Joseph and Feiss Company

The Joseph and Feiss Company had its origins in a small general store, opened in Meadville, Pennsylvania, in 1841. The proprietors were Caufmann Koch and Samuel Loeb, both Jewish merchants. Their store was called Koch, Caufman and Loeb.

In 1845, the proprietors moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where they opened another small store on Superior Street near the Cuyahoga River. This time they specialized in tailored men's clothing. Their partnership did not last long, however, for in 1845 Samuel Loeb moved to New York.

Even without the assistance of his partner, Caufman Koch was so successful in his Superior Street enterprise that he was soon able to open two more shops, one on Union Street and the other at Merwin and Superior Streets. More workers were employed and the business grew into a lucrative manufacturer of men's clothing. The expansion also prompted Caufman to offer fellow businessmen Adolph Mayer and Jacob Levi partnerships. In 1865, two more men joined the firm as partners, Jacob Goldsmith and Julius Feiss. In the next few years, a number of other businessmen periodically joined or retired from the firm, and the hame successively changed from Koch, Levi, Mayoer and Company in 1865; to Koch, Goldsmith and Company in 1872; to Koch, Goldsmith, Joseph and Company in 1873; to Goldsmith, Joseph, Feiss and Company in 1889; and finally to the Joseph and Feiss Company in 1907. The company was formally incorporated as the Joseph and Feiss Company in 1920.

Expansion also prompted the owners of the Company to move six times in the first seventy-five years of its existence. The final location of the main plant was located at West 53rd Street in Cleveland.

For much of its early history, the Joseph and Feiss Company modeled itself on early twentieth century corporate paternalism, and went to great lengths to insure that workers enjoyed not only fair but pleasant working conditions. This paternalistic attitude was visible in the many recreational facilities provided by the Company for the enjoyment of the workers. These facilities included handball courts, a bowling alley, and a swimming pool. The Company also insisted that employees be offered mental as well as physical support and training, and offered classes to teach their many immigrant employees both English and good citizenship. In 1932, however, the Joseph and Feiss Company was unionized and all paternalistic activities and programs came to an end.

During World War II, Joseph and Feiss became an important manufacturer of uniforms for the United States army and navy. After the war, the company continued to expand its line of products, purchasing Samuel Spitz Company and its Cricketeer label in 1957 and Windbreaker-Danville in 1962. Joseph and Feiss also owned and operated several subsidiaries, including the Naval Uniform Service, Inc. In 1966, Joseph and Feiss merged with Phillips Van-Heusen Corporation and continued to operate under its own name. In 1989, it was acquired by the German clothing firm Hugo Boss. The Cricketeer label was discontinued in 1995 and in 1997 its Cleveland operations were moved to the Tiedeman Road facility in Brooklyn, Ohio. In 2010, the planned closure of that plant was averted after union negotiations. The plant continues to produce 150,000 suits a year.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for the Joseph and Feiss Company

From the guide to the Joseph and Feiss Company Photographs, 1914-1950, (Western Reserve Historical Society)

The Joseph and Feiss Company was founded in 1841 as Koch and Loeb, a general store in Meadville, Pennsylvania. The store moved to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1845, and when Samuel Loeb left shortly after the move, Kaufman Koch expanded the enterprise to three locations. Other partners joined the company, including Jacob Goldsmith and Julius Feiss in 1865 and Moritz Joseph in 1873. As Goldsmith, Joseph, Feiss & Company, an internal factory was opened in 1897 to begin the production of ready-made men's clothing under the Clothcraft label. After changing its name to the Joseph and Feiss Company in 1907, the company became fully incorporated as The Joseph and Feiss Company in 1920 when it moved into its new factory on W. 53rd Street in Cleveland.

The company had originally balanced scientific management with benevolent corporate paternalism in order to keep workers happy as well as healthy. In 1934, the company was unionized by the Amalgamated Clothing & Textile Workers Union of America and these paternalistic programs were ended.

During World War II, Joseph and Feiss became an important manufacturer of uniforms for the United States army and navy. After the war, the company continued to expand its line of products, purchasing Samuel Spitz Company and its Cricketeer label in 1957 and Windbreaker-Danville in 1962. Joseph and Feiss also owned and operated several subsidiaries, including the Naval Uniform Service, Inc. In 1966, Joseph and Feiss merged with Phillips Van-Heusen Corporation and continued to operate under its own name. In 1989, it was acquired by the German clothing firm Hugo Boss. The Cricketeer label was discontinued in 1995 and in 1997 its Cleveland operations were moved to the Tiedeman Road facility in Brooklyn, Ohio. In 2010, the planned closure of that plant was averted after union negotiations. The plant continues to produce 150,000 suits a year.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for this organization

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Moritz Joseph

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Emil Joseph

From the guide to the Joseph and Feiss Company Records, Series II, 1858-1988, (Western Reserve Historical Society)

The Joseph and Feiss Company had its origins in a small general store, opened in Meadville, Pennsylvania, in 1841. The proprietors were Caufmann Koch and Samuel Loeb, both Jewish merchants. Their store was called Koch, Caufman and Loeb.

In 1845, the proprietors moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where they opened another small store on Superior Street near the Cuyahoga River. This time they specialized in tailored men's clothing. Their partnership did not last long, however, for in 1845 Samuel Loeb moved to New York.

Even without the assistance of his partner, Caufman Koch was so successful in his Superior Street enterprise that he was soon able to open two more shops, one on Union Street and the other at Merwin and Superior Streets. More workers were employed and the business grew into a lucrative manufacturer of men's clothing. The expansion also prompted Caufman to offer fellow businessmen Adolph Mayer and Jacob Levi partnerships. In 1865, two more men joined the firm as partners, Jacob Goldsmith and Julius Feiss. In the next few years, a number of other businessmen periodically joined or retired from the firm, and the hame successively changed from Koch, Levi, Mayoer and Company in 1865; to Koch, Goldsmith and Company in 1872; to Koch, Goldsmith, Joseph and Company in 1873; to Goldsmith, Joseph, Feiss and Company in 1889; and finally to the Joseph and Feiss Company in 1907. The company was formally incorporated as the Joseph and Feiss Company in 1920.

Expansion also prompted the owners of the Company to move six times in the first seventy-five years of its existence. The final location of the main plant was located at West 53rd Street in Cleveland.

For much of its early history, the Joseph and Feiss Company modeled itself on early twentieth century corporate paternalism, and went to great lengths to insure that workers enjoyed not only fair but pleasant working conditions. This paternalistic attitude was visible in the many recreational facilities provided by the Company for the enjoyment of the workers. These facilities included handball courts, a bowling alley, and a swimming pool. The Company also insisted that employees be offered mental as well as physical support and training, and offered classes to teach their many immigrant employees both English and good citizenship. In 1932, however, the Joseph and Feiss Company was unionized and all paternalistic activities and programs came to an end.

During World War II, Joseph and Feiss became an important manufacturer of uniforms for the United States army and navy. After the war, the company continued to expand its line of products, purchasing Samuel Spitz Company and its Cricketeer label in 1957 and Windbreaker-Danville in 1962. Joseph and Feiss also owned and operated several subsidiaries, including the Naval Uniform Service, Inc. In 1966, Joseph and Feiss merged with Phillips Van-Heusen Corporation and continued to operate under its own name. In 1989, it was acquired by the German clothing firm Hugo Boss. The Cricketeer label was discontinued in 1995 and in 1997 its Cleveland operations were moved to the Tiedeman Road facility in Brooklyn, Ohio. In 2010, the planned closure of that plant was averted after union negotiations. The plant continues to produce 150,000 suits a year.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for the Joseph and Feiss Company

From the guide to the Joseph and Feiss Company Records, 1847-1960, (Western Reserve Historical Society)