In early 1961 the business was merged into The Fine Jewelers Guild, a subsidiary of Zale Corporation. The Sons was dropped and the stores continued to be called Wiss Jewelers. In 1976 there were eight locations. In June 1978 Zale merged the Wiss and Lambert Bros. stores to form Wiss & Lambert. In October 1986 the name of the stores was changed to Bailey Banks & Biddle.
| When: | Address: |
|---|---|
| Newark | |
| 1848-1854 | 7 Bank St. |
| 1854-1869 | 13 Bank St. |
| 1869-1889 | 26 Bank St. |
| 1889-1903 | 755 Broad St. [had to leave Bank St. to make way for Prudential Building] |
| 1903-1910 | 683 Broad St. |
| 1911-1939 | 665 Broad St. [Wiss Building] |
| 1939- | 665 Broad St. + 22 West Park [Gift Annex] |
| East Orange | |
| 1945-1955 | 554 Central Ave. |
| 1955- | 594 Central Ave. |
| Montclair | |
| 1948- | 28 Church St |
| Short Hills | |
| 1961- | Mall |
Wiss Newark Store locations on maps
Picture of 26 Bank St: With Family, circa 1870-1871
Wiss Store, Business at 554 Central Ave., East Orange, New Jersey. Five pictures from the Library of Congress. They were used in the article in the next entry.
Architectural Record, Fenruary 1947, page 101 One-page article on the new store. Has three of the five photos in the previous entry.
A 1932 Mail Order Gift Book. This passed through eBay in 2014. I did not buy it. This page on the store didn't exist and I had no place to post it. It is very similar to the 1934 one. These are the seller's pictures.
A 1934 Mail Order Gift Book. The catalog has 36 numbered pages, which are in a slideshow for here. The catalog is in the collection of The Newark Museum Library & Archives.
Gorham Sterling is a 1959 foldout catalog on Gorham's flatware patterns.
Wiss Advertisements in the Newark Directory, starting in 1852. The ads focused on retail.
Wiss Advertisements and Articles in Newspapers. Most of the ads were placed by the store in local papers. Starting in 1880 in The Newark Sunday Call.
There are many articles in The Newark Evening News on the store from 1926 to 1972. Many have to do with theft.
1939 Christmas Full Page. This full page ad passed through eBay in 2014. I did not buy it. I should have. The drawing of the storefront would be the ideal thumbnail for this section.
An 1889 Christmas card. When the factory moved up the hill in 1887, the retail store stayed behind at 26 Bank Street. Then in 1888 Prudential Insurance bought the Bank Street corner and the store moved to 755 Broad Street.
Jewelry Store Moving Card. A card announcing the move to the new and commodious salesrooms of J. Wiss & Sons at 683 Broad St, Newark, NJ. It has been stamped Rec'd JUN 5-1903. The actual move date was May 1st.
Compact Case with Map of Newark Area. Retailed by Wiss & Sons jewelry store. Made by Wadsworth. The cover map highlights the locations of the three Wiss jewelry stores: Newark, East Orange, and Montclair. East Orange image is of the store that opened Nov 1945, and was left in May 1955. Montclair store was opened June 1948. Circa early 1950s.
Key Chain Lost Tag. The Wiss jewelry store issued these key chain tags to customers. If the keys were lost they could be put in any mailbox and the store would contact the person. There is no postal zone, making this one before 1943. This was used by Norman F Wiss, Jr. for many decades.
Key Chain Lost Tag. This one is newer than the one previous. The zone in the store address of 665 Broad St, Newark 2, NJ dates it as being from 1943-1963.
Small Ashtray. Or for ring storage. Possibly a memento.
Small Ashtray. Or for ring storage. Possibly a memento. This one from 1973, long after the store was no longer owned by the family.
Label on back of Nutcracker and Pick Set. Has J. Wiss & Sons with an address of 755 Broad St, Newark, NJ. This would be from 1889-1903.
Label on back of Silver Box. Has J. Wiss & Sons with an address of 683 Broad St, Newark, NJ. This would be from 1903-1910.
Label on Cloth Silver Bag. Has J. Wiss & Sons with an address of Newark, NJ. This would be before 1922, when they dropped the J.
Label on Cloth Silver Bag for Cigarette case. Has Wiss Sons with an address of Newark, NJ. This would be 1923 to 1945. The East Orange store was opened in 1945, and would have been added to the label.
Label on top of Movado Watch Case. Label has: Founded 1848, Wiss and 665 Broad St. Newark, N.J. The period with only that address was 1911-1945, but this would not be before 1922, when the & Sons was still used.
Stamp on inside of Ring Box. Label has: Wiss: Newark, N.J. Eastablished 1848. The ring box was circa May 1947.
Label on top of Salt Cellars Box. Label has: Wiss: Founded 1848: Newark-East Orange. The two store period was 1945-1948.
Remittance Statement.
How Science Safeguards Your Purchase of Gems. Published by the American Gem Society, and distributed to the stores that had achieved Certified Gemologist. 24 pages. Circa 1946-1947.
