Advance Waist Co., 31 E. 31st St. (2006)

The Advance Waist Co. manufactured waists here from 1915 to 1921. Owners were George Washington Kohn (born Maryland, 2 Dec 1879) and Jacob Harold Schattman (born New York, 5 May 1880). Kohn's wife, Fannie Kohn (born Romania ca. 1885/86, immigrated ca. 1896), was also an officer in the company.

Near the top of this wall is a sign reading Parisian Mfg Co / Ladies & Misses / Dresses (click for image). Parisian Mfg., founded by Harry Mintz (1894-1945), came into being around 1905 at 97 Wooster St. After several other locations Parisian Mfg. landed at 31 E. 31st St. in 1915, where they stayed until 1924. This ad ran in the New York Times Aug. 1923. Harry Mintz was born in Russia and immigrated to the U. S. in 1891. Mintz died in 1945, but the company continued until around 1950. This want ad from 1948 has them located at 1400 Broadway. At least two of Harry Mintz's sons, Jack Mintz (1894-1992) and Benjamin Mintz (1901?-1950) were also involved in the business.

An image among the New York Public Library's Digital Collections catches a glimpse of this wall in 1931 when the following signs appear beneath Parisian Mfg:

E & J Weinberg / Silk Blouses

Superior / Petticoat Co

R E Baldry / Silk Petticoats

Epstein's / Silk Underwear

Crompton / Corduroys / Velveteens

All of these signs seem to have been painted over and were virtually unreadable by 2002. A fragment of the name Weinberg appears here beneath the Dresses in Parisian, and a few letters from the name Baldry may be here, but there is considerable overpainting.

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