Button House B Blumenthal & Co
The history of the oldest Button House B. Blumenthal & Co., began in 1877 under the name Blumenthal and Blanchard. Located at 70 Franklin Street, a bustling New York City commercial district known for its dry goods, textiles, and manufacturing, Blumenthal and Blanchard remained in business until 1880.
After Blanchard’s retirement in 1880, management passed to Benjamin Blumenthal. When his nephew, Gustav Blumenthal, joined the firm as a partner, their business became known as B. Blumenthal & Co. At the turn of the century, Alfred Blumenthal, Gustav Blumenthal’s brother, joined the firm.
The second and third generation
The Blumenthal brothers became the second generation to successfully manage the family business for the next twenty years. In 1919, Gustav and Alfred Blumenthal retired. Emanuel Newberger, who worked for retail department stores in New York and was the chief European buyer, took over the company. The company’s management also included his son, Monroe Newberger, and Robert G Blumenthal, Gustav Blumenthal’s son.
Monroe Newberger – new president
In December 1926, as the company celebrated its fiftieth anniversary, important changes occurred. Emanuel Newberger and Robert G. Blumenthal retired from the company, which then became a corporation led by president Monroe Newberger. He led the corporation for the next 12 years until his death on October 19, 1938.
Paul Hellman
In 1938, Paul Hellman, previously secretary-treasurer, became president of B Blumenthal & Co., Inc., manufacturers, importers and exporters of buttons and buckles. According to New York Times, October 27, 1938, Hellman retained the office of treasurer. Other managers of the firm included Dorothy Lee, secretary, Sidney L. Jaeger and Irwin Waldstein. Located at 1410 Broadway, the firm moved to 1372 Broadway, New York.
La Mode division
B Blumenthal & Co Sold buttons under the trademark La Mode to department and dry goods stores throughout the entire United States. Nationally advertised firm made the name La Mode a synonym of fashion rightness. In the late 1940s, the La Mode division of B Blumenthal & Co published a 50-page book, “It’s All Done with Buttons”.
The book laid out in an engaging way everything you need to know about buttons, which are much more than just buttonholes. It was full of ideas for using buttons not only as new fashion accents for clothing but also to create all sorts of gifts and gadgets.
Merger with Lansing Button
In 1986 B Blumenthal & Co purchased the Lansing Button of Lansing Co, Iowa. Nine years later B Blumenthal & Co consolidated with the Lansing Co and moved all its packaging and distribution to the Lansing, Iowa location. Thus, the company with more than 100 years of history ceased to exist in 1995.
It is important to note that, along with buttons made in a variety of styles and designs from a variety of materials – plastic, resin, celluloid, metal, wood, etc., the company also produced costume jewelry.
