The history of the Kestenman Bros Mfg Co began in Providence, Rhode Island in 1916. Originally it was a small jewelry workshop of the eldest brother Abraham (1894 – 1965), who came to the United States from Austria in 1910. He opened his workshop on Clifford Street, Providence and began manufacturing cameos, lingerie clasps, bracelets, and scarf pins.

His other brothers, Charles H. Kestenman (1896 – 1943), Louis (1898 – 1987) and Max (1901 – 1976) joined the family business in 1917. According to statements filed at the Providence City Hall in 1918, the founders of Kestenman Bros Mfg Co., 109 Friendship St., were Abraham and Charles H. Kestenman.

Since its founding in 1918, the company has experienced continuous growth. Although the Kestenman Brothers made silver and gold brooches and pendants, they put a special emphasis on their bracelets.

Regular advertisements for their bracelets appeared for decades in many fashion magazines. These were patented watch bracelets with gold filling and nickel, as well as straps made of colored leather and even wood.

Abraham Kestenman left the company in 1938 to found Colonial Manufacturing, a jewelry company. He retired in 1950 and went into the restaurant business.

The company’s president, Charles H. Kestenman led the company from 1938 until his premature death in 1943. A native of Austria, Kestenman came to the United States as a boy and spent his entire adult life making jewelry. He was also the inventor of all the bracelet and clasp designs that his company patented.

A man of the arts, Charles Kestenman attended the Rhode Island School of Design and was a member of the Utopian Club, an organization of artists and craftsmen in southern New England.

After Charles’ death, his brother Max took over the company, while his brother Louis managed the office and financial matters. A nephew of Louis, Morton Zisquit, worked for the company for 40 years.

Kestenman Brothers Manufacturing Company History

In 1948, the company headed by Max Kestenman, moved to a new building with the latest equipment, located at 280 Kinsley Ave., Providence. Factory warehouses, showrooms and office space, rest areas for workers and parking occupied more space.

Kestenman Bros. Mfg. Co. produced several lines of bracelets and jewelry under the brand names “Kestenmade”, “Peerless” and “Sentinel”, Handi-Fold, and “Ristmaster”. Remarkably, the following year “Kestenmade” watch straps also appeared in television advertising.

Samuel Kestenman, son of Max and Pauline Kestenman, was active in the company for 35 years and became president in the 1970s. After his death in 1986 the Kestenman Bros. Mfg. Company ceased to exist.