Information Regarding J.E. Caldwell & Co.

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J. E. Caldwell & Co. Dissolved, and a New Partnership Is Formed

Philadlephia, Pa., April 3.—The most important business change in the Philadelphia trade this year was made Wednesday. The partnership agreement between the members of the firm of James E. Caldwell & Co., 902 Chestnut St., expired by limitation and Hugh B. Houston, who had charge of the fine arts department, retired from the firm. In retiring from the firm Mr. Houston will not leave the house, but will retain the direction and management of his department and will, as usual, go abroad this year on a purchasing trip.

The new partnership comprising J. Albert Caldwell, 1531 Pine St. ; Frederic Shaw, 400 W. Walnut Lane, Germantown; J. Frederick Thomas, 40 W. Walnut Lane; Edw. T. Chase, 5817 Quincy St., Germantown ; Wm. R. Eisenhower, 338 W. Duval St., and James E. Caldwell, 1531 Pine St., general partners, and Joseph H. Brazier 1803 Pine St., special partner, went in effect April 1. Mr. Brazier contributes to the common stock $200,000. The partnership articles are binding until March 31, 1905.

The new members of the firm are : J. Frederick Thomas, who has been buyer and general manager for some years ; Edward T. Chase, Wm. R. Eisenlower, who is in the diamond department, and James E. Caldwell, a young man who is related to the president of the firm.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 8th April 1903

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J. E. Caldwell & Co. furnished the medal competed for at the People’s Regatta on the Schulkill River on July 4th.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 5th July 1893

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J. E. Caldwell had a unique and striking window decoration in honor of the visit of the Australian cricketers to this city.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 4th October 1893

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A 'J.E. Caldwell' retailer mark struck on a piece of flatware by the Whiting Mfg. Co.:


J.E. Caldwell & Co. - Philadelphia

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J. E. Caldwell & Co., 902 Chestnut St. furnished the beautiful and unique loving cup presented to the retiring City Treasurer, W. Redwood Wright by his corps of clerks and assistants on last Monday. The cup is of the large old English pattern, handsomely ornamented, and bears the inscription, “ William Redwood Wright, City Treasurer, June 23, 1891—January 4, 1892. We love him for the enemies he has made.”

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 13th January 1892

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Wm. H. Long, of J. E. Caldwell & Co., has for the last week been suffering with an attack of pneumonia.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 28th December 1898

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J. Emmott Caldwell, of J. E. Caldwell & Co., who was recently married, leased last week the country seat of Joshua L. Baily in Wynnewood, Pa., which he will occupy with his bride early in the Spring.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular- 19th February 1908

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PHILADELPHIA

J. A. Caldwell, senior member of the firm of J. E. Caldwell & Co., was one of the delegation of Union League members who attended the funeral Saturday of J. G. Darlington, formerly president of the League and proprietor of one of this city’s exclusive stores. Mr. Darlington in his business career had become well acquainted with the leading jewelers of this city and New York, and was a heavy buyer of fine jewelry.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular- 25th March 1908

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The spacious show windows of J. E. Caldwell & Co. last week attracted much attention from passers-by. In the east window the main attraction was a statue of pure Carrara marble, “Morning Glory,” by Cambi, of Florence. A silver plateau and a Louis Quinze cabinet filled with daintily decorated porcelains were also prominent. The west window was given over to an array of jewelry.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 17th April 1895

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J. E. Caldwell & Co. have just completed the manufacture of a solid silver loving cup of ornate and costly design which will be presented to the president of the Equitable Life Assurance Co., J. W. Alexander, by the managers throughout the country, upon the 40th anniversary of this society.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 30th August 1899

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The public exhibition of the elegant silver dinner service which is to be presented lo the battleship Iowa by the people of the State of Iowa attracted a large number of visitors last week to the establishment of J. E. Caldwell & Co., 902 Chestnut St., the designers of the service. The contract was awarded at Des Moines, June 13, 1896, by Governor Drake and the Executive Council of the State. The service consists of 41 pieces and weighs over 2,000 ounces. The contract price called for $5,000, and the Messrs. Caldwell say that the set could not be duplicated for that sum.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 24th February 1897

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J. E. Caldwell & Co. have received an invoice of orris powder from the monastery of Santa Maria Novella, Florence, Italy.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular- 17th April 1901

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A very handsome plaque built of copper and silver was attractively displayed in one of the windows of J. E. Caldwell & Co. The plaque, which was designed and made by this house, measures 35 inches by 26 inches. At the top, modeled in full relief and applied in bronze, are the crossed bats and gloves ; these are encircled by an applied laurel wreath in silver. At the base, modeled in full relief, is the figure of the American eagle mounted on a baseball of silver. The trophy is to be presented to the association of employes of the New York Edison Co. by the Athletic Association of the Philadelphia Electric Co. to commemorate the baseball game played in New York. September 11, 1909.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular- 1st December 1909

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J.E. Caldwell & Co. - Philadelphia - 1922

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Joseph L. Yax, for the past four years engraver with Best & Co., Buffalo, N. Y., has resigned and accepted a position with J. E. Caldwell & Co., Philadelphia, Pa.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 17th November 1909

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J. E. Caldwell & Co. are exhibiting in their window the championship cup of the first Marathon race which is to take place a Philadelphia on the new wood-block pavement, Nov. 25, 1909.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 24th November 1909

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J. E. Caldwell & Co., Philadelphia, Pa., have just published a very handsome and attractive catalogue of the oil paintings exhibited in their art rooms. The little work is richly painted on soft glazed paper in brown and blue inks and gives a vivid description of each picture. The book will be valued by all lovers of fine arts, as it contains much information of considerable interest to them.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 7th October 1891

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Caldwells Show Rare Books

A number of rare books and mementoes of Benjamin Franklin are displayed in the window of J. E. Caldwells & Co.'s jewelry store, 902 Chestnut street. One of the collection is a bust by Houton, in bronze, made from the death mask of the famous philosopher. A bronze statue of heroic size of Franklin was presented to the City of Philadelphia, last week, by Justus C. Strawbridge and was unveiled on Wednesday with imposing ceremonies under the auspices of the University of Pennsylvania, of which Franklin was a founder; the Franklin Institute and other societies. In honor of the man who first held the office of Postmaster General of the United States, all the living former occupants of that office were present at the ceremonies. Charles Emory Smith, Postmaster General, made the presentation to the city on behalf of Mr. Strawbridge and it was accepted by Mayor Ashbridge. The statue stands on a granite base on the Chestnut street plaza of the post office, on what is said to be the identical spot where Franklin stood when he experimented with his kites and drew electricity out of the clouds. The piece was modeled by John J. Boyle and cost complete, about $12,000.

Source: The Jewelers Review - 21st June 1899

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J.E. Caldwell & Co. - Philadelphia - 1907

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The average leather goods dealer would doubtless be incredulous if he were told that $350 traveling bags and $750 suit cases are not only carried in stock, but actually sold right here in the “City of Brotherly Love." Yet such goods can be seen any day in the store of J. E. Caldwell & Co., at 90:: Chestnut Street. During the second week in May this house held a special sale of foreign traveling requisites. About half of the center aisle was given over to a display of the finest baggage specialties ever presented for the admiration of the traveling public. Everything needed for utility and luxury, except trunks was shown and Mr. Putnam, the department head, is to be congratulated on the fine display. The newspaper announcement, which we reproduce, was also well arranged along novel yet dignified lines, and as will be seen, is in original form.



Everything in this stock is of the finest quality obtainable. While fittings and embellishment are made the feature of all leather ware in harmony with the policy of high class jewelery shops, the quality of material in cases and bags is superlative and exclusive. Black predominates in the bag line though there are some colors. Leathers are mostly lizzard and walrus. The former represent the finest specimens of African lizard tanned in England Think of a sixteen inch bag made of a single lizard skin without a blemish. Such hides are scarce. The bag unfitted costs $38, while with silver fittings the prices range from $80 to $200. One of the De Luxe traveling bags is in black walrus, and purple morie lining, fitted with a complete toilet outfit in solid gold mounting. The price is $350. A suit case, leather lined and solid gold, hand engraved, fittings reaches the limit at $750.

There are many novel yet useful accessories in this European outfit collection. A little case called “Bread and Butter” contains four leather covered books with a list of such words and phrases as commonly needed in traveling abroad. Each is in a different language and represent altogether handy guides for French, German, Spanish and Italian. Map portfolios with the map affixed to leather backs, folding up and convenient to carry in pocket, may be had for any part of the globe. There is a jewel bag, fashioned like the “cabin”, and having an inside tin or steel box covered with leather. It has a Yale tumbler lock and is really a little safe which fits accurately inside the carrying case. Then there are numerous little cases for special purposes, such as cards, memo books. One is a set of address books for each country labeled and indexed for convenience. Compact toilet cases that are used for nothing else than carrying the brush, comb, soap cup, etc., writing portfolios, with elaborately chased silver cover, telegram pad holders, and other dainty conceptions in leather, too numerous to record.

One of the most interesting lines is the beaded bags where gems of artistic sheen are seen at prices that would startle the ordinary dealer. Here is a little bag as flat as a piece of cardboard and about 4x5 inches, priced at $75. Others from $50 to $67 are common. Luxury is spelled in every one, yet when the amount of hand work and richness of material used are considered, the price is not so remarkable. These bags are fashioned from the smallest cut glass beads obtainable, and the goods are getting scarce. The tiny glass rings are imported from Bohemia and Venice, where they are blown and cut. The bag maker first strings them on a silk thread. Every one is counted and selected for color according to a design previously laid out with great care. These strings are then crochetted on the silk ground. and when thus joined form the beautiful floral or landscape designs that at a short distance have the effect of a painting, so fine are the beads. Such bags are more durable than anything ever devised for the purpose, and many of them are handed down from generation to generation, always prized as priceless heirlooms.

Source: Trunks, Leather Goods and Umbrellas - June 1907

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