Horstmann Bros. of Philadelphia???

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

Gentlemen,

I am in search of information regarding the production/retail of goods from the firm Horstmann Bros. of Philadelphia.

Especially interested in the life of the company (date company began, date the company ended), suppliers, contractors...etc.

In doing research on the Virginia Military Institute, we have come across several references to this company from which the Institute ordered belt plates, hat brass and a variety of other items.

It also appears that VMI had two Institute flags made by Horstmann Bros. including the one carried on May 15th, 1864 at the Battle of New Market.

I am also in search of other flags produced by Horstmann Bros., especially State/Regimental/Unit Flags.

Thanks,

Paul B.

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

Re: Horstmann Bros. of Philadelphia???

Paul, contact Bill Lomas of EJ Thomas Mercantile, as he has alot of knowledge of Hortsmann's operations, and a pretty detailed book if memory serves me. He can be reached at info@ejtmercantile.com

[Dignann]

Re: Horstmann Bros. of Philadelphia???

The Horstmann-Lippincott Family Papers are at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Information contained in the finding aid may help --

http://www.hsp.org/files/1899horstmannlippincottfindingaid.pdf

Eric

[Vuhginyuh]

Re: Horstmann Bros. of Philadelphia???

Let me try to narrow this down a bit. Before we get on the phone trying to find a Horstmann made or contracted state or US regimental flag, do we have a member that knows of the location of one? A national flag may not provide the information Paul (and I) are looking for.

I need to see a flag(s) first hand. A book will not help me at this point.

[markj]

Re: Horstmann Bros. of Philadelphia???

Bruce Bazelon wrote a book about the Horstmann operation several years ago. I own a copy of it, which I obtained directly from Bruce.

http://www.amazon.com/Horstmanns-enterprise-military-Bruce-Bazelon/dp/B0006FBBNY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1204672711&sr=8-2

Yours, &c.,

Mark Jaeger

[Charles Kaiser]

Re: Horstmann Bros. of Philadelphia???

Hallo Kameraden,
i own an reprint of an Horstmann Bros. Catalogue of Military Goods For 1877, printed in 1989 by Pioneeer Press. There was an Introduction from Jacques Noel Jacobsen, Jr. from 1972 about the Vendor. There are two shops from Horstmann, in Philadelphia from 1815 until 1948, and in New York from 1829 until 1877. In this catalogue you find Itmems which were out of using by the US Army, but still offered, like the Hardee or the 1833 Dragon Hat Plate.
It contains a U.S Regulation National Silk Flag 6 x 6 1/2 Feet, and the Regulation Regimental Silk Flag, And a Pennant and Boat Flags.
Hope it helps

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

Re: Horstmann Bros. of Philadelphia???

Thanks for the information thus far!

As Garrisson mentioned, we are interested primarily interested in surviving flags producted/contracted through Horstmann Bros.

As part of the research/documentation on our project we're also interested in information about the production of these flags, and also pre-1861 sales/receipts/correspondence from the company, which may provide descriptions on construction,templates, design...etc.

Eric,

Thanks for the abstract on the Horstmann-Lippincott Family papers...I will be contacting the Historical Society of Pennsylvania this week to see what receipts/corres. they may have pre-dating the war.

Thanks,

Paul B.

[markj]

Re: Horstmann Bros. of Philadelphia???

I suppose you haven't yet consulted this obvious reference work:

http://www.amazon.com/Advance-Colors-Pennsylvania-Civil-Battle/dp/081820155X

or this collection:

http://cpc.state.pa.us/main/cpcweb/history/flags/index.html

Here's a sample state-color for the 81st PVI manufactured by Horstmann Bros.

http://cpc.state.pa.us/main/cpcweb/history/flags/showflag.html?accession=1985.134

Check it out,

Mark Jaeger

[KevinInDel]

Re: Horstmann Bros. of Philadelphia???

Though slanted toward buttons, all of the first 4-5 items you want to know, history yada yada you can get from Tice's Uniform Buttons and Dating Buttons.

I have the catalogue reprint too it is a nice source.

The link for the Bazelon book ... Bruce is a relic hunter extraordonairre I have had the pleasure of hunting with him, be sure you check the bottom ones. I am an Amazon bookseller and the creation of bogus listings trying to "set you copy apart" is rampant.
Ignore the high priced copy that this links to. A relatively minor example of a bogus listing ... but bogus nonetheless, which explains its lack of a sales rank!

Kevin Mulrooney
Newark, Delaware

[KevinInDel]

Re: Horstmann Bros. of Philadelphia???

What a dope! I forgot Bazelon/McGuinn has a nice succinct overview.

Kevin Mulrooney
Newark, Delaware