1900s Literature

Major Catalogs

1901catalog thumbnail Shears & Scissors, Tinners' Snips, Pruning Shears: 1901. 24 pages. This is before the Inlaid process was developed. All items include trade prices. This was a period of very stable prices. Also in PDF.

1907catalog thumbnail 1907 catalog for the trade covers shears, scissors, razors. 64 pages. Now includes Inlaid shears, with the Inlaid process featured. Includes 23 pages on straight razors and strops starting on catalog page 37. All items include trade prices. Also in PDF.

Booklets

SuggestionsForAdvertising thumbnail Suggestions For Advertising for dealers. Highlights the free Electrotypes that are provided to dealers if they advertise in newspapers. Includes shears and full ad electrotypes. Presumed to be circa 1906, as that is when they started national advertising. 16 pages printed on newsprint. 6" × 8-7/8".

Flyers

SolidSteelPruningShears1901 Solid Steel Pruning Shears 1901
Newsprint: 5-3/4" × 6-5/8". Also in PDF.

WantToLearnShearAdvertising Want To Learn Shear Advertising? and make money at the same time?
Offers an advertising plan when a $50 order is placed. Circa early 1900s is assumed. Poster: 7-11/16" × 13-7/8". Also in PDF.

Make-the-shear-stock-attractive Make the shear stock attractive
A large foldout that is 11-3/16" × 14-3/16" open. It is soliciting new dealers. Send $50 and along with the scissors you get a handsome glass show case. Inside was a postcard to send back stating that you were accepting the offer.

1900s-early-postcard-soliciting-dealer New Dealer Postcard
Postcard for a business to send in to Wiss requesting to buy a sample pack, to start being a dealer.

Steel Snips paper The New Wiss Forged Steel Snips. A slip of paper 6" x 3-1/2". Too thin to be a postcard, but is postcard-size. Date assumed to be second half of the 1900s.

Cards

Beandin-business-card Business Card
With Beandin's name written in as the rep.

1904-coming-postcard Postcard posted May 16 1904 to Mr. L.D. Parkhurst, Danielson, Conn.
The postcard is announcing that V.P. Gairoard is coming With a full line of Wiss Samples. He will reach you about May 24 1904. He will demonstrate to you how our advertising plan helps the Wiss dealers to secure the Best Cutlery Trade.

1908-coming-postcard I'm Coming Postcard
Better hold your Scissor orders. At last you will see the great Wiss line of Shears. Tinners' Snips too. Copyright 1908.

1909-coming-postcard Postcard posted May 12 1909 to Nathan Trotter & Co., Phila., Pa.
The postcard is announcing that V.P. Gairoard is coming to visit. He will call May 23 1909. "His line of samples is very complete and instructive, it will interest you."

Correspondence

letter-1904-01-08-Middleburg-Stone Letter dated January 8, 1904
Louis Wiss asking Middleburg Stone for a quotation, and a request to test the stones before placing an order.

1904-04-16-letter-Middleburg-Stone Letter dated April 16, 1904
Wiss is requesting a credit from Middleburg for a stone that was entirely too hard and impossible to true up - one side being much softer than the other. And then placing an order.

letter-1904-04-20-Middleburg-Stone Letter dated April 20, 1904
Louis Wiss is stating that a little variation is okay, and that Middleburg may increase the order to make the order sufficient for a car.

letter-1904-06-10-Middleburg-Stone Letter dated June 10, 1904.
Letter from Wiss to Middleburg Stone stating that one grinding wheel arrived broken, and they want to test the stones before paying.

1904-06-14-letter-Middleburg-Stone Letter dated June 15, 1904
Wiss is sending a cover letter for a freight bill.

Schleer-Bros-invoice-1909 Invoice Sent to Schleer Bros, June 25, 1909
Being billed $10.00 for 1 Sample Line Razor Strops.

KornahrensLetter1909 Letter to Arnold Kornahrens 1909
Blaming a local newspaper for not running advertisements. Also in PDF.

Envelopes

1902-envelope Envelope Wiss sent on September 22, 1902.

envelope-1908-03-24 Envelope Wiss sent on March 24, 1908.

Late-1900s-envelope Envelope with Unprinted Date
Wiss sending to Marting Bros. Co., Att: Buyer House Furnishings Dept.