San Francisco County
Biographies
L. SCHWARZSCHILD
L.
Schwarzschild, a member of the firm of Feigenbaum
& Co., 520 to 526 Market
street, San Francisco, represents the wholesale fancy goods and toy interest of
the Pacific coast. The firm is composed
of Messrs. B. and J.
Feigenbaum and Schwarzschild, all natives of Germany. The
co-partnership was formed and house established on July 1, 1869, by purchasing
a small outfit on Battery street, where they remained
until 1874. At that time, needing
greater capacity, they purchased a seven-story building, 30 x 90 feet, on Sansome street, and there conducted their interests until
1883, when, needing still greater space, they sold their store and moved to
their present spacious rooms at 520 and 526 Market street. Here their main salesroom has an area of 60 x 165
feet; the basement is 60 x 165 feet, and
besides these they have three other floors, all of which are well stocked with
toys, Yankee notions, smokers’ articles, stationary, willow-ware and musical
instruments. Forty-one hands are employed in conducting the several departments
of the business. Their territory covers
the Pacific coast States, Idaho, Arizona, New Mexico, Mexico and the Sandwich
Islands. Their territory is extended
because all goods are of European manufacture.
The business is difficult of successful management on account of the
great distance from market, the bulky goods, the heavy rates by freight,
shipments by water necessarily taking months in transit, etc. The peculiar features of the business require
special knowledge and adaptability.
Several houses have failed, while this establishment has pushed steadily
forward, its success being largely due to the efficient management of Mr. L.
Schwarzschild, who had eight years’ experience in the business prior to the
establishing of this house.
He
was born at Frankfort-on-the-Main, in 1841, and at the age of fifteen years
began his mercantile life. He was first
employed in a cloth factory, and subsequently as traveling salesman for hop and
wine establishments of France, where he resided from boyhood. He came to California in 1861, and entered
the toy house of Thurnauer & Finn, importers and dealers, with
whom he learned the intricate business.
He is now considered one of the best judges of toys in this country, and
is frequently appealed to by the customhouse authorities to fix valuations upon
importations. Mr. Schwarzschild makes an
annual trip to Europe, visiting England, France, Germany, Italy and
Switzerland, purchasing from the several manufacturers such an assortment as
his trade demands, consuming about five months on each trip.
Mr.
Schwarzschild was married in San Francisco,
in 1867, to Miss Amelia Ochs, a native of Frankfort-on-the-Main, and to them have
been born five daughters, viz.: Alice, now Mrs. M. S. Hellman,
of Los Angeles, and Leontine,
Adele, Jennie and Flora.
He is a member of the A. O. U. W. and several
benevolent societies.
Messrs. Feigenbaum came to
this State in 1857, and settled in Humboldt county,
where they engaged in a general merchandise business until 1869. They are both married and have sons
growing up in the business with them.
This
firm is the only wholesale toy establishment on the Pacific coast, and, with an
annual business of about $500,000, enjoys an extended patronage.
Transcribed by Walt Howe.
Source: "The Bay of San Francisco," Vol. 2, pages 14-15, Lewis Publishing Co., 1892.
© 2005 Walt Howe.