Signed A & Z vintage costume jewelry
Signed A & Z vintage costume jewelry (1905-1964)
The history of A & Z Chain Company began in 1905 in Providence, Rhode Island. Founded by Charles Anschen and Benjamin Zetlin, the company’s address wast 9 Calender Street Providence. The business moved to 116 Chestnut Street in 1909. Incorporated in 1918, the company manufactured fine gold-filled jewelry, bought and sold jewelry. According to “Rhode Island Jewish Historical Notes” (1989), Charles Anschen invented and perfected the expansion watch bracelet.
In the early 1940s the new owner of the company became Benjamin H. Rossman (1892-1964).
Born in Russia, he came to the United States by himself at the age of 13 hoping to become a doctor. Instead, his first job was washing dishes in a barroom in Boston. He changed several jobs to bring his whole family to live in Roxbury Massachusetts. Rossman began working for the Hanover Jewelry Company in Boston. Eventually, he became a partner in the business with his cousin. The cousin ran the inside operations of the company, while Rossman was the salesman.
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