German-born Wilhelm Forstner (1878 – 1962) came to the United States in 1914 and became known as William Forstner, founder of the famous Forstner Chain Corp of 646 Nye Ave, Irvington, N.J. However, before that happened, William had to face serious problems at the beginning of his journey.

An experienced and wealthy jeweler from Profzheim, Germany, William Forstner started his jewelry business in Providence, Rhode Island. By 1916, he had founded his own company, W Forstner Co, and also owned other companies. Among them, in particular, Automatic Gold Chain Co, F Speidel Co, and Paul Stierle Co, 56 Pine St, Providence.

The Forstner-controlled concerns also included General Manufacturing and Exporting Co, 36 Garnet St; W A H. Wells Co, 71 Narragansett Ave, Edgewood, and the S & W Machine Co, 21 Eddy St, all of Providence. Notably, William Forstner managed the companies in partnership with his brother, Walter Forstner (1884 – 1979).

However, by 1918 he had lost all of his companies and factories. It was World War I, and the enemy was Germany. Wilhelm Forstner, his brother, Walter Forstner, and seven other Germans, most of them employees of the Forstners, were arrested by orders from the Department of Justice. All were declared “dangerous enemy aliens,” enemies, and held for more than a year in a federal detention camp at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia.

History of Forstner Chain Corporation (1916-1964)

As early as 1920, William Forstner, through his persistence and lawsuits, returned to the jewelry business. He filed articles of incorporation for Forstner Chain Corp, 646 Nye Ave, Irvington, NJ. The authorized capital was $100,000. The founders were William Forstner, Walter Forstner, and Harvey T. Andrews.

During World War II, Forstner Corporation supplied orders to the US military and even received an award for this contribution. More than 500 employees worked for the Forstner Chain Corp in 1942.

Retirement of William Forstner

According to September 1955 note in Jewelers’ Circular, William Forstner, president of the Forstner Chain Corp, announced his retirement from active management of the corporation and the reorganization of the enterprise. The two separate corporations, Forstner, Inc “will manufacture jewelry and related items, and the King Manufacturing Corp, will make chain and other constructions for the jewelry industry. The latter company will also make industrial components for civilian and military equipment”.

Rudolph H. Bernau, previously general sales manager, became president, and Joachim Schwarz had been appointed executive vice-president in charge of plant operations. Forstner continued to maintain its manufacturing headquarters at the Irvington plant with showrooms and offices in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. The reorganized companies had been active for a little less than a decade, and entered bankruptcy in 1964.

Forstner Vintage Costume Jewelry