Officially established in 1911, Brock & Co was an internationally known retail jewelry firm of Los Angeles which began its history in 1903 as Brock & Feagans. Its founders were George Alexander Brock (1859 – 1938) and George E Feagans (1861 – 1935).

Brock and Feagans were partners in business for many years. Before moving to California, they were members of the same firm in Joliet, Illinois. The dissolution of their partnership in July 1911 came as a great surprise to most of the city’s businessmen. However, in place of the already well-known firm of Brock & Feagans, two firms emerged: Brock & Co and Feagans & Co.
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It is generally accepted that the history of the Trabert & Hoeffer jewelry company began in 1926. However, this is not entirely true. In fact, its history began in 1921, when Rudolph J Trabert established Trabert and Plimpton firm, Fifth Ave, at 44th Street, New York city.

Rudolph J Trabert (1869 – 1930) was a second-generation jeweler whose father Anton Trabert owned a jewelry store A Trabert at 305 Bleecker Street, New York. In 1894 Rudolph Trabert joined his father’s business, and the firm changed name to A Trabert & Son. Later, Anton Trabert admitted that his son “has made extensive alterations in his store”.
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Born in New York and educated in Kansas City, Missouri, Irving H Laykin (1906 – 1966) was a well-known diamond dealer in Los Angeles. He founded Laykin Diamond Company at the corner of 5th Street and Spring Street in 1929. Three years later his younger brother Solomon W Laykin (1910 – 1993), lawyer by education, joined Laykin Diamond Company.

Having accumulated the necessary capital, Solomon Laykin opened his own jewelry store “Laykin et Cie” on Sunset Boulevard in 1935. Four years later, by invitation of I. Magnin, the upscale boutique on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, he moved his store there. From that time on, his jewelry company became known as Laykin et Cie at I. Magnin.
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Founded in 1868 by Damon Greenleaf (1834 – 1895), the firm of Greenleaf & Crosby was one of the best known in the jewelry industry. Damon Greenleaf started very modestly, with watch repair counter and a small showcase containing articles of jewelry.

In 1868, Greenleaf opened his store on Bay Street, which became one of the most beautiful of its kind in the South and was a success from the start. In 1880, he took J W Pomeroy and J H Crosby, Jr, as partners, and the firm became D Greenleaf & Co. Pomeroy retired in 1883, and the firm changed its name to Greenleaf & Crosby.
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Franklin Oliver Udall (1865–1952) and his brother-in-law, Herbert Ralph Ballou (1858–1907), founded the jewelry firm Udall & Ballou, Inc., in 1888 at Newport, Rhode Island. A year later, they opened their headquarters at 499 Fifth Avenue in New York City and a store at 574 Fifth Ave. Their partnership dissolved with the death of Herbert Ballou in 1907.

Frederick William Barthman (1842-1914), who worked for the firm, bought out Herbert Ballou’s share. His sons also served in the management of Udall & Ballou. Frederick Barthman dedicated his entire life to the jewelry business, which he held for over 50 years. Born in Hamburg, Germany, Frederick Barthman became one of the leading retailers in downtown New York City.
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The business of Marcus & Co dates back to 1869, and was practically a continuation of the old business of Alexander Rumrill at 264 Broadway. When talking about the Marcus company, it is necessary to remember George B. Jacques (1845 – 1910), who stood at its origins.

Born in Mattawan, New Jersey, George B. Jacques began his jewelry career in the firm of Alexander Rumrill. In 1869 George B Jacques and his partner succeeded to the business. They formed the firm of Jacques & Stephens, and soon George Jacques took over the firm.
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The history of the oldest American company Black, Starr & Frost began in 1810 at 166 Broadway, New York. In fact, different sources list different names of the founders of the company. For example, the New York Times of July 10, 1910, and the Jewelers’ Circular of May 4, 1910, mention Erastus Barton as the company’s founder.

Meanwhile, the Jewelers’ Circular of May 4, 1929, mentions Isaac Marquand (1766-1838) as the founder of Black Starr & Frost. Later, Erastus Barton, known in London and New York as a silverware and jewelry designer, joined Isaac Marquand. In any case, both Erastus Barton and Isaac Marquand were at the origins of the company.
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