Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Collection |
Waterloo Region Museum |
Object ID |
2013.051.001.017 |
Object Name |
Catalog, Trade |
Title |
Super Quality Waterproof Footwear and Foamtread House Shoes |
Description |
The exterior cover is made of a heavy blue paper. The title is printed in the centre of the cover in black and white lettering. Printed in the upper left corner is "1956-57". Along the lower edge on the left is the Life-Buoy logo with "Kaufman Rubber Co., Ltd./Kitchener, Ontario" printed beside it. Below is printed "Manufacturers of/Waterproof & Canvas Footwear/Foamtread House Shoes & Casuals/Waterproof Vulcanized Clothing". The interior pages contain illustrations of the shoes with a brief description, product number, and price code. The pages are stapled together in the centre. |
Date |
1956 |
Date |
1957 |
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 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 and the company's 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 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 |