Ladies Powder Compact Manufacturer's Guide A to D

Powder Compact Manufacturer's Guide A to D

A.M. Frank - a trademark found on French compacts

A.S. Brown - English maker in London, trademark Mascot. Manufacturing as early as 1940s and signed "ASB". Began using the Mascot trade name in 1950. Famous for compacts shaped as handbags during the 1950s. Made compacts in leather and metal. Also produced cigarette cases, mirrors, brush sets, lipstick holders, novelties and other items. They absorbed the Kigu Co in 1977. Logo is a tipped crown. Eventually taken over by Laughton & Sons, makers of Stratton.

Mascot Compact

 

Mascot Crown Logo

 

Agme - A Swiss compact company, often musical, c1940s to 60s. Not much information available about the company.

 

Agme Switzerland Musical Compact

Agme signed above inner mirror

American Products Co - manufacturers of LaBara cosmetics, Theda Bara's line.

Atkinsons - a British compact trademark

Armand - a cosmetics house founded in 1916 in Des Moines Iowa by Carl Weeks and by 1927 was the leading seller of face powder in the USA. Developed cold cream face powder in 1916. Logo was a pompadour woman's head in silhouette. He finished his Tudor style home in 1927 Salisbury House which is now a museum. Introduced the Florian line in 1929 for men. Armand merged into Weeks & Leo Co Inc in the 1950s and Carl Weeks retired. Tried to unsuccessfully revive Armand brand name and it was gone by the 1960s. Weeks and Leo still exists today.

Armand Compact

Avon Cosmetics - Avon is the largest direct marketing firm in the world. The company began in 1896 as the California Perfume Company with a rose perfume developed by Mr David McConnell of NY. He named the company Avon in 1939 in tribute to his favourite playwright William Shakespeare and Stratford-on-Avon. Mrs P.F.E Albee of Winchester New Hampshire USA pioneered the company's now-famous direct-selling method.

 

Avon Compact

Avon Puff and Sifter

Baird-North Co - Providence Rhode Island. Manufacturing compacts as early as the 1930s

BB Co / Bliss Brothers - Attleboro MA. Making compacts in the period between 1930s to 1950s. Mark was usually a small B and Co within large B. (Not to be confused with E.A. Bliss).

 

RAF Military Compact by Bliss Brothers

Puff Styled by Bliss

Bell DeLuxe - possibly a French trademark

Bigney, Sidney O - Mark S.O.B. for Sidney O Bigney Co Attleboro MA

Birks - Established in Montreal Canada on March 1, 1879. In 1887 started a jewelry factory upstairs over the shop. Called the Tiffanys of Canada. Specialized in sterling silver. Earliest registered hallmark under the Birks family name is dated 1564.

R. Blackinton & Co - 1862 to 1967 North Attleboro MA

Bliss - E.A. Bliss Company, Meriden CT. Founded in 1875 as a manufacturer of men's watch chains and small gift items. It was known as Bliss and Carpenter and then, in 1882 as E.A. Bliss Company after its co-owner Edgerton Ames Bliss. Until 1907 their trademark was E.A. Co. Bliss traveled to Europe to keep up on continental style trends and to acquire metals and beads for his jewelry co as his chief designer. In 1913 James H Napier was hired as General Manager and he eventually became president. The company became known as Napier-Bliss in 1920. Eventually the name was changed to the Napier Co and it continues in business to this day. (Not to be confused with BB Co Bliss Brothers).

Boots or Boots the Chemists - a British drugstore company founded in 1849. Signed Boots in script or a B in script. Still in business.

Bourjois - Evening in Paris is part of the Bourjois line. In 1930, International Perfume Inc of NY decided to market all of its products under the Bourjois label. Evening in Paris and Springtime in Paris were two of their very popular lines.

 

Evening in Paris Rouge Puff

Bourjois Evening in Paris Vanity Case

Bridgeport - Bridgeport Metal Goods Mfg Co, Bridgeport CT

D.F. Briggs Co or Briggs or D.F.B. Co - Attleboro MA. Compacts marked DFBCo. Manufacturer of fine vanities 1920s to 30s.

Britemode or Brightman Products Co - Located on Fifth Ave 1950s to 60s. Company was sold in the 70s.

 

Britemode Puff and Sifter

Britemode Compact

Brodnax - George T Brodnax Inc Memphis TN. Vanity cases.

Caressa Toilet Requisites - London England. Manufacturers of powder puffs, manicure accessories, holdalls

Cartier - a luxury jewelry company begun in 1898. In 1909 the first NY shop opened on Fifth Avenue.

Charbert - NY. Selling compacts in 1930s, probably did not manufacture their own cases, they were a cosmetics firm. The NY branch was founded by Herbert Harris & William Gaxton in 1933 on Fifth Avenue. Gaxton was the star of the Broadway Gershwin musical play Of Thee I Sing in 1931. Drumstick was its cosmetics brand / trademark. Gaxton sold his interest in the firm in 1950 and the company closed its doors in 1963 to 64.

 

Charbert compact with Drum Logo on exterior lid

Charles of the Ritz - American cosmetics house located in NY NY founded in 1919.
in 1926, they began marketing beauty products under the name "Charles of the Ritz". Perfume was added to this line in 1927. In 1935, Charles of the Ritz launched the highly successful Jean Naté line of body splashes and fragrance. They later acquired the cosmetics company Alexandra de Markoff. In 1963, Ritz acquired 80% of the house of Yves Saint Laurent. In 1964 Charles of the Ritz merged with the Lanvin Group and from then on was known as Lanvin-Charles of the Ritz. In 1972 the company was acquired by E.R. Squibb. In 1984 Charles of the Ritz launched Forever Krystle and Carrington, successful fragrances based on American television drama Dynasty. In 1986, Squibb sold the entire division back to Yves Saint Laurent. Yves Saint Laurent sold Charles of the Ritz Incorporated to Revlon in 1987. Revlon shut down Charles of the Ritz in 2002.

 

Charles of the Ritz compact, signed on base CR initials on puff and lid

Ciner - A costume jeweler noted for fine quality compacts usually produced with sturdy cases and matching lipsticks. Found by Emanuel Ciner in 1892. By 1931 Ciner began producing fine costume jewelry. Early jewelry was frequently unmarked, following WWII most are marked Ciner.

Clarice Jane - a compact trademark of E.A.M., Elgin American Manufacturing Co, of the Illinois Watch Company

Clover Japan - wind up musical compacts c1950s

Colgate - Cashmere Bouquet

Colleen Moore - Cosmetics house. Probably started mass producing affordable compacts in the 1940s

Columbia - Of Fifth Avenue. Along with Zell, Rex and Dorset, often called the "Fifth Avenues", all makers of moderately priced compacts during the 1940s to 50s.

 

Columbia of Fifth Avenue Compact with Box

Coro - American costume jewelry manufacturer. Produced a limited range of compact designs beginning in the 1940s

Coty - Perfume and cosmetics company located at Fifth Avenue NY. Began in Paris France early 1900s. The Coty trademark was registered in France on 9-15-14 by Francois Coty for Airspun Face Powder and compact container with white and gold powder puffs on an orange background. A collaborative effort between Rene Lalique, famous glass maker and Leon Bakst, designer of stage sets and costumes for the Ballet Russe. Also a NY division.

 

Coty Double Vanity Buckle with Box and Puffs

Cyclax - England. Manufacturing compacts as early as the 1920s

Daniel - Marketed compacts early to mid-century. Particularly known for their Echoes de Montmartre series and it has been said they may have been based in Paris. Also called The House of Nash.

 

Daniel House of Nash Leather Compact

Darnee - French company noted for producing small compacts and rouges with celebrity connections.

Debbie J Palmer - contemporary compacts. D J Palmer spent 12 years as the VP of design at Estee Lauder before starting her own production company in NY NY. Victoria's Secret, Bloomingdales, Nordstrom's and Neiman Marcus are among the distributors.

DeVore Manufacturing Co - La Pandora line in 1930s.

Dexter - 1950s

D.F.B. - See Briggs

Divine - Trademark found in tiny glove compacts with decorative lids, often done in silhouette.

Djer-Kiss Kerkoff - Trademark of Kerkoff, a Parisian cosmetics firm. Their most famous design is the silver kissing fairies compact. Exporting to the USA in the 1920s, exclusively through Alfred H Smith Co of NY. Compacts are usually small and silver in colour.

Dorothy Gray - A cosmetic firm that flourished in the 1950s to 60s, acquired by Playtex products. Located at 683 Fifth Avenue NY. Probably began mass producing affordable compacts in the 1940s. Trade name bought by Lehn & Fink in 1927. First compact in 1924. Used a hoop skirt logo in 1924 to 1927, but was sued by Armand.

 

Dorothy Gray Rouge Compact with puff

Dorset - Fifth Avenue NY. Manufactured lucite handbags. Started making moderately priced compacts c1947. Merged with Rex Fifth Avenue in 1951 becoming Dorset-Rex.

 

 

Dorset Compact with puff

Dovell - A brand used by Zell Fifth Avenue early 1930s.

 

Souvenir compact with Dovell puff

Dunhill - Alfred Dunhill Ltd of London. A British firm noted for it's watches, men's accessories and lighters. They also manufactured a ladies compact in the form of a lighter. Mary was the only daughter. Mary Dunhill established a salon in 1926 in London, ceased business in 1940. Opened a USA branch in 1934.

 

Mary Dunhill Compact with signed puff

DuBarry - England. Manufacturing compacts as early as the 1920s. Mr Kilby Pears launched the Dubarry cosmetic line during WWI. Mr Pears ran the Standard Tablet Factory, which was liquidated in 1923 and a company trading as Dubarry purchased the assets, of which Mr Pears was named Managing Director and officially registered Dubarry as a company in 1924. The first glass perfume bottle was registered by the Standard Tablet Factory in 1921. Elegant compacts were launched called "powdrettes". The original factories still have the lettering and tiling showing Dubarry and Shalimar along with other products made by Dubarry. The company was acquired in 1962 and moved in 1964, finally going into liquidation in 1982. 

 

I will issue further blogs for the rest of the alphabet!

Teddy Hugs

Mandy

Mandicrafts

Please visit mandicrafts.ca to view compacts available for sale!