Early

J Wiss Cutler, 26 Bank St. An albumen print of Jacob Wiss in front of his shop. He lived upstairs. Alongside of Jacob is Frederick C.J. Wiss. Jacob's wife and older daughter are in upstairs windows. Louis T. Wiss and the younger daughter are in the entrance to upstairs. Circa 1870-71. 10-1/4" x 14". This is in my collection. It will be sent out for restoration shortly. Also in full-size.

Frederick C.J. Wiss Exhibitor's Pass to the 1876 International Exposition in Philadelphia. It has his picture. He was 18 years old at the time. He attended for five days in November.

An old Christmas card. When was 755 Broad Street, Newark new? Some time after 1887.

Factory Foremen Group Photo. Presumably around 1900. The only identified person is Frederick C.J. Wiss in the first row at the left. He was born in 1858. Also available in full 300 DPI size: 2600 x 1944.

Jewelry Store Moving Card. A card announcing the move to the new and commodious salesrooms of J. Wiss & Sons at 683 Broad St, Newark, NJ. A sidebar inside notes that they carry: Silverware in Sterling and Plate, Watches, Clocks, Clock Sets, Diamonds and Diamond Jewelry, Opera and Field Glasses, Leather Wares." On the inside there are pictures of the items they carry, and in a side bar: Increased Selling Space, Greater Varieties, Improved Displays. It has been stamped Rec'd JUN 5-1903. Opens to 4" x 9-7/8". Original 300 DPI jpgs: outside and inside.

Wiss Picnic, 1916 pin. Picture is of Frederick C.J. Wiss.

Frederick C.J. Wiss photo. Dated 1924 on the back. He was 66 years old at the time. Also available in 600 DPI full-size (11 MB).

1948 Centennial

100th Anniversary Celebration Program from the celebration dinner on September 18, 1948 at the Mosque Terrace Room, Broad St, Newark, NJ. Includes list of employees with over 25 years of service.

100th Anniversary Celebration Photo taken at the celebration dinner on September 18, 1948. At the head table: First row (read left to right): Fred Sinon Sr, Gretchen Wiss Sinon, Fanny B Wiss, Jerome B Wiss, Meg Wiss (Jerome's second wife). Second Row: Virginia D Wiss, Richard R Wiss, Laura R Wiss, J Robert Wiss, Charlotte L Wiss, Mildred S Wiss, Norman F Wiss Sr. Also available in 300 DPI size (1.3 MB) and 600 DPI photo size (4 MB).

Matches from 1948.

Low-Ball cocktail glasses from the late 1950s. The bottom edge has scalloping, and scalloping shears did not come out until 1957. Apparently these were given to clients.

High-Ball cocktail glass from the late 1950s. Same story as prior entry.

Tie Clasps & Related

Pinking shear tie clasp.

Scissor tie clasp. 1 3/4" long. Also available in full-size.

Scissor tie clasp. 1 3/4" long. Also available in full-size: front and back.

Scissor tie clasp, made by Swank. 1 3/4" long. This is a newer version with a spring and alligator clip back. This is the one that will appear on eBay once or twice a year.

Compact Case with Map of Newark Area. Retailed by Wiss & Sons jewelry store. Made by Wadsworth. The cover map highlights the locations of the three Wiss jewelry stores: Newark, East Orange, and Montclair. Circa 1950s. Their fourth store opened in the Short Hills Mall when it opened in the early 1960s. Also available in full-size: Outside and Inside.

Key Chain Lost Tag. The Wiss jewelry store issued these key chain tags to customers. If the keys were lost they could be put in any mailbox and the store would contact the person. The zone in the store address of 665 Broad St, Newark 2, NJ dates it as being from 1943-1963.

Marketing Ephemera

My Collection of Electrotype Letterpress Blocks of Wiss shears and scissors. I have now collected 20 blocks.

Razor Pin. A promotional label pin with the slogan: Wiss Razor: For A Smooth Shave.

Payroll Cash Pouch

Holgate Business Card. From the 1950s. It was stapled to some dealer sales literature. Not a true business card. It lacks contact information. Also in 300 DPI.

M1 Advertising Plaque. A wooden plaque with a raised Metalmaster tin snips. Purpose unknown. On the back is a 1981 date. This would be from after J Wiss & Sons.

Included With Shears

Paper Sleeves Over The Years. This started with scans of the sleeves in my collection. There are many variations yet to be obtained.

A Decal strip. A strip of 10 water slide decalcomanias with the Wiss logo. Not a memento, but a part used in the production of an item, possibly in the garden tool line. I picked it up when I worked there in the late 1960s.

Wiss wrench. I stumbled upon this picture in 2003. It made no sense. I saved the picture. I've now found in the 1925 through 1937 catalogs that shears fitted with the Wiss “Facile” Screw-Bolt had a small wrench furnished free to adjust the tension. This must be one of them. This bolt was discontinued by 1941 and in 1916 the bolt existed, but the wrench was not offered. See 1934 catalog: page 14.

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