Courtesy of Sheaff: ephemera (see ODC Employees sidebar about Ludwig Rohner)
The date of the logo’s creation is unknown. Some of its letterforms bring to mind Milton Glaser’s Baby Teeth alphabet that was created in 1968.
Alphabet Thesaurus, Volume 3 (1971)
The Original Designing Company advertised in the fifth and sixth issues of the Garment Manufacturers Index. The advertisement included the names of the three partners: E. Sonntag, C.A. Weiller and P. Reimann.
December 1919
January 1920; Designs misspelled
The Original Designing Company applied for a trademark in 1925.
A Brief History
The Original Designing Company (ODC) name dates as far back as 1915 when it was operated by Sophia Braunberg and Bella Markowitz. They were listed in R.L. Polk & Co.’s 1915 Trow General Directory of New York City of the Boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx.
page 160: Braunberg Sophia (Original Designing Co) h1321 Hoe av [Bronx]page 1251: Markowitz Bella (Original Designing Co) h 135 Suffolk [Lower East Side]page 1414: Original Designing Co (RTN [Registered Trade Name]) (Sophia Braunberg, Bella Markowitz) 17 Mad av [near 30th Street]
The company had an entry in R.L. Polk & Co.’s 1915 Trow New York Copartnership and Corporation Directory Boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx: “Original Designing Co (no inf) 17 Madison av”.
They were not listed in directories over the next four years.
In late 1918 or early 1919, Paul Reiman (also Reimann), Eugene Charles Sonntag and Clarence Alexander Weiller became partners in ODC. It’s not clear if any of them knew Braunberg or Markowitz. How the three men chose or obtained the name, Original Designing Company, is unknown.
The New York Sun, February 24, 1919, published the following business lease in New York City
... F.J. Guilfoyle & Co., Inc., leased space in 377 Broadway to ... the Original Designing Company ...
One particular document may explain why the three partners chose this location. Their World War I draft cards said they worked at the Textile Designing Company at 366 Broadway.
Here is some early background information on each partner.
Paul Reiman was born Paul Reimann on September 23, 1888, in Throem, Germany, according to his naturalization papers at Ancestry.com. He immigrated to the United States in 1912. He has not yet been found in the 1915 New York state census. Reiman’s address on his draft card was 618 West 136th Street in Manhattan. On April 20, 1918, he married Maria Fortoul.
Sonntag was born on October 2, 1889, in Manhattan, New York City. The 1900 United States Census said he was the oldest of three children born to Eugene and Carrie. They resided in the Bronx. The 1915 New York state census said the Sonntags were Queens residents.
The Times Union (Brooklyn, New York), April 13, 1916, reported his marriage.
Patchogue, April 13.—Eugene C. Sonntag and Miss Grace Gelser, both of Astorla, were united in marriage at the Parsonage of Emanual Lutheran Church by the Rev. Hermann Zoller on Tuesday afternoon. Only the members of the immediate families were in attendance. The couple were attended by Edward J. Slavin and Miss Millicent A. Mand. Following the ceremony the couple went to Sayville, where a wedding supper was served at the home of the brides sister, Mrs. William Maasch, jr.
In 1918, Sonntag’s voter enrollment said he was a Socialist. The next year he was a Democrat. He later switched to the Republican Party.
Weiller was born on December 1, 1889, in Baltimore, Maryland. In the 1900 census, Weiller and his three siblings lived with their maternal grandparents in Baltimore. The 1910 census said Weiller was part of his older and married brother’s household in Bayswater, Queens, New York. Weiller was an office clerk. He has not yet been found in the 1915 state census.
ODC placed classified advertisements in The New York Times as early as March 2, 1919.
As seen earlier, the company advertised in the Garment Manufacturers Index in December 1919 and January 1920.
The 1920 census, enumerated in January, said Reiman was textile designer who lived in Manhattan. Sonntag was a Queens resident and designer at a “Dress Goods Co”. Weiller has not yet been found in the census.
The New York City Telephone Directory, February 4, 1920, had these listings:
page 474: Markowitz B, Dresses 13 E 16 Styvesnt 3156page 550: Original Designing Co, 377 Bway ... Franklin 4899
The New York City Telephone Directory, May 15, 1920, listings included:
page 474: Markowitz B, Dresses 13 E 16 Styvesnt 3156page 550: Original Designing Co, 377 Bway ... Franklin 4899
ODC was in Davison’s Textile “Blue Book”, July 1921–July 1922.
Member ODC was in the 1922 Fall Season Color Card of America and Standard Color Card of America (1922).
ODC was in Davison’s Textile “Blue Book”, July 1922–July 1923.
Polk’s Trow’s New York City Directory 1922–23 had these listings:
page 411: Braunberg Sophie Mrs gowns 1815, 7th av h dopage 1365: Original Designing Co (RTN) (Eug C Sonntag jr, Paul Reiman, Clarence A Weiller) 377 Bway R1002page 1465: Reiman Paul (Original Designing Co) h 610 W 136thpage 1658: Sonntag Eug C (Original Designing Co) h LICpage 1819: Weiller Clarence A (Original Designing Co) h [illegible] W 54th
Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office, April 24, 1923, printed Reiman’s submission.
The Baltimore Evening Sun, August 31, 1923, noted Weiller’s marriage.
Miss Dvera Goldberg WedMr. and Mrs. John Goldberg announce the marriage, of their daughter, Miss Dvera Goldberg, to Mr. Clarence A. Weiler [sic] on Thursday, August 30, in this city.
ODC was in Davison’s Textile “Blue Book”, July 1923–July 1924.
ODC was in Davison’s Textile “Blue Book”, July 1924–July 1925.
Polk’s Trow’s New York City Directory 1924–25 included the following:
page 1742: Original Designing Co (RTN) (Eug Sonntag Clarence A Weller [sic] Paul Reiman) 377 Bway R1101page 1877: Reiman Paul (Original Designing Co) h 610 W 136thpage 2138: Sonntag E (Original Designing Co) 377 Bway R1101page 2360: Weller [sic] C A (Original Designing Co) 377 Bway R1101
The Upholsterer and Interior Decorator, July 15, 1924, mentioned ODC.
Professional Designers Hold Interesting ExhibitThe exhibition of textile designs created by a group of professional American studios, held at the Art Center June 17 to June 28 under the auspices of The Silk Association of America and the National Association of Cotton Manufacturers, was unusually interesting for more than one reason. It was the first purely professional exhibition of its kind ever held in New York, and the quality of the designs presented was such as to command the most respectful attention of American textile manufacturers. Seven of the leading studios were represented: Robert Schey; The Original Designing Co.; Berengaria & Alfred Walsh; Harold Johnson, A. Sirooni; Wm. H. Arlt and Joseph Kullmann. Their designs were for several types of fabrics, mostly silks, and for a variety of uses. ...
In 1925, ODC advertised frequently in The New York Times.
On March 20, 1925, Reiman began the naturalization process.
The 1925 New York state census was enumerated in June. Reiman, his wife, son and mother-in-law lived in Manhattan. Sonntag, his wife, son and daughter resided in Long Island City, Queens. Weiller and his wife were in Manhattan.
ODC was in Davison’s Textile “Blue Book”, July 1925–July 1926.
The Bulletin of the Merchants’ Association of New York, June 19, 1929, included the following:
Original Designing Company, Clarence A. Weiller, 377 Broadway—Designers for Printed Textiles.
According to the 1930 census, Reiman continued to live in Manhattan. Sonntag and his family had moved to Astoria, Queens. Weiller, his wife and son were Manhattan residents.
The Upholsterer and Interior Decorator, June 15, 1930, said
Textiles Designers OrganizeA number of the leading American textile design organizations have formed an association called the Textile Designers’ Guild of America. The charter members are:—Wm. H. Arlt, Wm. F. Arndt, Apex Textile Designing Co., Inc., Original Designing Co., Robert Schey, Sonntag Studios, C. Sheft, Toepfer & Meyers, Inc., and American Textile Designing Co.
ODC was in the Merchants’ Association of New York Year Book 1931.
Textile World, April 30, 1932, published “Designers Organize to Combat Piracy”.
Textile World, May 14, 1932, reported the following.
Textile Designers Form New AssociationAn organization of textile designers for the purpose of furthering the interests of the American textile designing industry was formed last week at a meeting held at the New York headquarters of the Silk Association of America, Inc. Robert Schey was elected chairman of the executive committee. Other committee members are Anton Grulich; H. Schweizer; Paul Reiman, Original Designing Co.; William H. Arlt; R. D. Worth, Funsten Worth. Inc.; Frank R. Liger, Kipp and Liger. Ramsay Peugnet was elected secretary of the group.
Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office, February 13, 1934, published Reiman’s submission.
Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office, March 1, 1938, published Reiman’s submission.
Reiman filed another naturalization declaration on November 29, 1938.
Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office, December 31, 1940, published Reiman’s submission.
Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office, February 25, 1941, published Reiman’s submission. There are patents in his name here and here.
The Art Digest, January 15, 1942, said Reiman was an instructor at Columbia University’s art classes.
On April 26, 1942, Reiman and Weiller signed their World War II draft cards. Self-employed Reiman operated ODC at 1431 Broadway. Edwin Shuwall Frocks, at 1350 Broadway, was Weiller’s employer. The next day, Sonntag signed his card. He worked at H. Schweizer, 130 West 42nd Street.
Reiman became a citizen on August 27, 1943. He continued teaching into 1944. Reiman passed away on September 6, 1944 in Manhattan.
Weiller has not yet been found in the 1950 census. He passed away on March 7, 1958 in Manhattan as noted in the Daily News.
Clarence A. Weiller, 68, textile designer, died yesterday in Mount Sinai Hospital. An Army veteran of World War I, he lived at 240 E. 79th St.
Textile World, May 1958, said in its obituary column:
Clarence A. Weiller, 68, chief of the design studio for M. Lowenstein & Sons, Inc., New York, N.Y.
In 1950 Sonntag lived in Sunnyside, Queens with his wife and daughter. At some point, the textile designer moved to Hollywood, Florida according to a listing in the 1955 city directory. While visiting Charleston, South Carolina, Sonntag passed away on March 3, 1964.
ODC’s final appearance may have been in Davison’s Textile “Blue Book”, July 1954. It’s not clear who was running the company.
SIDEBAR: ODC Employees
At the beginning of this post was Original Designing Company logo from Sheaff: ephemera. Dick Sheaff said
... On the backs of some appears a rubber-stamped logo for the “Original Designing Company, Inc.” Some bear the name “Rohner” with an address in Forest Hills, NY.
With the information he provided, I believe I have identified that person.
Ludwig Gebhard Rohner was born on December 28, 1907, in New York, New York, according to his World War II draft card. In the 1910 census, he was the oldest of two sons born to Gebhard and Katherine, both German immigrants. They were Manhattan residents. After the 1925 New York state census, the family moved to Queens.
The 1930 census recorded Rohner, his parents and brother in Sunnyside, Queens. He was a textile designer. On July 10, 1937, Rohner married Dorothy E. Wilson.
The 1940 census recorded the couple in Forest Hills, Queens. Rohner’s highest level of education was two years of high school. He earned $3,000 in 1939. On October 16, 1940, Rohner signed his World War II draft card. His employer was the “Original Dress Designing Company”. It’s not clear how long he worked there.
Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office, March 21, 1946, published his submission.
Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office, August 6, 1946, published his submission.
Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office, April 8, 1947, published his submission.
Index of Patents Issued from the United States Patent Office 1946 listed several patents by Rohner.
According to the 1950 census, he continued as textile designer.
Rohner passed away in May 1986.
Eleanor Van Dusen Lucas was born on September 8, 1903, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, according to a passport application at Ancestry.com. She graduated from Smith College in 1925.
The Smith Alumnae Quarterly, May 1930, said:
Eleanor Lucas is designing silks and cotton prints for the Original Designing Co., New York.
How long she worked at ODC is unknown. Lucas never married and passed away on December 10, 1986.
(Next post on Monday: Letterer Artie Simek’s Marriage Certificate)
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