Hammacher, Schlemmer & Co. records, 1860s-2025

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Summary

Creator:
Hammacher, Schlemmer & Co. and John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History
Abstract:
Specialty retail firm based in Chicago; originally a hardware store in the Bowery section of New York, established in 1848. Collection includes advertising and sales data; articles; artifacts and memorabilia; audiovisual materials (VHS tapes; CDs); catalogs and direct-mail solicitations; clippings; correspondence; financial reports; manuscripts of company histories; newsletters; photographs; print advertisements; testing reports and product reviews; and other printed materials that document Hammacher Schlemmer's history and operations from its inception as a seller of hardware and tools through its evolution as a retailer of specialty items. Entities represented in the collection include Hammacher Schlemmer Institute; Invento Products; Lewis & Conger; Plummer Ltd; Plummer McCutcheon; and Sky Mall. Acquired as part of the John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History.
Extent:
38.0 Linear Feet
Language:
Materials in English.
Collection ID:
RL.13147

Background

Scope and content:

Collection includes advertising and sales data; articles; artifacts and memorabilia; audiovisual materials (VHS tapes; CDs); catalogs and direct-mail solicitations; clippings; correspondence; financial reports; manuscripts of company histories; newsletters; photographs; print advertisements; testing reports and product reviews; and other printed materials that document Hammacher Schlemmer's history and operations from its inception as a seller of hardware and tools through its evolution as a retailer of specialty items. Entities represented in the collection include Hammacher Schlemmer Institute; Invento Products; Lewis & Conger; Plummer Ltd; Plummer McCutcheon; and Sky Mall.

Biographical / historical:

Specialty retail firm based in Chicago; originally a hardware store in the Bowery section of New York, established in 1848.

Hammacher Schlemmer began as a pavement stand selling tools and hardware supplies to furniture and musical instrument makers, begun by Charles Tollner in the Bowery section of New York in 1848. In 1857 businessman Albert Hammacher invested in the company, which was renamed Hammacher & Tollner. William Schlemmer, a German immigrant who started working for Tollner as a boy, gradually acquired Tollner's stake in the company and in 1867 became a partner with Hammacher; the firm changed name to A. Hammacher & Co. The company issued its first catalog in 1881, which doubled as a sales aid for traveling sales agents. It is considered the first retail catalog to be issued by an American firm. By 1883 the company had renamed again as Hammacher, Schlemmer & Co.

During the 1920s the company began to transition away from hardware and tools to focus more on housewares, gift items, and gourmet foods. The hardware line was dropped completely by 1955, and the company began to offer increasingly varied upscale merchandise. In 1962 the firm created a subsidiary, Invento Products, that initially focused on product development but evolved into a wholesaler for eclectic products manufactured by other firms. The 1960s also saw Hammacher Schlemmer acquire a number of companies involved in sales of housewares, china, and linen products, including Lewis & Conger and Plummer-Mccutcheon. In 1983 another subsidiary, Hammacher Schlemmer Institute, was founded to provide in-house product testing, comparison reviews, and end-user survey research. Hammacher Schlemmer began online sales in 1986 and in 1991 joined Sky Mall, selling goods to in-flight passengers on selected air routes. In 1998 the company established its own website, Hammacher.com.

Hammacher Schlemmer has been credited with introducing and helping to popularize a wide range of products: pop-up toasters (1931); portable radios (1931); electric shavers (1934); steam irons (1948); electric toothbrushes (1955); telephone answering machines (1968); Mr. Coffee (1973); Cuisinart (1977); Caller-Id answering machines (1994).

Hammacher Schlemmer opened its first store at 221 Bowery in 1853. Later it moved to a larger store at 209 Bowery. From 1904-1926 it was headquartered at 4th Avenue and 13th Street before moving to a location at 57th Street and Lexington Avenue. Hammacher Schlemmer survived a number of changes of ownership: Kayser-Roth (1961); Gulf + Western (1975); Bradford Exchange (1980; headquarters moved to Chicago); S5 Equity (2024).

Sources:

Wikipedia

Hammacher Schlemmer history timeline

Acquisition information:
The Hammacher, Schlemmer Co. records were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a gift from Ann Marie Resnick in 2025.
Processing information:

Processed by Richard Collier, June 2025;

Accessions described in this collection guide: 2025-0071.

Arrangement:

Organized into the following series: Catalogs; Administrative and Financial Records; Company History Files and Memorabilia; Hammacher Schlemmer Institute Product Reports; Artifacts.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

Using These Materials

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials

Restrictions:

Access note. Collection contains fragile audiovisual formats that may need to be reformatted before use. Contact Research Services for access.

Access note. Collection contains electronic records that may need to be reformatted. Access copies of electronic records require special equipment. Contact Research Services for access.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the Rubenstein Library's Citations, Permissions, and Copyright guide.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Hammacher, Schlemmer & Co. records, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

Permalink:
https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m11t98