E. Maritz Jewelry Manufacturing Company History
Edward Ferdinand Maritz (1863–1929) established E Maritz Jewelry Manufacturing Company in 1894. Located at 104 N. Sixth street, St. Louis, Missouri, Maritz specialized in manufacturing, engraving, designing, fine diamond work, repairing and importing diamonds and precious stones.
In April 1909 Edward Maritz and Samuel Kober formed a partnership and renamed the Maritz-Kober Jewelry Mfg Co to the Maritz-Kober Jewelry Mfg Co. Noteworthy, previously Samuel Kober was secretary of the E Maritz Jewelry Mfg Co, and looked after the business during the absence of Edward Maritz.
Maritz-Kober partnership
The ‘No Falling Out’ advertising design of the Maritz-Kober Jewelry Mfg Co made a hit. The design showed the heads of a young man and a young woman in the act of kissing, and presented the idea that there will be no “falling out” if the setting is done by that firm. The firm received many complimentary allusions to the design.
However, the Maritz-Kober partnership proved short-lived, and in mid-1910 the company returned to its former name E. Maritz Jewelry Mfg Co. The company operated under this name until 1921.
The firm in 1914
In 1914 the Maritz Jewelry Mfg Co celebrated 20th anniversary with redecorated offices at 6th and Olive Streets. Edward Maritz was president, F Maritz – vice-president and treasurer; R. D. Pizar, secretary. Other officers and employes included J A Maritz, F. G. Raeuper, R. Willer, W. Kaiser, E. Willmering, O. Meyer, L. Hopmann, A. Denner, A. Miller, W. Gummersheimer, A. Kuhn, L. H. Rudolph, L. Drewes, and more.
Business expansion, 1917
The opened new quarters in the Columbia building, 8th and Locust Streets. New furnishings in the office and new equipment in the factory gave the establishment an air of complete up-to-dateness. The Maritz Jewelry Mfg Co added a line of gold and gold filled watch bracelets, in connection with the firm’s general line.
Maritz Watch & Mfg Co
In 1921 he Maritz Jewelry Mfg Co became known as the Maritz Watch & Mfg Co. Located in the Columbia building, the firm increased its capital stock from $50,000 to $100,000. The company also extended its business by opening a large branch office in Los Angeles, California, in charge of F. G. Frey, who was well known among the jewelry trade.
Bankruptcy
Incorporated with a capital stock of $25,000, The Maritz Watch Co succeeded the Maritz Watch Mfg Co, a 30-year-old corporation. The new concern continued the same policy as the old company, with the offices and factory in the same location, and the same management.
One of the oldest jewelry companies, Maritz is a continuing family business that has been run by several generations for 130 years.
