Object Record
Images
Metadata
Collection |
Waterloo Region Museum |
Object ID |
2001.375.062 |
Object Name |
Boot |
Description |
A pair of black high heeled woman's boots or overshoes. Soles and heels are black rubber. Uppers and tongues are a stiff velvet-like fabric. Six laceup eyelets on each side of centre front are concealed by black fur trim up the centre fronts and around the tops. Stamped on the sides of each heel: 445. Maker's label moulded into the instep area of the soles: KAUFMAN/ LIFE-BUOY/ RUBBER CO. |
Date |
1940 |
Date |
1950 |
Dimensions |
H-23 L-23 cm |
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 of the company and the name was changed to Kaufman Footwear Limited, and then to Kaufman Footwear Inc. Kaufman Footwear became a division of William H. Kaufman Inc. in 1979, with William remaining as president until 1986. In 1986, Irvin Weber became president of the footwear division, followed by John Loucks in 1991. William's son, Tom Kaufman, became president of the footwear division in 1997. 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 Kaufman Footwear Limited |