HG Razall Stationers Milwaukee WI

A few months ago I purchased a billhead ledger that contained a billhead for the H.G. Razall blank book manufacturers. Very plain billhead. There was no indication on the billhead that the firm also printed other billheads for firms. Then, I found a billhead for Lawrence Brothers manufactures in Sterling Illinois and low and behold Razall had printed the very decorative billhead. Nice large factory view on this billhead.

I could not find out much about this firm. In 1884, a NY Times article lists the firm as being insolvent after the firm burned down and insurance was contested. The firm’s liabilities at that time were listed at approximately $15,000. At some point the firm incorporated as the HG Razall Mfg Co. and became known for its loose leaf binding system.

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Baking Powder Billheads

In 1843 the first modern version of baking powder was discovered and manufactured by Alfred Bird, a British chemist. In 1846, Justus Von Liebig in Germany experiments with yeast made from sodium bicarbonate and hydrochloric acid with explosive results. In 1885, Eben Horsford and George Wilson manufacture chemicals which eventually became the Rumford Chemical Works. Horsford formulated and patented Rumford Baking Powder, the first calcium phopshate baking powder. In 1889, William Wright and chemist George Rew developed a double-action baking powder marketed under the name Calumet Baking Powder. Below find some examples of baking powder billheads.

Billhead of the Month: Schmit Bros trunks Oshkosh WI

I picked up this Schmit Brothers billhead recently in Eau Claire. I currently have it for sale on ebay right now. It is a nice triple graphic billhead. Here is my ebay write up: 1895 billhead for The Schmit Brothers Trunk Company manufacturers of trunks, traveling bags and valises of Oshkosh Wisconsin. Great header graphics with three images. Left side is the firm’s mill at Summit Lake, middle is the firm’s factory and left side is the firm’s warehouse. Billhead has creases. Peter Schmit was born in 1840 in Prussia. He emigrated to the U.S. in June 1854 and located inRacine WI. He was engaged in farming until 1861 when he enlisted in Company D, 6th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He engaged in the battles at Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, Mine Run, Bull Run, Gettysburg, Atlanta, Macon, and Savannah. He was mustered out in June 1865. He came back to Racine and kept a hotel until 1866 when he joined his brother Henry’s trunk business. Henry had established the bus...

Oswego New York Mills

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THE EPHEMERA OF BUSINESS

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