Jacobson Hat Company
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jacobson Hat Company is a family owned and operated manufacturer and wholesaler of headwear, costumes, souvenirs, party hats, and various other novelty products located in Scranton, Pennsylvania. For more than 75 years, headwear buyers nationwide have commended Jacobson Hat Company on its variety, service, and value. The business is currently owned and managed by Jeffrey A. Jacobson, David Dickstein, and Howard A. Jacobson. The company prides itself on treating its customers as if they were family, including Wal-Mart, Walt Disney Company, and Six Flags.
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[edit] History
Jacobson Hat Company was founded in 1928 at 2 Bond Street in New York City by brothers Walter A. Jacobson and Harry Jacobson. The firm began with a limited manufacturing base, which included red buckram firemen hats for kids. The hats sold in F.W. Woolworth Company Five & Ten Cent stores for a nickel. In 1929, the Great Depression had a negative effect on the young business, with F.W. Woolworth Company as its only client, Jacobson Hat Company was serious danger of closing.
[edit] Texaco Fire Chief Hats for the Ed Wynn Show
In July 1930, Texas Oil Company, the manufacturer of Texaco gasoline, placed an order for 600,000 fire chief hats, with the condition that the hats would be completed in 8 weeks. This order coincided with a half-hour comedy radio show sponsored by Texas Oil Company featuring established vaudeville comic Ed Wynn. Wynn was advertised as the "Fire Chief," which is what Texas Oil named their new gasoline. As part of the promotion the firm gave consumers a fire chief hat for every five gallons of gasoline purchased. The Texas Oil Company hired a private investigator to locate Jacobson Hat Company because F.H. Woolworth Company refused to idenify their supliers
[edit] Growth
The Ed Wynn show became the biggest hit in the history of radio, where it remained for a number of years. Before the show ended, Jacobson Company sold over ten million buckram firemen hats to the Texas Oil Company1.
Jacobson Hat Company leveraged its success and expanded its inventory and production capabilities. Upon completion of his bachelor's degree from MIT, Walter's son Howard Jacobson joined the firm. Howard was joined by Phillip Graff and Harry's son Richard Jacobson, who changed his name to Rick Jason and later starred in the hit television show Combat!
In 1955, raising escalating production costs and new taxes in New York City, Jacobson Hat Company moved to Scranton, Pennslyvania where it has been located since. Continuing a family tradition, Howard's son Jeffrey A. Jacobson and son-in-law David Dickstein entered the firm and eventually became partners. In recent years the company has greatly enhanced its product line and continued to dedicate itself to serving its customers.
[edit] Recent News
In 1992, Jacobson Hat Company purchased Virgia-based rival Benay-Albee out of bankruptcy, eventually transforming the business into a valuable strategic asset.
