Anshen Zetlin A&Z Chain Company History
Before founding A. & Z. Chain Company in February 1905, Charles Anshen and Salind Zetlin had been partners in another jewelry business for three years. They established Boston Jewelry Manufacturing Company at 373 Washington Street, Boston in 1902.
Their firm manufactured mountings for the trade. They sold their Boston business to Louis J Anshen in June 1905, after founding A & Z in Providence. The new company’s name consisted of the initials A and Z, reflecting the founders’ surnames.
Originally located at 9 Calender Street, Providence, Rhode Island, the company manufactured chains, watch bracelets, and jewelry. Noteworthy, A&Z jewelry advertisements first appeared in the Jewelers’ Circular as early as 1905. In January 1909, A&Z moved to larger premises at 116 Chestnut Street, where it remained for several decades.
Business Expansion
Their jewelry was in high demand, leading to expansion and the opening of new offices and subsidiaries in other cities — New York, Chicago, and San Francisco. In January 1916, they opened an office on the 16th floor of the Goldsmiths’ and Silversmiths’ Building, 15 Maiden Lane, in lower Manhattan. Benjamin Gross represented the firm in New York.
Incorporation of A & Z Chain Co
On 18 February 1918, A & Z Chain Co. filed articles of incorporation with a capital stock of $50,000. The founders were Charles Anshen, Salkind Zetlin, and George W. Bugbee. The company continued to manufacture and sell jewelry at their previous address 116 Chestnut Street. Charles Anshen was elected president and Salkind Zetlin, secretary-treasurer.
Charles Anshen (1876 – 1928)
Moscow-born jeweler Charles Anshen immigrated to the United States in 1898 and settled in Boston, Massachusetts. He partnered with Julius Shea to found the jewelry firm Anshen & Shea at 345 Washington Street. In May 1901, Anshen & Shea moved to the Jewelers’ Building in Boston. However, at the end of that year, Anshen and Shea dissolved their partnership by mutual consent.
In early 1902, Anshen formed a partnership with jeweler Salind Zetlin, founding Boston Jewelry Mfg. Co at 373 Washington St., Boston. To expand the business, they opened A & Z Chain Co., in February 1905.
Salkind Zetlin (1875 – 1920)
Salkind Zetlin came to the United States in 1891 and found work as a jeweler in New York City and Newark. A few years later, he moved to Lowell, Massachusetts, where he partnered with Nathan Stahl to retail jewelry under the Stahl & Zetlin brand. He soon bought out Stahl’s interest and continued to operate independently.
In 1902, Zetlin and Anshen began a long-standing partnership, first in Boston and then in Providence. It’s worth noting that Anshen and Zetlin were not just business partners but also good friends with much in common. They were both the same age, mastered the jewelry trade in Russia, immigrated to the United States, and both lived short lives. After Zetlin’s death in 1920, Anshen’s health declined, leading to his retirement from the business in 1923.
From 1920 to 1923, Benjamin Zetlin, son of Salkind Zetlin, and his widow, Linna Zetlin, managed the entire business of A. & Z. Chain Co.
Benjamin H. Rossman (1892-1964)
In March 1923, the shareholders of A & Z Corporation elected Benjamin Rossman president. Benjamin H. Rossman had previously served as treasurer of Hanover Jewelry Mfg. corporation in Boston, Massachusetts. He sold his stake in the company and joined A & Z Chain Co., of Providence, replacing the retiring Charles Anshen. Rossman became president of the A&Z corporation that same year.
Benjamin H. Rossman became the sole owner of the A. & Z. Corporation and moved the firm to 95 Chestnut Street. In 1964 the company merged with Hayward and later became known as A & Z Hayward, 655 Waterman Street, East Providence.
A&Z jewelry line consisted of gold brooches, pendants, neck chains, lockets, fobs, extension bracelets, chatelaines, and link buttons. They stamped their name and quality on every article they made.
