RUNK & WHITE, Manufacturers and Jobbers of Youths, Boys, and Children's Clothing. 398 BROADWAY, CORNER OF WALKER STREET. This house, now known as the "PIONEER" in this particular branch of the Clothing business, was established in the year 1850, by its present senior member Mr. WILLIAM T. RUNK, at the corner of Barclay and Church Streets. For some fifteen years prior to its formation, its founder had been successfully conducting an extensive establishment both in the custom and ready-made line, chiefly catering to the wants of Men and Youths. The "Juvenile" Department of this business was then in its incipiency; indeed, so little attention had been paid to the wants and necessities of the "rising generatien," that the parent to meet the demand of his child, was forced to await the slow process of the Custom-room, or the still more precarious one, of resorting to "Home Manufac ture." Scarcely one Clothier in twenty throughout the country could be found prepared to meet an immediate demand of this kind. This fact strongly presenting itself to the mind of Mr. RUNK, produced the conviction that the only remedy for this pressing need, laid in the establishment of a business, separately devoted to its interest. With this view, bending his whole energies to the accomplishment of his work, he was enabled at the end of twelve months to find the enterprise a fixed fact. He now (1854) associated with him Mr. EDWARD SMITH, also, a practical Clothier, under the firm name of RUNK & SMITH, and with equal success the business was conducted for a period of three years, at the end of which time SMITH retired, and formed a new house. The rapid growth of this business now demanded more room, and greater facilities than was afforded in the Barclay Street establishment. To secure this, Mr• RUNK removed in 1858, to the marble store, 116 Duane Street, occupying three spacious lofts, each 25x110 feet. Here a new firm was formed, having associated with him Mr. JOSEPH I. BARNUM, under the firm name of WM. T. RUNK & COMPANY. Mr. BARNUM had been educated a "Clothier," having had an experience of some ten years in the well-known house of Devlin & Company. In January, 1862, this firm was dissolved by the withdrawal of Mr. Barnum who has since remained with the house, and the present firm was formed. Mr. CHARLES J. WHITE, whose early years had been spent in the retail establishment of Mr. RUNK, but who now had become a successful “retailer” himself, entered the firm -bringing with him his ripened experience; a new era was soon inaugurated in the history of Boys' Clothing. After two more years of successful trading, it was found that the already commodious Warerooms were far too small to meet the demands of their steadily increasing business, and in 1864 the firm removed to their present convenient and elegant located Warerooms, on the south-east corner of Broadway and Walker Street. These premises are spacious, the main Salesroom being one hundred and seventy-five feet in depth, by a breadth of 30 feet, extending from Broadway through to Cortlandt Alley, and containing the office of the firm. The two floors above comprises the Cutting Department, and is devoted exclusively to manufacturing purposes, while the department for the receipt and shipment of all goods is on the first floor of the building on Cortlandt Alley. The number of its employees, both male and female, in and out of the building, amount in busy seasons to about 1,000 persons. A branch of this house was established in Chicago in 1859, which is also doing a large and flourishing retail cash business. While Messrs. RUNK & WHITE have ever stood foremost, both in the magnitude of production, excellence of quality, and variety of their styles, their character and reputation for mercantile integrity has also been one of the largest elements of their success. C. A. ZOEBISCH & SONS, Importers of and Wholesale Dealers in Musical Instruments, Strings, &c., Wholesale Depot of C. F. MARTIN'S CELEBRATED GUITARS, No. 46 MAIDEN LANE, NEW YORK. All the newest styles of Brass and German Silver Instruments constantly on hand or made to order. THIS House, which has an uninterrupted experience of twenty-five years, and a thorough acquaintance with European manufactures, maintains the high reputation it has always enjoyed. Being practical Instrument Makers, every Instrument, before issuing from the firm, is subject to a thorough examination. The celebrated "Martin" Guitar forms one of the leading staples of the stock offered for sale, a wholesale agency having been established with these prominent dealers. The numerous varieties of Instruments and Merchandise required is this complicated branch of trade, can be found in abundance, and of the first quality, at C. A. ZOEBISCH & SONS, Maiden Lane. MABIE, TODD & CO., 180 BROADWAY, MANUFACTURERS OF GOLD PENS AND PENCIL CASES. The manufacture of Gold Pens is comparatively a modern innovation. Their use in the United States dates back, however, for a period of twenty-five years, when their introduction met and successfully contended with the prejudices common to all new and useful improvements. Too many manufacturers have endeavored to supplant the good old fashioned quill and steel pen by placing upon the Market an article, which, though composed of the more costly material, proves utterly useless in a very short time, and loses even the value it possesses as precious metal until remelted and reformed for some useful and legitimate purpose. The superiority of the Gold Pen over all others, when skillfully and honestly made, is a fact long conceded. The Hon. Daniel Webster once wrote; "It is indeed the only metallic pen worth using." Messrs. Mabie, Todd & Co. manufacture a larger variety, perhaps, than any other house in the country, and have obtained a reputation for the most reliable, durable, and pure goods. Mr. Mabie, the senior partner, with an experience of thirty-five years, is directly connected with the manufactory, and gives the Pencil Case department his entire time and attention. Of the Gold Pen department, Mr. J. S. Bard, one of the junior partners, has had full charge for the past fifteen years, and an experience of much longer time. Only the most improved and costly machinery and the finest skilled labor are employed by this house, added to which a conscientious adherence to the principles of honor. and integrity in all their dealings, renders it a fait accompli that they maintain the foremost position among the manufacturers of Gold Pens and Pencil Cases in the United States. |