While still a teenager, Bayard F. Brogan (1888-1966) began his career as an apprentice in jewelry workshops of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1908, after several years of hard work, he and a partner founded a small workshop at 805 Sansom Street. Within a few years, his firm had grown into a major manufacturer of gold and platinum mountings manufacturer known from coast to coast.

A self-taught jeweler, Brogan became a professional, inventor, designer, and expert, earning recognition from his peers. In the 1920s, his lectures on modern jewelry production methods were attended by members of the National Association of Jewelers.

Brogan illustrated his lectures with instructive lantern slides, and described the production of seamless wedding rings, the modernization of antique jewelry, the production of steel stamps, engraving, molding, and so on.

In addition, Brogan’s firm published brochures, and distributed them to industry representatives for the convenience of buyers. These were not just well-illustrated catalogs with brief descriptions and prices, but also an informative overview of style and design.

The “Arbutus” clasp, claimed to be the first innovation in clasp construction in 100 years. The principle on which the clasp worked was radically different, was safe from loss and had many other features which appealed to the retail jewelers.

New president – Byard F Brogan Jr

Byard F Brogan Jr. (1931 – 2016), the son of Byard F Brogan and Elizabeth A Brogan, grew up and was educated in Episcopal Academy of Philadelphia. After graduating in 1949, Byard began working with his father as a partner, and since 1952 as president.

Following his father’s death in 1966, Byard Jr. became the sole owner of Byard F Brogan, Inc. By this time, the company was located at 8th and Walnut Streets, and in 1966, it moved to Glenside, just outside Philadelphia. Byard retired after 60 years with the company, which served many of the country’s most prestigious retailers.

Louis F. Earle

Among the notable designers of Byard F Brogan company was Louis F. Earle. He was a veteran of over 50 years in the jewelry industry. Louis Earle studied art at the Philadelphia Museum of Fine Art and also at schools in France and Germany during the early part of the century. He entered the employ of Byard F Brogan in July, 1920, where he served faithfully until his death in 1950.

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