Before A. Stein and his brothers established the firm for making the well-known Paris garters and Hickory hose supporters in Chicago, another Stein brother, Lewis Stein, had already set up the "Lewis Stein Company" in New York City. Lewis Stein was also in the hose supporter business, and an advertisement for his supporters had already appeared in The Youth's Companion (1885).
We do not know a great deal about the Stein brothers. Lewis Stein settled in New York and founded by L. Stein company. Another brother Albert Stein founded the A. Stein Company. Three younger brothers worked with Albert in Chicago and in 1887 they began to manufacture men's garters in a rented room on Market Street. The Steins were part of the second wave of Jewish immigrants to the United States. It occurred in the mid-19th century and was predominately from Germany. German Jews played an important role in the American clothing and retailing industry. Best known of course is Levi Straus who created denim blue jeans. Other Jewish immigrants founded important department stores.
Before A. Stein and his brothers established the firm for making the well-known Paris garters and Hickory hose supporters in Chicago, another Stein brother, Lewis Stein, had already set up the "Lewis Stein Company" in New York City.
Lewis Stein was also in the hose supporter business.
We do not know a great deal about how the company marketed its products. We do know that the company advertized in The Youth's Companion. The ad here is an example and appeared December 31, 1885, p. 567.
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