Object Record
Images
Metadata
Collection |
Waterloo Region Museum |
Object ID |
2001.375.011 |
Object Name |
Boot, Snow |
Description |
One black man's Sorel Snowbear boot, size 9 (right foot). Sole and foot are natural rubber. Moulded into the sole bottom is the Kaufman logo (stylized maple leaf with letter K inside), also SOREL/STEEL SHANK/MADE IN U.S.A./9. Leg section is a stiff, woven synthetic fabric (polypropylene?) with a drawstring tie around the top edge, and three metal rings to either side of centre front, anchored by leather tabs, and through which a boot lace is drawn across the instep and lower leg. A leather badge with lettering SOREL and SNOWBEAR, along with the polar bear logo, is sewn to the outer leg. The felt liner is three thicknesses of felt (gray, dark blue, green), with also a thin layer of metallic material between the grey and dark blue layers. Five tags with product information in French and English are attached to the felt liner. |
Date |
1994 |
Date |
1997 |
Dimensions |
H-41 L-32 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 Footwear Incorporated |