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The term "AMAZING" really doesn't do justice to these two remarkable Goetting & Co., NY finds! Adolph Goetting was a prominent New York perfumer in the late 1800s whose wares were found in many retail establishments throughout much of the mid-Atlantic eastern United States. Goetting's reputation was such that David H. McConnell recruited Goetting in 1896 to become the Chief Chemist of the California Perfume Company. This required McConnell to "buy out" Goetting & Co., NY lock, stock, and barrel (read more about Goetting & Co., NY.) But that wasn't the end of the story for the Goetting products. McConnell made the business decision to continue production of perfumes and toiletries under the Goetting label and supply retail outlets across the country, greatly expanding the original, more-regional customer (buyer) base for these superior items. The Lilly of the Valley perfume bottle (above left) is an absolute rarity, the only one know to exist. The small, round-bodied bottle holds approximately 1/4 ounce of perfume. The label is the same as that seen on several other Goetting & Co. perfume bottles manufactured in the 1900 to 1905 time frame (click here to see close a up of the bottle.) From a collector's standpoint, it is interesting to note that so few Goetting & Co., NY toiletries have been discovered to date as compared to the California Perfume Company products. As discussed in the first paragraph, McConnell marketed the Goetting products throughout the United States. The picture (above right) from a post card sized calling card shows a Goetting & Co., NY salesman on his 1906 Model B Reo Runabout. The card announces Mr. Burk's return call on 6 September and the card (opposite side) is marked 1906. Please note the sign on the rear portion of the vehicle displaying, " GOETTING & CO, PERFUMES and SOAPS, 126 Chambers St. N.Y. This is the first example ever found of a Goetting & Co., NY representative calling card. Stunning finds! And both approximately 105 years old too! Happy hunting. If you have any comments, please contact me at russell (at) californiaperfumecompany.net. |
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Another "Source" in the Avon Story!
One of the most important goals of the California Perfume Company web site is documenting and sharing the truly rich, and very important, early history of Avon Products, Inc. A recent discovery opened an entirely new source for this research effort--a source that delves into areas of Avon's past that will not be found in Outlooks, Bulletins, and catalogs. The amazing discovery was the "lot" of "Family Album" periodicals spanning 1941 through the early-1950s!
During the 1930s, prior to the California Perfume Company's name change to Avon Products, Inc., David H. McConnell, Sr. set up an overarching (umbrella) corporation originally named Allied Products, Inc. The California Perfume Company and Avon Products, Inc. became subsidiaries of Allied Products, Inc. (along with others.) In 1945, the umbrella corporation was renamed Avon Allied Products, Inc. The name was shortened to Avon Products, Inc. in 1950 and it ha remained the same to this day. Beginning in March of 1941, Allied Products began publishing a 20-ish page monthly periodical called, "Family Album." This company organ was filled with extraordinary human interest information relating to the workers of the Suffern plant (and later the Middletown plant also): sporting statistics of the many company leagues (basketball, bowling, golf, softball, and more), weddings and anniversaries, births and birthdays, obituaries, community support, Christmas banquets, Summer outings, and other social events, and so, so much more. Along with these human interest treasures, there were small articles, single pictures with little amplifying text, and other fascinating snippets of information relating to the company's history reaching back to its earliest days. Incredibly, the picture above that caps this article is absolutely astounding. First, the picture is apparently dated from 1897. Second, the picture was taken outside of the front of the Suffern Laboratory sometime closely following the Laboratory's construction. Third, and of utmost significance to this web site, this represents the ONLY known picture (thus far) of McConnell's two daughters: Doris (blurred face) and Edna, both standing beside Monsey the dog! As far as the Laboratory is concerned, this picture may prove significant BECAUSE something is apparently missing! Note that this photograph was claimed to be taken in FRONT of the Suffern Laboratory. Looking at the standard pictures of the front of the Suffern Laboratory, the building (at ground level) contains one door to the left, two windows, and an enclosure that was most-probably an elevator, or other pulley-style lift. Note that the roof lines do not flow together. The primary roof and the roof of the enclosed elevator seem to be separate/distinct roves. In the above picture, there is a wider door without steps between the two front windows: for shipping and receiving from wagons. The later pictures also have this wider door without steps incorporated into the elevator enclosure. All this is to say, the picture above also represents the earliest known photograph of the Suffern Laboratory, BEFORE the classic elevator enclosure was added to the front of the building! What a find! If you have any comments, please contact me at russell (at) californiaperfumecompany.net. |
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A Trove of Early Treasures!
It is truly a pleasure to commend the extraordinary accomplishments of all the people, firms, and institutions that further the hobby of California Perfume Company and Avon collecting. And with that, the Hagley Museum and Library has definitely scored a winning run with their recent addition of the Avon Historical Archives on the museum's web site. Clearly a breakthrough for all collector's, Hagley provides electronic access to some the most valued treasures within Avon's Archives; catalogs, Outlooks and Bulletins, and miscellaneous pictures—free for viewing by all! For my part, the 1905-1910 Outlooks have already provided invaluable information that has helped further refine the California Perfume Company web site with dates and facts. I appreciate the very hard work of Ms. Lynn Catanese, Curator, Manuscripts and Archives. Ms. Catanese has primary responsibility for the Avon Archives (among many others.) I definitely promote an electronic trip to the Hagley to see this phenomenally important exhibit. Before leaving this subject, I have to share one of the interesting "new" facts that I discovered in Hagley's Avon Historical Archives: As you will note throughout the web site, pictures of early products, especially those larger sizes (e.g., Quart, Half Gallon, Gallon, Five Pounds, etc.) are extremely rare. The following snippet was found at the end of the July 1905 Outlook's front page article:
The discovery of this 23 photograph sales aid would be a HUGE find for CPC and Avon collectors as it photographically (NOT hand-drawn) depicted larger size/volume items that the representatives normally could not carry. That would be quite a find. And it was because Hagley Museum and Library made the Avon Historical Archives available that this critical piece of collecting information resurfaced now, after more than a century! If you have any comments, please contact me at russell (at) californiaperfumecompany.net. |
