 |
Friday, July 30, 2010 |
|
|
 | | Introduction to the Fishel, Nessler companies | |
|  |
| | The Fishel Nessler companies - Henry W Fishel, Theodore H Fishel and Louis D Nessler While it is widely reported that Fishel, Nessler & Co, existed from around 1886 to 1937. This is incorrect. There were actually three separate companies operated by the two brothers, Henry and Theodore Fishel. The companies were: Fishel, Nessler & Co; Fishel, Nessler Co; and Fishel & Co, which later became Fishel & Sons. In addition,there were a couple of other companies that they dabbled in, but more on that later. Basically, before 1910, both Henry and Theodore ran Fishel, Nessler & Co. They went bankrupt in 1910 and so after that, each had their own companies. Henry's was Fishel & Co, and Theodore started Fishel, Nessler Co. The basic timeline looks something like this: - About 1886, Henry W Fishel and Louis D Nessler, started Fishel, Nessler & Co
- In 1893, Henry's first patents listed as assigned to Henry Fishel and Louis Nessler are registered
- Around 1898, Nessler retired or otherwise left the company and Theodore H Fishel became a partner
- In 1910, Fishel, Nessler & Co go bankrupt
- In 1911, Henry starts Fishel & Co (although technically his son Leslie is President)
- In 1911, Theodore starts Fishel, Nessler Co (note that the name differs from the original name in that it doesn't have the "&"
- in 1913, the brothers, Henry and Theodore sue each other over patent infringement regarding patents they had registered together.
- Around 1915 Henry renames his company from Fishel & Co to Fishel & Sons, adding his two sons, Leslie and Milton to the company - although at least one son had been involved since the new company started in 1911.
- In 1921 Henry sues some ex-employees for using his trademarks and illegal competition
- In 1922 last patents found for Henry
It is unclear (to me at least) when the individual companies created by the brothers stopped doing business. Henry's company was still filing new patents in the 1920s and Theodore's is mentioned as late as 1934 in the Keystone Trademark listings. Dorothy Rainwater's Jewelry Manufacturers book notes that the last listing found was 1936-37 (for Theodore's company) In addition to the main companies, the brothers started the Crosby Stores. These were retail stores intended to help dispose of excess inventory. However, starting the stores is attributed by some as contributing to their bankrupcty in 1910 as it overextended them. I also found mention of a gold mine in Alaska that they invested in in 1909.
PATENTS Click here to bring up all the Fishel patents in the patent browser |
| |
| |
|
| | 1886-1910 F N & Co., Fishel, Nessler & Co (Henry W Fishel, Theodore H Fishel and Louis D Nessler) From about 1886 to 1910, Henry W Fishel and Theodore H Fishel, along with Louis D Nessler (for part of the time), operated Fishel, Nessler & Co. The only graphic mark that I have found for Fishel, Nessler & Co is this one. I believe this mark was discontinued when the company went bankrupt in 1910. The 1915 book, Trademarks of the Jewelry and Kindred trades does note that the mark is discontinued (by 1915). 
This pin shows what I believe to be the Fishel, Nessler & Co mark. While it doesn't match the drawing exactly (doesn't have the words Trade Mark" underneath, and the "Co" part of the mark is a bit different, it clearly does have the "&".)   It also important to note that it appears that Theodore's subsequent company (after 1910) used a very similar mark. Note that it doesn't have the "&" in the drawing of the mark. It can be difficult to see the details in the mark. 
After 1910 - not original mark! Mark used by Theodore's new company.
|
| |
| |
| | Jewelry marked Silverite - starting 1913 Henry used this mark with his company Fishel & Co, and subsequently Fishel & Sons. During a court case, he described that jewelry was marked Silverite starting in 1913. Silverite is a trademark described for use on an alloy of metal that resembles platinum, "in imitation of designs of genuine diamonds and rhinestones set in platinum and selling at reasonable wholesale prices." I have a couple of pieces using the Silverite mark. They are on bar pins in the style of the patents that Henry registered between 1910 and 1922. (see sidebar on bar patents). and a couple of buckles. Here are some fotos of my pieces 
|
| |
| |
| | Marks: Silverin and Silverine | |
| |
| | Jewelry marked Silverin or Silverine - 1919-1922 If you are lucky enough to find pieces marked Silverin or Silverine, they can be dated to 1919-1922 pretty specifically. Jewelry marked this way was made by a company called "Distinctive Jewelry Company", started by ex-employees of Henry Fishel. In 1921 he sued them for fraudulently marking their items and using a name and advertising materials designed to appear as if they were Henry's company. Henry had used the trademark Silverite for some time (see other side-bar re Silverite). The ex-employess started their company in 1919, and began using the terms Silverine and Silverin to mark their items. During the lawsuit they also state that they discontinued using those marks around 1921, after they were denied registration of the trademark due to Henry's objections that it was so similar to his Silverite mark. However during the appeal in 1922, they mentioned that they may have quantities of stock items that they were still selling with these marks. |
| |
| |
| | Thanks to fellow collectors for these additional pics of items from their collections! From bradleyanddede:  
 
 
And from threadsfromdebs: (note debs pin design can be seen in the patent drawings section above and to the right)  
|
| |
| |
|
| | After 1910 - Fishel, Nessler Co | |
| |
| | 1911 to 1937?? - Fishel, Nessler Co - F.N. Co (Theodore H Fishel) After the bankruptcy of the brother's company in 1910, Theodore's new company was Fishel, Nessler Co. The name is very similar to the original one, and in fact during the court case in 1913 when the brothers were suing each other over patents, it is described that at the time of the bankruptcy, the original company's assets were sold to a Mr Schwartz, who then sold the assets to Theodore. Theodore's company is described as essentially, continuing on the original company. Thus choosing the very similar name (just losing the "&"), and a very similar mark. It is a little bit difficult going forward to distinguish exactly what trademarks, were used when, since the trademarks books and other documents often did not understand that there were two separate companies. An easy mistake to make, since Theodore was involved in both, and the names are so similar. But I think it can be helpful in attempting to date items. It appears that items with the "&" are before 1910 and those without are after 1910 In the 1915 and 1934 editions of the the Keystone Jewelry Trade Mark book, these trademarks were attributed to Fishel, Nessler Co F.N. Co 1934 edition  1915 and 1934 editions
 1934 edition
Patents: After 1910, there are few patents attributed to Theodore. However, in 1916, 1917 and 1922, Theodore does have a couple of patents. All are utility patents. The patents in 1916, patent #1194611 and in 1917, patent# 1210624 are methods of building flexible bracelets that are a individual jewel settings in a continuous line. 
Patent #1419034 from 1922 is a utility patent for ornamental coverings for shoe buttons. It was popular at the time to have shoes that closed with buttons, but the buttons were often not decorative. Theodore's patent designs a button cover that slides onto the strap, and then nestles over the button once closed. 
I was fortunately recently to get a set of these. They are shown below and marked F.N. Co, Pat 1922 
|
| |
| |
| | After 1910 - Fishel & Co, Fishel & Sons | |
| |
| | 1911-?? Fishel & Co, Fishel & Sons - F & Co, Fishson (Henry W Fishel and his sons Leslie H Fishel and Milton A Fishel) Marks used (all as listed in 1915 Trademarks of the Jewelry and KIndred Trades): 
F & Co 
(above mark (with Sterling) identified as a discontinued mark in 1915) Fishson Silverite 
Silveroid 
(Silveroid mark identified as discontinued in 1915) 
Platum 
F&Co Sterling 
Kurvend There is quite a bit more information in terms of patents and the marks used by Henry's company, partly because he was in court more often. However, the one thing I haven't been able to determine at all, is when Henry's company stopped doing business. There were patents into the 1920s. |
| |
| |
| | This patent stands a bit alone but is attributed to Henry W Fishel. It is dated 1890 and is a bracelet that is described as looking like a watch (but not really a watch), with the bracelet bands appearing as basketwork with scalloped edges. 
|
| |
| |
| | Silveroid - 1911 - 1915 This little buckle is marked with F&Co and Silveroid, dating it to between 1911 and 1915 when the mark is listed as discontinued. 
 |
| |
| |
|
| | Patents 1904-1910 During the time Henry and Theodore were together running Fishel, Nessler & Co, they had a number of patents. Below are shown the design patents. Note, Henry had some patents for Boutonnieres around 1893 that are not included here. I have only included the more standard jewelry items. Patents are from 1904-1910 (click on a patent picture to open the patent on Google Patents for more details) 
|
| |
| |
| | Patents 1912-1922 - Fishel & Co, Fishel & Sons The first two design patents were registered in 1912 by Leslie Fishel, Henry's son, after his new company, Fishel & Co, was created. Documents mention that Henry went into business with his wife as the official head of the new company and with one of his sons. Only later did he re-name the company to Fishel & sons. 
These design patents were registered in 1921 and 1922 by Henry or one of his sons. 
|
| |
| |
|
|
 |
|
|