New York Jewelry Manufacturer Charles Keller & Co
The history of the New York company Chas Keller & Co., which was a continuation of the Keller & Untermeyer business, began in 1873. The company’s founder, David Untermeyer, along with Alexander Keller, who later became his son-in-law, launched Keller & Untermeyer in New York in 1870.
Keller & Untermeyer was initially a wholesale jewelry business. Alexander Keller died in 1873, and David Untermeyer (1841-1900) took over the business and became the de facto founder of Charles Keller & Co. In 1875, Keller & Untermeyer Mfg entered the jewelry market under the name Charles Keller & Co.
As a result, Keller & Untermeyer Mfg Co dissolved. Noteworthy, David Untermeyer simultaneously managed the Chicago branch of his old company, D Untermeyer & Co., which he founded in 1866. He also closed this firm.
Family owned business
David Untermeyer admitted his brother, Henry Untermeyer to the business as a general partner. Chas Keller & Co developed one of the leading wholesale jewelry businesses in the country. The business continued as a partnership of the old members.
Emanuel Untermeyer joined the business in 1881. David’s son, Charles S Untermeyer, also became a partner in 1892 and retired in 1915.
In 1902, Henry, Emanuel, and Charles Untermeyer founded Untermeyer-Robbins Co., forming a corporation with Meyer L Robbins. Both Charles Keller & Co and Untermeyer-Robbins Co continued in business and became leading manufacturers of gold jewelry and rings.
Incorporation
In 1907 Charles Keller & Co became corporation with a capital stock $500,000. The officers were Henry Untermeyer, president; F A Schuetz, vice-president; Charles S Untermeyer, treasurer, and Emanuel Untermeyer, secretary. Henry Untermeyer (1849 – 1913) led Charles Keller & Co, 71 Nassau Street, New York, until his death in 1913.
David Utnermeyer
The head of the firms of Keller & Untermeyer Mfg Co and Charles Keller & Co, David Untermeyer was one of the most prominent members of the New York jewelry trade. He was born in Boston in December, 1841, and when a young man went to New York and learned watchmaking with Wilt of New York and Brooklyn.
Later, David Utnermeyer went to Georgia, and there worked at the watchmaking trade. About 1866 David Untermeyer started in business in Chicago for himself under the firm name of D Untermeyer & Co. Then, about 1873, he, with Alexander P Keller formed the firm of Keller & Untermeyer, the predecessor of Chas Keller & Co.
David Untermey’s three sons, Charles S Untermeyer, Milton Untermeyer, and the third, Leonard Untermeyer, and his two brothers, Henry and Emanuel Untermeyer ran the company. Following the death of David Untermeyer in 1900, his brother Henry took over the family business.
President of Chas Keller & Co 1901 – 1913 Henry Untermeyer
One of the most prominent members of the jewelry trade, Henry Untermeyer received his education, and in 1864 followed his brother David to Chicago, and then in New York. In 1874 Henry Untermeyer was admitted to partnership to the firm of Keller & Untermeyer, and in 1875 Charles Keller & Co. Henry Untermeyer was president of Untermeyer, Robbins & Co. and Charles Keller & Co., which offices he held from 1901 to 1913.
Henry Untermeyer’s sons, Melville, who joined the business in 1896, and Walter in 1903, as well as Louis, Emanuel Untermyer’s son, were active in the management of the company. They took over their respective positions after their fathers’ deaths.
1913 – 1918, Emanuel Untermeyer
President of Untermeyer, Robbins & Co. and Chas Keller & Co., 71 Nassau Street, New York, Emanuel Untermeyer (1855 – 1918) was one of the most influential manufacturing jewelers of the USA. He was born in Boston in 1855. In 1871 Emanuel Untermeyer and his brothers began their business career in partnership with Alexander Keller, establishing the concern of Keller & Untermeyer.
In 1902, Emanuel Untermeyer, in connection with his brother Henry and M L Robbins, founded the concern of Untermeyer, Robbins & Co. At the time of his death in 1918 Emanuel Untermeyer was president of both of these companies.
His son Louis was a member of the firm of Chas Keller & Co, and a younger son, Martin, was actively associated with Untermeyer, Robbins & Co. The officers of both firms were: Meyer L Robbins, president; Louis Untermeyer, vice-president; Melville Untermeyer, treasurer ; Walter Untermeyer, secretary, and Martin Untermeyer, assistant secretary.
Chas Keller & Co craftsmen created finger rings, bar pins, belt buckles, brooches, chains, cuff pins, fobs, link buttons, tie clasps, all made of or plated with precious metal. They marked their jewelry pieces with two letters CK, the karat weight of gold or silver. The last mention of the company dates back to 1934.
