Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Collection |
Waterloo Region Museum |
Object ID |
2013.051.001.032 |
Object Name |
Catalog, Trade |
Title |
In-stock Catalogue |
Description |
The exterior cover is a heavy, black paper. "Kaufman/Footwear/75th Anniversary/75ieme Anniversaire" is printed in gold lettering in the upper section of the cover. The date and the title are printed in gold lettering along the lower edge. The Kaufman logo is printed on the back cover with "Kaufman Footwear/ division of Wm. H. Kaufman Inc./410 King St. West/Kitchener, Ontario/N2G 4J8" along the lower edge. A price list printed on white paper has been inserted into the catalogue, along with four identical memos on Kaufman Footwear letterhead. The memos are dated "October 17, 1983" and list changes in the catalogue. The interior pages contain colour images of the products and information in both English and French. The pages are stapled together in the centre. |
Date |
1983 |
Date |
1984 |
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 Footwear William H. Kaufman Inc. |