|
1886, June |
The history of the California
Perfume Company begins with Mr. David H. McConnell purchasing the
Union Publishing Company (the firm to which McConnell was employed)
located in a small office about 20 x 25 feet in size, at 126 Chambers Street, New York
City. |
|
|
Historical Note: The Tribeca
South Historic District Extension Designation Report authored
by Donald G. Presa and published 19 November 2002 identifies
the following occupants for 126 Chambers Street, New York with
the associated dates:
1890-1895 Union Publishing House
1890-1905 David H. McConnell - publishing |
|
|
1892 |
With the suggestion of his business
partner, who was living in California, McConnell changes the name of
the business to "California Perfume Company". The new name coincides
with McConnell's change in company direction to the exclusive
manufacture and sale of perfumes, extracts, and other households
consumables. The name provides the allusion to far away Californian
fields, filled with beautiful flowers. |
|
1894 |
First
laboratory completed in Suffern, New York. |
|
1895 |
Luzerne Branch Distribution office opens, managed by J. D. Tiffany. |
|
1896 |
David H. McConnell secures the services
of top New York perfumer Mr. Adolph
Goetting (pronounced getting) as the Chemist-in-Chief at
Suffern Laboratory. McConnell purchases Goetting's company and
continues manufacture and distribution of these fine perfumes under
the Goetting label through at least 1907. |
|
1896 |
Dallas, Texas and Davenport, Iowa Branch
Distribution offices open. |
|
1896, 2 November |
First catalog published - text only. |
|
1897, 10 November |
Second catalog published - included hand-drawn illustrations. |
|
1898 |
San Francisco, California office opens;
managed by George J. McConnell (brother). |
|
1898 |
Begin use of the
Eureka Trademark. |
|
1903 |
McConnell writes the
Great Oak: A History of the
California Perfume Company. |
|
1903 |
Kansas City, Missouri Branch office
opened; Dallas and Davenport Branches closed. |
|
1905, 3 April |
First Outlook representative magazine
published. |
|
1906, March |
First Advertisement: Roses Perfume in
the March, 1906 Edition of
Good Housekeeping. |
|
1909, May |
CPC moves to 31 Park Place, New York. |
|
1913, December |
First catalog (1914 edition) published
with four-page color insert. |
|
1914, February |
Montreal, Canada office and laboratory
opens; managed by Charles C. Stewart |
|
1915, 1 March |
Initiation of the California Perfume Co.
Employees' S & L Association.
The New York Stock Chartered California Perfume Co.
Employees' S & L Association
was liquidated in 1939 (according to New York Bank History
section of Scripophily.com.) |
|
1915, 14 June |
CPC wins a
Gold Medal at the Panama-Pacific
International Exposition in San Francisco in 1914-1915. The CPC
was awarded this honored distinction for both for the quality of its
entire line of products, and the beauty of the packages. The Gold
Medal was seen on almost all CPC packaging from late-1915 through
about the early-1930s. |
|
1915 |
Color Plate Catalogs are first used. These larger, colorful
catalogs illustrate most of the CPC products from perfumes to metal
cleaners. The stiff-backed catalogs measured 15 1/4 inches x 10 1/2
inches. |
|
1916, 27 January |
The CPC is incorporated. |
|
1916 |
William Scheele, Secretary and General
Manager of the CPC writes The
Story of the CPC. |
|
1922 |
San Francisco Branch closes; operations
move to Kansas City. |
|
1926, 10 August |
CPC moves to 114 Fifth Avenue, New York. |
|
1928, 1 May |
The Avon line of products introduced --
the First Avon Product: a Toothbrush |
|
1931, January |
The
Good Housekeeping Seal of
Approval is awarded to the first eight items submitted by the
CPC. By 1936, all CPC products would be tested, approved, and bear
the prestigious Seal of Approval. |
|
1937, 20 January |
David H. McConnell Sr. dies at his home
in Suffern, New York at age 78.
Obituary |
|
1937, 5 February |
David H. McConnell Jr. becomes President
of the CPC. |
|
1937, 25 May |
CPC moves to 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New
York. |
|
1939, 17 July |
Los Angeles Branch Office and
Distribution Point Opens |
1939, October 6
|
The California Perfume Company changes
its name to Avon Products Inc.
|
