One of the pioneers in making watch bracelets, Providence based company Hadley originally sold its product only to other jewelry manufacturers. Therefore, it was not known as a Hadley brand until 1921, when the company started to sell directly to the wholesale trade.

A native of Capetown, South Africa, Art Hadley (1885 – 27 May, 1941) came to the USA with his parents in 1888. The family settled in Providence. Art Hadley founded Hadley Co and was its president and treasurer for over twenty years. George A Ingleby was vice-president and general manager of Hadley Co. Charles A Mealy, the man who patented the first metal watch attachment, was general manager, and J. W. Springer was the publicity manager.

Business expansion

According to The Jewelers’ Circular (1925), Hadley Co factory on Chestnut Street employed more than 150 people. In December 1927 Hadley opened a new factory that occupied the two-story building at Dexter, Ford and Harrison Streets, Providence. Also, the New York office of Hadley Co located at 15 Maiden Lane moved to new quarters at 20 W. 47th St.

Advertising campaign

For many years The Hadley Co. published a complete catalog showing their entire line of watch attachments and men’s jewelry. The artistic 1939 catalog called attention to the fact that the number of Hadley watch bracelets sold has reached a figure well over 30,000,000. Hadley’s national advertising campaign included full pages in Vogue, Fortune, Esquire, Harper’s Bazaar and other magazines.

Art Hadley

51-year-old Hadley retired in 1937 because of ill health. Art Hadley served in the British Army in the World War as a lieutenant. He was a 32nd Degree Mason and a founder of the British Empire Club of Providence. At the close of the World War in which he had fought in Mesopotamia, Hadley remained in England for 18 months establishing and managing his optical firm. He visited the English concern about three times a year.

After the death of Art Hadley in 1941, the company continued to work for some time. However, in 1952 Frances E. Hadley —Art’s wife, sold the Hadley Company to Elgin National Watch Company. A subsidiary of the Elgin National Watch Company, Hadley general offices moved to Illinois.

The Hadley Exhibit

Words can hardly express the beauty of the layout. It was the reproduction of a garden in Italy on the Mediterranean. The house was of stucco with a large portico. This was thickly covered with grape vines, lanterns, flagstone walk to the house and on each side was grass. Garden furniture in red, cement benches and ferns, electric signs with the name of Hadley put on the sides and front of the portico.

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