania (“Employ 700”)

Mill:

  • 25th and Hamilton Streets (presumably Philadelphia)

Salesrooms:

  • 8th and Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia
  • 500 Broadway, New York, New York “(Woolen and Worsted)”
  • 67 Chauncey Street, Boston, Massachusetts
  • 161 Market Street, Chicago, Illinois
  • 213 Hanover Street, Baltimore, Maryland
  • 154 Sutter Street, San Francisco, California
  • Charles Building, Denver, Colorado
  • “(Also Manayunk)”

Annual Report of the Free Library of Philadelphia, 18th Annual Report

The Manayunk branch [of the library established a] delivery station in the Fleisher Yarn Mill, and in a little more than three months about seventy reads’ cards had been taken out, and 475 books were issued.  Unfortunately, this work was interrupted by a strike in the neighborhood.

January 29, 1910:  Fibre and Fabric, Volume 51

1911

Interstate Commerce Commission Reports – Reports and Decisions of the Interstate Commerce Commission of the United States

 

1912

Poster Advertising

1913

Certified List of Domestic and Foreign Corporations Filed with the Recorder of Deeds, Office of Secretary of State, Illinois:  Lists S.B. & B.W. Fleisher, Incorporated, 266 S. Washington Street, Chicago.

1915

April 13, 1915, rehearing denied April 26, 1915:  Federal Reporter Volume 222 entry on Circuit Court of Appeals, Third Circuit ruling in S.B. & B.W. Fleisher, Inc. v. Abbott lawsuit, a dispute about the grading of wool quality.  (Note to self:  Need to read and summarize.  Pretty interesting little court case.)




[land purchase] The American Architect December 29, 1915, Volume 108 Issue 2088

1916

Samuel Fleisher’s Graphic Sketch Club continues to grow; they purchase and move into a Romanesque revival school building that used to be the Saint Martin’s College for Indigent Boys.

August 5, 1916:  Textile World Journal“New Spinning Plant:  Plans Prepared for S.B. & B.W. Fleisher New Worsted Mill

“Advertising That Turns Fads to Good Account”, Printers’ Ink August 10, 1916, Volume 96 Issue 6

September 23, 1916:  Textile World

October 28, 1916:  Textile World

November 4, 1916:  Textile World

1917

Fleisher’s builds a new, larger, factory in Philadelphia at 25th and Reed Streets, Philadelphia.

American Textile Reporter

Samuel B. Fleisher, of S.B. & B.W. Fleisher, Inc., worsted yarn spinners, and J. Franklin McFadden, of McFadden, Sands & Company, cotton dealers, were recently elected to the board of directors of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Red Cross, at Philadelphia.

Lists the following corporate officers:

  • Simon B. Fleisher, president, director
  • Benjamin W. Fleisher, vice president, directtor
  • Edwin A. Fleisher, treasurer, director
  • David Teller Fleisher, assistant treasurer, director
  • Samuel S. Fleisher, director
  • Arthur A. Fleisher, director

Locations:

Mills:

  • 25th and Hamilton Streets (“employ 900”)
  • Main and Rector Streets
  • Poor’s Government and Municipal Supplement reports “New plant, to cost approximately $2,000,000, is being erected by the company.  It will occupy entire city block from 25th to 26th streets, and from Dickinson to Reed Streets, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.”

Salesrooms:

  • 8th and Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • 18 East 17th Street, New York, New York
  • 67 Chauncy Street, Boston, Massachusetts
  • 125 South Market Street, Chicago, Illinois

Branch Office:

  • Manayunk, Pennsylvania (“employ 700”)

1918

January 1918:  Textile Colorist

April 13, 1918:  The Fleisher factory is pictured in an advertisement for buildings built with steel.  Source:  The Literary Digest, Volume 57

May 11, 1918, Textile World Journal Volume 53 prints this short, and rather funny, story about the opening of Fleisher’s new mill, assuring the public that the government has not taken over the new mill.  The article states this year is the 50th anniversary of the company, placing its origination in 1868.

1919

Locations:

  • “8th & Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania” [plus others]

Not entirely sure if 1919 or possibly earlier:  S.B. & B.W. Fleisher Manufacturing Company’s employees, with the support of the company, form an amateur soccer team called Fleisher Yarn.

February 1919:  National Engineer Volume 23, “New Philadelphia Power Plant Designed to Eliminate Three Old Plants and to Provide Ample Heat for Process Work from Exhaust Steam of Engines and Auxiliaries”.  Long article about how Fleisher built a new power plant to provide power for their factories and other buildings.  (Note to self:  Article is 4.5 pages long, need to read and summarize.)

May 11, 1919:  Simon B. Fleisher dies on May 11, 1919, at the age of 79 (born 1840).  “Mr. Fleisher was a native of Meadville, Pennsylvania” who, with his brother, incorporated S.B. & B.W. Fleisher in 1900 “… known throughout the United States for its liberal business policy and for the excellence of its products.”  Reported in the Bulletin of the National Association of Wool ManufacturersVolumes 49-50, 1919.

1920

Locations:

  • 807 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • (plus others just not confirmed)

Fleisher Yarn (soccer team) wins the Philadelphia Industrial League Championship for the 1920/1921 season.

Decisions of the War Department Board of Contract Adjustment, interesting case which really highlights some of the issues multiple yarn, wool, fabric and other suppliers encountered when WWI ended.  These and numerous other companies/suppliers/manufacturers had contracts with the government to produce products and/or provide services that suddenly, the government no longer wanted or needed.  (Note to self:  need to fully read this and summarize.)  While this particular case involves Farragut Textiles, Fleisher is involved in the case as a supplier.

(Side note:  When the war ended, Fleisher found itself with an overabundance of khaki and olive green wool and yarn that suddenly, *nobody* wanted to buy.  They couldn’t get rid of the stuff, and the government refused to take the wool and yarn.  Home knitters, burnt out after spending the prior years knitting socks, vests, hats, and more in these military colors, never wanted to see olive green or khaki or grey yarn again.  So what did Fleisher do?

They started weaving thin bits of brightly colored wool into the yarn, creating new yarn “colors” such as heather, an olive green yarn interwoven with red yarn that ended up very popular!  (need better picture)

Anne MacDonald mentions this historical tidbit in her 2010 book, No Idle Hands:  The Social History of Knitting (which is a really good read, I definitely recommend this book).

November 8, 1920:  Supreme Court Appellate Division – First Department.  Case on appeal.  Hearing in the Matter of the Arbitration between Ashley D. Adams and Ralph A. Powers, copartners, doing business under the firm name and style of Adams & Powers, and Rottenberg Sons Co., Inc., pursuant to an agreement of October 8, 1920; before Messrs. Horace Cervical. Jealous (Chairman), Stanley R. Stager and Jacob F. Brown, Arbitrators.  Huge wool delivery dispute, letters from Fleisher are in the exhibits and testimony, haven’t read it all yet, need to read/research and pull out anything interesting.

Smithsonian Institution, United States National Museum – Report on the Progress and Condition of the United States National Museum for the Year Ending June 30, 1919 (published 1920)

Note to self:  More stuff to read/research, some may be duplicates of above:

  • Decisions of the Appeal Section, War Department Claims Board Volume I-VIII. January 22, 1919 – August 26, 1921 · Volume 2 https://www.google.com/books/edition/Decisions_of_the_Appeal_Section_War_Depa/iS81AQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Fleisher
  • 1921:  Decisions of the War Department Board of Contract Adjustment Volume 5 https://www.google.com/books/edition/Decisions_of_the_War_Department_Board_of/IQYRAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Fleisher https://www.google.com/books/edition/Decision_of_the_War_Department_Board_of/2RVa8ADRFfcC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=S.B.+%26+B.W.+Fleisher&pg=PT1022&printsec=frontcover
  • 1920:  Decisions of the Appeal Section, War Department, Claims Board Successor to the Board of Contract Adjustment, V. 1-8, Jan. 1919-Aug. 1921 · Volume 2 https://www.google.com/books/edition/Decisions_of_the_Appeal_Section_War_Depa/n7tFAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=S.B.+%26+B.W.+Fleisher&pg=PA101&printsec=frontcover
  • 1925:  Cases Decided in the Court of Claims of the United States https://www.google.com/books/edition/Cases_Decided_in_the_Court_of_Claims_of/0VcdAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=S.B.+%26+B.W.+Fleisher&pg=PA408&printsec=frontcover
  • 1927:  Cases Decided in the Court of Claims of the United States https://www.google.com/books/edition/Cases_Decided_in_the_Court_of_Claims_of/h1sdAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=S.B.+%26+B.W.+Fleisher&pg=PA703&printsec=frontcover
  • 1920:  Decisions of the War Department Board of Contract Adjustment https://www.google.com/books/edition/Decisions_of_the_War_Department_Board_of/BdGgAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=fleisher

1921

March 1921:  Excerpt from the article “Home Knitting Craze is on the Wane Here”, found in Sweater News:  The Journal of the Sweater and Fancy Knit Goods Trade, Volume 8

April 1921:  Article “Samuel Fleisher Talks on Welfare Work” found in Sweater News:  The Journal of the Sweater and Fancy Knit Goods Trade, Volume 8

August 1921:  Plant-Restaurant Management magazine ran a fascinating (to me) article entitled “Systematized Recreation:  How the Fleisher Yarn Mills, at Philadelphia, Have Organized the Employees’ ‘Play Time’.”


 

October 1921:  Article “Pom Pom Bathing Skirts are Popular”, found in Sweater News:  The Journal of the Sweater and Fancy Knit Goods Trade, Volume 8

1922

Fleisher Yarn (soccer team) wins the Allied Amateur Cup of Philadelphia and the Telegraph Cup.

“The Fellowship of the Academy has hung an exhibit”, American Art News, June 17, 1922, Volume 20 Number 36

The Fellowship of the Academy has hung an exhibit in the rest room of the S.D. & B.W. Fleisher Yarn and Wool Factory at 25th and Reed streets.  The Exhibit is composed mostly of small pictures selected to interest the workers.  The Fellowship arranges many exhibitions of art works in factories and schools throughout the city.  -E.L.

1923

(Notes:  Still listed at 25th and Reed Streets, Stuart F. Louchheim listed as secretary of S.B. & B.W. Fleisher, Inc.)

Fleisher Yarn (soccer team) wins the Allied Amateur League, the Allied Amateur League Cup, the Allied Amateur Cup, the first-ever National Amateur Cup, and the American Cup.  Fleisher Yarn beat the professional soccer team of J&P Coats of the then American Soccer League to win the American Cup.

Smithsonian Institution United States National Museum, Report on the Progress and Condition of the United States National Museum for the Year Ending June 30, 1922

“A Consumer Contest to Stimulate Knitting”, Printers’ Ink April 26, 1923, Volume 123 Issue 4

May 1923:  Fleisher Yarns announces its first (and only) nationwide knitting contest, with $11,000 in cash prizes.  (There’s a great blog post here all about the contest and how it pretty much took the nation by storm:  https://bitsofhistory.vintageknitcrochet.net/2018/04/fleishers-1923-national-knitting-contest.html)

Fleisher Yarns knitting contest advertisement as seen in The People’s Home Journal, May 1923.

 

“Offer Prize for Best Knitter”, The Pathfinder May 12, 1923, Volume 30 Issue 1532

June 8, 1923:  The American Hebrew ran an article entitled “The Spirit of Cooperation:  Human Factor in Famous Philadelphia Industrial Plant” featuring Fleisher’s humanistic approach to how they treat their workers – 70 percent of which are women – how they pay them higher than average wages, have a welfare department, a well-equipped hospital with a registered nurse, their high worker safety stats, how their employees receive life insurance policies, health policy, sick benefits, all at no cost to the employee.  Fleisher’s plant also had a cafeteria providing low-cost meals, napping rooms, smoking room,  a roof garden, volleyball court, and an entertainment room with monthly live concerts, dances or movies for the employees and their families.  “There are exhibitions of fine paintings displayed in the rest room” and “Every Tuesday at noon, a lawyer sits in consultation on the legal problems that come up ever day to worry and harass the employees.  Rent gougers, divorces, desertion cases, insurance problems, all are brought to his attention for help and advice.”


“Wins $2000.00 in The Fleisher Yarns Knitting Contest”, Lincoln Star (Nebraska), August 27, 1923

 

August 27, 1923:  The Victoria Daily Advocate (Victoria, Texas)

“Working People Buy Prints”, The Art News October 13, 1923, Volume 22 Issue 1

November 10, 1923:  Textile World and Industrial Record, Volume 64, Issue 19 reports that S.B. & B.W. Fleisher, Inc. purchased “the rights to all of the Corticelli brands of hand knitting yarns” as “Corticelli Silk Co. is discontinuing its knitting yarn business.”  (Huh, I never knew that Corticelli became part of Fleisher!)

November 17, 1923:  Textile World and Industrial Record, Volume 64, Issue 19


December 1923:  Image from Commercial America, Volume 20, 1923

Image from Commercial America, Volume 20, 1923

1924

Fleisher Yarn (soccer team) became a professional soccer team and joined the American Soccer League.

Caduceus Volume 39, Issue 4 by Kappa Sigma Fraternity reports on the marriage of Elizabeth Wyman, who won first prize ($2,000) in Fleisher Yarn’s recent nationwide knitting contest.  She married Allan Wescott, and they honeymooned in the Thousand Islands.

According to The Sports Hall of Fame Encyclopedia, James Gallagher and Bartholomew “Bart” McGhee played on the Fleisher Yarn soccer team from 1924 to 1925.  (The team’s name was Fleisher Yarn.)

1925

Poor’s Industrial

Locations:

  • “Mills located at 25th and Reed Streets, Philadelphia”
  • “Sales offices at Chicago, New York, Boston and San Francisco”

Officers:

  • B.W. Fleisher, president, director
  • S.S. Fleisher, vice president, director
  • E.A. Fleisher, treasurer, director
  • D.T. Fleisher, assistant treasurer, director
  • S.F. Louchheim, secretary, director
  • A.A. Fleisher, director
  • George Cascaden, director

Excerpt of Fleisher’s entry in The Fitch Bond Book Describing the Most Important Bond Issues of the United States and Canada:

The company’s plant, consisting of six buildings, occupies an entire city block at Reed and 25th Streets., Philadelphia.  Appurtenant to the building is 150,000 sq. ft. of ground and in addition the company owns 118,000 sq. ft. in an adjacent block.  The Pennsylvania R.R. [railroad] runs along one full side of the plant, with siding into the plant. … The sound value of the entire property, including machinery and equipment, was appraised as of June, 1924, by the Manufacturers Appraisal Co. at over $4,800,000.  The buildings were appraised June, 1924, by William Steele & Sons Co. as having a reproduction value in excess of $2,600,000.  The land was appraised June, 1924, by Edgar G. Gross, Philadelphia, at $373,000.  [Entry later states 1924 gross revenue of $2,109,033; net $142,587.]

Fleisher Yarn (professional soccer team), after just one season in the American Soccer League, disbands the team.

August 27, 1925:  Letter from Ethel M. Sudders to Mr. Lee Nusbaum

August 27, 1925.

Mr. Lee Nusbaum,
1119 N. Howard St.,
Philadelphia, Penna.

Dear Mr. Nusbaum:-

In Mr. Fleisher’s absence, I wish to acknowledge receipt of the estimate submitted by A. Raymond Raff Company, relative to the proposed changes in the Lucien Moss Home.

As soon as Mr. Fleisher returns to the city, which will be the end of the coming week, the same will be brought to his attention.

I beg to remain,
Yours very truly,
[signed] Ethel M. Sudders

1926

Poor’s Industrial Section: Something definitely happened in 1925/1926 … Poor’s reports substantially different board of directors/management team.

Locations:

  • “Mills located at 25th and Reed Streets”
  • “Sales offices at Chicago, New York, San Francisco and Atlanta”  [?? closed Boston, opened Atlanta, since 1925??]

Officers:

  • Andrew S. Webb, president, director
  • John J. Hosey, vice president, director
  • S.F. Louchheim, vice president, director
  • Fritz Quittner, treasurer, director
  • D.T. Fleisher, secretary, director [wow … only one Fleisher left at head of company?  Is that correct?]
  • Chas. [Charles] J. Webb, director
  • Morris Wolf, director
  • Karl F. Behr, director

Looks like Fleisher bought out two other companies – Hosey Worsted and Roosevelt Mills.

Effective July 1, 1926, Company, Hosey Worsted Co., Inc., and Roosevelt Mills, of Phila., were combined.  Business will continue under Company’s name and all of mills involved will be moved into present Fleisher plant.

From An Introduction to Retail Advertising

1927

“Fleisher Gives Consumer Guarantee”, Textile World March 26, 1927, Volume 71 Issue 13

“Yarn Manufacturer Assumes Full Burden of Quality Guarantee”, Printers’ Ink April 7, 1927, Volume 139 Issue 1

“New Fleisher Policy Commended”, Textile World June 18, 1927, Volume 71 Issue 25

“How Important Are the Terms of a Guarantee?”, Printers’ Ink July 28, 1927, Volume 140 Issue 4

July 1927:  National Knitted OUTERwear BULLETIN, The Convention Edition

1928

“Trips”, Girard College Magazine:  Commencement Issue January 1928

“Fleisher Yarn Account for Baltimore Agency”, Printers’ Ink May 17, 1928, Volume 143 Issue 7

January-June 1928:  Treasure Decisions under Customs and Other Laws, United States Department of Treasure, Volume 53

1934

“Knitting Revival”, The Business Week March 24, 1934

1939

“Yarn Display Contest Winners Announced”, Display World June 1939, Volume 34 Issue 6

1940

“Awards Announced For Yarn Display”, Display World January 1940, Volume 36 Issue 1

1941

Chain Store Age

Locations:

  • 32 Mercer Street, New York, New York

1944

January 20th, 1944:  Samuel S. Fleisher dies, “leaving his estate in trust to the Philadelphia Museum of Art for the for the perpetuation of the Graphic Sketch Club. In his memory, the Graphic Sketch Club became the Samuel S. Fleisher Art Memorial.”  Fleisher Art Museum is the oldest community art school in the United States.

1946

Benjamin Wilfrid Fleisher (B.W. Fleisher) dies.

1953

Fleisher Yarns, Long Island City, New York

1955

“New Styles On Display For Knitters”, Northrop News March 2, 1955

New Styles on Display for Knitters
A “Fashion in Knits” show, sponsored by the NRC Knitting Club, will be presented at 7:30 p.m. on March 16 in the NRC Clubhouse, club commissioner Nina Shannon announces.

The show will feature on and two-piece dresses and blouses knitted professionally by representatives of the Fleisher Yarn Company.  Norcrafter ladies will model the designs.

Patterns for all fashions shown will be available to all ladies interested.  Tea will be served following the program.

There will be no charge for the event.  However, admittance will be by reservation only.  Reservations may be made by calling PA&S offices, Plants 1 and III, or the El Segundo Number Two facility office, extension 403.  Reservations deadline is Monday, March 14.

1959

“Edwin A. Fleisher” obituary.  Musical America January 15, 1959, Volume 79 Issue 2


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