Shiman-Miller Mfg. Co began its history in 1905 doing business under the ESEMCO jewelry trademark. The name ESEMCO means S-M Co, in accordance with the first letters of the Shiman-Miller Mfg. Co. One of the founders was Abraham Shiman (1876 – 1946), born on Thanksgiving Day in Syracuse, New York. His family moved to New York, where at the age of 13 Abraham went into the jewelry business at Jacob Strauss & Co.

In 1895 he joined the jewelry firm of his brothers David and Nathan, Shiman Brothers & Co., 39 Maiden Lane, New York. Having earned the initial capital, Abraham Shiman, in partnership with Simon Miller, founded Shiman-Miller Mfg. Co. in 1905. Their firm began manufacturing gold jewelry under the ESEMCO trademark at 144 Maiden Lane, New York.

A year later, Shiman-Miller Mfg. Co. moved to 391 Mulberry St. in Newark, New Jersey. In 1925, Miller left the firm and Shiman changed the name to Shiman Manufacturing Co., Inc. The personnel remained the same. Nor did the firm’s policy, which it had followed for twenty years, of distributing its products only through wholesale.

The firm’s representatives, as before, were Nathan Heyman, Michael Peyser and Louis Federman. In addition, Abraham sons, Daniel Shiman (1905-1995) and Leonard Shiman (1902-1990) also worked for their father’s firm since the 1920s.

In 1936, Shiman firm moved to a plant on Monroe Street in Newark, where they occupied the third and fourth floors. The old Shiman Company plant was purchased by the Baker Company to expand the firm’s operations. During World War II, the firm began manufacturing insignia jewelry and various items, putting its many years of experience to use in wartime applications.

Shiman Jewelry Manufacturing Company History

Abraham Shiman led the company as president until his death in 1946. His son, Leonard Shiman, took over the Shiman Manufacturing Co., Inc., 113 Monroe St., Newark, N.J.

in 1947, Shiman announced the purchase of all assets of Craft Company, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana, including tools, dies, and merchandise.

Craft Company, which was a prominent ring manufacturer for over 80 years, was originally founded in 1865 as Craft & Koehler. In 1904, it became A. P. Craft & Co., Inc., and in 1923, it took over the Craft Company name. At one time, it absorbed the Newark firm of Riker Bros., founded in 1840.

In December 1954, Leonard and Daniel Shiman proudly announced the acquisition of Marianne Jewelry Mfg. Co. According to the same announcement, Fne Art of Newark, Inc., where leading designers created Marianne jewelry, was a subsidiary of Shiman of Newark.

Leonard Shiman, like his father, held leadership positions in professional associations for many years. In particular, Jewelers’ Vigilance Committee, the 24-Karat Club, and the Ring Guild of America. Leonard Shiman was elected president of the Ring Guild of America in 1959. a Yale graduate, Leonard Shiman worked for the Shiman Company for 60 years before retiring in 1980.

The new owners of the company renamed it Shiman Industries. According to the 2008 directory of brands and companies, Shiman Industries was a branch of the Krementz company.

ESEMCO jewelry by Shiman Manufacturing Company