Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Collection |
Waterloo Region Museum |
Object ID |
2013.051.001.033 |
Object Name |
Catalog, Trade |
Title |
Sorels 1984 Catalogue |
Description |
The catalogue is printed on a heavy coated paper. The exterior cover is blue and there is an image of a polar bear in the centre of the front cover. "Meet Our/Best Salesman" is printed in dark blue lettering above the image; the title is printed below. Printed on the back cover is a list of U.S. Sales Representatives and the areas they cover. The interior pages contain colour photographs of the products with information printed in English only. The pages are stapled together in the centre. |
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., 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. |