Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Collection |
Waterloo Region Museum |
Object ID |
2013.051.001.002 |
Object Name |
Catalog, Trade |
Title |
Catalogue of Life-Buoy Rubbers |
Description |
Small catalogue with a heavy green paper exterior cover. The title is embossed on the cover in gold lettering. Printed along the upper edge of the cover is "Season 1909-1910". The Life-Buoy logo is embossed in burgundy in the centre of the cover with "Manufactured by/The/Kaufman Rubber Co./Limited/Berlin, Ontario" printed below. Handwritten in black ink below the logo is "Simpson". The interior pages contain black and white images of various "outing shoes", the sizes available, and the price. Printed on the back cover is an image of a leaf with "Rubber Leaf/Brand" surrounding it. |
Date |
1909 |
Date |
1910 |
History |
The Kaufman Rubber Company was founded in 1907 by Jacob Kaufman (1847-1920) in Berlin, ON. The factory began production in 1908 and produced rubber footwear for the domestic and foreign markets. In 1920, Jacob's son, Alvin Ratz Kaufman (1885-1979), became president of the company until 1964 when he retired to become Chairman of the Board. During this time the company's product line expanded to include industrial rubber clothing for fishermen, miners, and policemen. Beginning in 1953, the company also began to manufacture non-rubber footwear, including Foamtread slippers. The company introduced the Sorel line of winter/work boots in 1959. In 1964, Alvin's son, William H. Kaufman (1920-2005), became president of the company and the name was changed to Kaufman Footwear Limited, and then to Kaufman Footwear Inc. In 1979, Kaufman Footwear became a division of William H. Kaufman Inc., with William remaining as president until 1986. In 1986, Irvin Weber became president of the footwear division, followed by John Loucks in 1991. In 1997, William's son, Tom Kaufman, became president of the footwear division. In 2000 Kaufman Footwear declared bankruptcy. The Kaufman Footwear factory building was designated in 1996 by the Kitchener LACAC as architecturally and historically significant. The building was originally designed by Albert Kahn, and is located on the corner of Victoria Street and King Street West. In 2005, Andrin Homes began converting the building into condominium loft residences - 270 units in total. |
Search Terms |
Kaufman Rubber Company Limited |