One year before the Century’s turn a Chicago tea salesman named Frank Vernon Skiff who had saved $700 started a wagon route on his own, peddling dry groceries from door to door. He peddled for two years before he hit on a way of making his business different from any of the other hundreds of mobile stores weaving in and about Chicago.
Frank’s idea was to offer his own coffee, which would be roasted every week. He saved up a few hundred dollars, bought a second hand wagon and horse, and a small stock of housewares, including his own fresh coffee, tea, spices and extracts. His first route was down by the Chicago stockyards. A couple years later his brother-in-law Franklin Ross joined him in this venture and they called their new company Jewel Tea, even though coffee was their main product. They chose Jewel because in those days anything of a superior nature was called a jewel. They took turns driving the delivery wagon and soliciting new business.
There were many tea companies at that time, and they all sold door-to-door, giving premium coupons with grocery purchases. When enough coupons had been saved, the customer had a choice of premium items offered. One day Mr. Ross knocked on the kitchen door of a prospective customer and had hardly stated his business when she grabbed a broom. He returned later that same day and learned that the lady had saved coupons for six months buying coffee and tea from a “wagon man” and had expected to get a rug with her coupons. However, the wagon man stopped coming around. Mr. Ross quickly offered her a premium to be left with her first order, to be paid out with a later trade.
This story varies from a broom to hot water, but the fast thinking Mr. Ross with his idea of advancing the premium set the Jewel Tea Company apart from all other existing tea companies of the day.
Skiff and Ross’ “not incorporated” store at 643 E. 43rd Street was Jewel’s first permanent location in Chicago in 1901. This is where they made their coffee and teas.
By the end of 1901 their sales had reached $11,000 and they began their own Jewel brand labels. Their sales grew from $25,000 in 1903 to $250,000 in 1905. In 1909, they built their own plant and a year later they reached $1 million in sales with 400 routes. By 1915, they had 850 routes scattered across a wide area in the midwest and $8 million in sales. World War I with shortage of supplies brought some setbacks but in 1919, Skiff sold his interest in Jewel Tea for $16 million and retired.
Jewel Tea Company Headquarters
426 West Washington Street (1327 West Washington Street after 1909)
Designed by Nimmons & Fellows
Constructed in 1908
Chicago Tribune, August 30, 1908
Jewel Tea Company
Home Grocery Order Card
1915
Chicago Tribune, November 11, 1928
Barrington, a tiny suburb straddling the Cook-Lake county line thirty-two miles northwest of the loop, is going to be the scene of Chicagoland’s most interesting and significant industrial-residential developments, as a result of a big real estate deal closed yesterday. M.H. Karger, president of the Jewel Tea company, announced the purchase by his firm of 211 acres in the northeast part of the town, on which a huge business and home development program is to be carried out.
The total investment in land, industrial, and office buildings and equipment will be approximately $1,000,000, according to Mr. Karker. In addiction it is expected several million dollars eventually will be invested in employes’ homes on the 211 acre tract.
The purchase by the Jewel Tea company of the Barrington property means the concentration of that concern’s general offices, now in the Kesner building, Madison and Wabash, and of most of its light manufacturing and warehouse activities now conducted in Chicago and Brooklyn, N.Y.
The property just purchased lies north of the Northwest highway and east and west of the Chicago Outer Belt line, with a parcel of six acres located south of the highway and north of the belt line.
The consideration was approximately $500 an acre, part of which was subscribed by Barrington citizens in collaboration with the Barrington Chamber of Commerce.
“Barrington, in view of the tentative plans of the Jewel Tea company to build on the property, can normally expect to see the erection of approximately 250 new homes, substantial increases to school equipment, churches and general business buildings and activity,” said an official of the tea concern. The company employs 250 persons in Chicago.
The proposed Jewel Tea company building at Barrington will be 400 feet long, with a depth pf 100 feet. The main section will be five stories high with wings of two stories each. It will be of concrete construction. Floor space will approximate 200,000 square feet. Holabird & Bird are the architects.
Holabird & Root designed the above monumental structure, which is to house practically all of the manufacturing and office activities of the Jewel Tea company. It will stand on a 211 acre tract of land purchased yesterday in the northeast part of Barrington. It is expected to satisfy a civic demand in that suburb for more business and more inhabitants without bringing heavy manufacturing or obnoxious industrial activity into that quiet residential comminity. Details are given in another column. Gilbert Hall made this picture.
This building will be used for the manufacture and distribution of more than fifty grocery products, including coffees, teas, spices, breakfast foods, macaroni products. general food products, extracts, laundry products, toilet soaps, etc.
Aside from the business lines, the huge building will house various welfare activities, such as a swimming pool, bowling alleys, a cafeteria, an auditorium, card rooms, squash or handball courts, a company garage, etc.
Probably Chicagoans don’t know much about the Jewel Tea company, although it’s a local concern, for its products are not sold in Chicagoland. In fact, it has no stores at all, unless you’d call a motor truck a shop on wheels. All of the products of the company are sold to to its 800,000 customers, scattered about in 5,000 American cities and towns, located in thirty-four states, by means of more than 1,200 automobiles. The company empploys 2,000 person throughout the country.
The company was established in Chicago in 1899. Its sales in 1927 approximated $14,500,000. The 1928 sales are expected to be in the neighborhood of $15,500,000.
“The idea behind the Jewel Tea company’s move in the Barrington direction is a desire to get the large grocery and food business out of the city, where a more satisfactory and pleasing environment will be found,” explained President Karker. “A more close and congenial association of employes is hoped for.
The company’s present lease on its plant in the Central Manufacturing district expires on April 30, 1930. It is hoped to complete the Barrington plant by April or May of 1930.
Chicago Tribune, March 14, 1932
Acquisition of the seventy-seven Chicago stores of Loblaw Groceterias, Inc., by the Jewel Tea company has been completed, according to an announcement made yesterday by the latter firm. The deal which has been under way for several weeks gives Jewel its first retail outlets in a metropolitan center.
Previously the firm’s business has been confined to distribution through a system of delivery routes throughout the country.
It also was announced that Jewel had acquired the entire business of the Middle West Stores company operating four stores. The new properties will be operated under separate management as a subsidiary known as Jewel Food Stores, Inc.
The acquisitions will not affect the development of the company’s present system of distribution, but will enable it to develop business in Chicago and other areas of concentrated population where wagon routes cannot operate economically, officials said.1
Chicago Sunday Tribune, June 4, 1933
Chicago Tribune, May 20, 1934
Chicago Classified Telephone Directory, February, 1934
Chicago Tribune, February 25, 1961
Jewel Tea company yesterday announced the acquisition of Osco Drug, Inc., self service drug store operator, and reported record sales and earnings in the 52 weeks ended Dec. 31. The acquisition was made thru an exchange of stock.
The acquisition of Osco, which operates 30 drug stores in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin, represents a step toward further growth in self-service retailing.
Chicago Tribune, January 12, 1962
A Jewel Food store and Osco Drug store had their combined grand opening last Wednesday at the Appleton Plaza Shopping center, Wellington and Ashland avenues, following a gala open house preview for the neighborhood the night before.
The two stores, connected by a passageway between their checkout areas, offer customers, all under one roof, most of their everyday needs, plus a large variety of general merchandise. There is parking space for 250 cars.
In addition to a modern prescription department staffed by three pharmacists, the Osco store carries more than 30,000 items of merchandise, including drugs, cosmetics, household appliances, hardware, baby supplies, toys, greeting cards, pet supplies, liquor, photographic supplies, stationery, luggage, and glassware. The Osco store features self-service, with low prices for quality merchandise, and has four checkout counters for fast service. Richard Green is the store’s manager.
The new Jewel store will have the first demonstration center ever to be provided in one of the chain’s supermarkets—a special area in which different demonstrations will be presented each week.
A Jewel kitchen department provides a full line of home-made salads and other prepared foods, including barbecued chickens and ribs, fresh baked pies, and carry-out sandwiches. This department also offers service of completely prepared menus for 40 to 4,000 persons and specializes in fancy hors d’oeuvres and snack trays.
Other Jewel features in the new store include an old fashioned sausage shop, and a Jewel pastry shop, with more than 100 varieties of specialty pastry and brread items from the company’s own bakery. The manager of the new Jewel store is Robert R. Hayes.
A refreshment bar serving hot coffee, chilled fruit juices, and assorted pastries is available to customers visiting the combined stores.
NOTES:
1This move to retail stores was a result of the “Green Rivers Ordnance” of 1932 which prohibited door-to-door solicitation. Under such an ordinance, it is illegal for any business to sell their items door-to-door without express prior permission from the household. Some versions prohibit all organizations, including non-profit charitable, political, and religious groups, from soliciting or canvassing any household that makes it clear, in writing, that it does not want such solicitations (generally with a “No Trespassing” or “No Solicitations” sign posted).
The ordinance is named for the city of Green River, Wyoming, which in 1931, was the first city to enact it. The ordinance was unsuccessfully challenged on constitutional grounds by the Fuller Brush Company in 1932.
I remember the Jewel Tea salesman stopping by our house as a youth. It was always a treat for him to stop by with supplies.. Lol. And he always had local gossip to share.
My dad, Connie Mack English was a Jewel Tea Salesman in Texas Panhandle. We lived in Plainview, Texas. His route was all over that area of Texas. He had the personality and ability to relate to anyone, which made him very successful. He went from the brown Chevy truck to the green Chevy truck. Each week, a shipment was received and my dad would back the truck up to the garage where he’d open the boxes and load the truck. My job was to carry the boxes to the alley where we would burn them until a city ordinance against burning was passed. I feel privileged to have grown up in the 60s and 70s during post WWll when society was going through the largest changes in demographic and the new modern inventions that housewives enjoyed. My dad won many sales awards and enjoyed great success with Jewel Tea. When Jewel Tea ceased operations in 1981, my dad purchased his sales route from the company and he went independent. My dad was born to be a people person and was very successful. His first brown Jewel Tea truck still sits next to an old shack in Hart, Texas. Even into this year 2016.
I found an old cookbook that says “Mary Duubars favorite recipes” and it says Jewel Tea co. And all Jewel merchandise has earned this seal” I can’t find a date on it and its eighty pages, paperback, and brown. Was real curious about the company history. It seems like maybe 1930’s .it talks about cooking to cleaning products. One old pic in front, black & white, four women in a kitchen,with Jewel products. Thanks
Our Jewel Tea man was like family!!! He had everything from rugs to cake mixes! When he came….it was like Christmas!!!!!
My father was a Jewel Tea salesman when I was a toddler. He served 3 different areas over the course of about 5 years. Eastern Iowa along the Mississippi and an areal in northwestern Illinois. As I grew older, I understood why he was so good at it. His friendly, smiling personality and ability to relate to just about anyone was infectious.
My great aunt had a Autumn leaf bowl that when she died about 45years ago, my mom took. I needed a bowl and my mom gave it to me. My mom told me that a man would come to the house and that is how my great aunt got the bowl. I love this bowl and use it all the time. I wanted to know the history of the company and found this article very interesting. She lived in Elmira, NY.
I had a Jewel Tea man also. I enjoyed so much when it was time for him to come and show me everything he had and take my order. The very first electric Roaster I ever owned was from Jewel Tea. I used it for many years. I sure missed seeing the jewel tea man when I had to move and there was not one for me to purchase from in my area. It was almost like Christmas every time he came. Still miss that Company to this day.
I grew up in Austintown Ohio in the 1950’s. As a child the arrival of the Jewel Tea truck every week was such a treat, My Grandpa would take me on the truck & let me choose a treat. Just yesterday I found Steenstra’s Windmill cookies in a Publix grocery store in FL.. These are the cookies my Grandpa bought for me from the Jewel Tea truck back in the 1950’s. SWEET MEMORIES!
My mother bought many products from the Jewel Tea man. A popular side dish was “spaghetti indinne”. It was a favorite with us. It had a curry flavor and was a creamy yellow when prepared. Can you please provide me with recipe? Thank you.
I remember the jewel tea man’visits very well even though I was only 5 or 6. I still have my grandmother’s tea pot .I didn’t realize she aquire d from jewel until recently.
My father retired from Jewel Tea many years ago.. His route was in northern California.. As a child growing up in the sixties and seventies, I could barely appreciate the dedication that he put forth for his customer.. I remember the brown truck he started out with and eventually the green truck..he was an amazing salesman and won many awards as well as long life friends.. My mother has passed along her autumn set of dishes.. What a great memory.
Jewel tea had a ice cream topping recipe on there powdered chocolate container (like nesquick) does some one happen to have it in a recipe book maybe
Value of a 1933 cook book faoircondition.. jeweltea. ?
My Sister-in-law always bought Jewel tea. I sure would like to find out how I can purchase some. email haleloki@ec.rr.com please send any information you can.
Love to be able to purchase Jewel tea. Please advise.
I have a teddy bear back & white that my late dad always told me he bought from the Jewel Tea man just before I was born in july 1951 something I never thought to attempt to verify until now – I am coming up empty can anyone help me with that? email me at jswilsonsj@gmail.com thanks jw
We have a rocking chair that has been in my family for years. My mother told me that my great-grandmother had saved coupons and redeemed them for the chair. I don’t know if it was from Jewel tea and haven’t been able to find any other information. They lived in Kansas City since early 1900’s and before that in Iola, KS and Pittsburgh, KS.
My mother-in-law had a large roaster that converted into a cookie sheet among many other things. She said she purchased it from a door to door salesman. Being very poor she could not pay for in full at that time so a payment plan was set up for her. I have that roaster now. is it possible that the salesman was a Jewel Tea Company salesman? I would like any feed back that anyone has about this. Linda Murdock potofgold44@gmail.com
My great aunt lived across the street from us in the 1950s-early 70s on the east side of Youngstown, Ohio. The Jewel Tea man always came to her house and she would send treats over to me. My favorite were boxed Christmas cut-out cookies shaped liked tress, bells, angels, ect. and they had candy colored sprinkle beads on top. Does anyone remember these cookies or know the recipe?
My dad Ray C. McVeigh was a Jewel Tea man in 1954 in Salinas, California. I remember our garage was like a store room with shelves full of goodies, (cookies I remember). I also remember when I was about 6, I would hide in the back of the truck. After He got into his route I would jump out. “Surprise!” I think he know I was there but I got to go with him on his route. He received the Ace Salesmen Award three periods in a row with a average of $910 per week.
Some years ago I was a hard working wife and mother of 6 children living in a central city Neighborhood. We were struggling to keep our children in private schools. Mr. Hopper our jewel tea man help us over many hurdles with the many items he had to offer as money was tight to non existence. Being pressed for extra money and little or no transportation to get us to stores in the near by stores, (my husband needed the car to get to work) Mr. Hopper was a welcomed site! We saved the coupons and were able to get many household items we were unable to afford and would no have had. Being on a very small budget there was very, very left over. He was welcomed and we were glad to see him. There were times when he faced challenges coming in and out of the Neighborhood, but he came , knowing we were depending on him. I don’t know where Mr. Hopper or his family are today, but if I did I would thank him for all he did to help so many of us. !!!! I say with pride that with his help all six of our children graduated college and are doing just fine and we are grateful!!!!
In 1945 My Father was a Jewel Tea district manager. He met my Mom in McAlester Oklahoma when he was working and she was at the laundry mat across the street from his car. She needed a box and went and ask him if he had one she could have. He gave her the box then followed her home.
Fives years later they had me.
I was a Jewel Tea man in the early 70’s. It was a great job and I made many friends over the years. They were fairly expensive but sold an excellent product.
I remember the great cookies they sold and of course the autumn dishes. My mother made different kinds of Christmas cookies, but cut outs were not her favorite . No problem once I tasted the cut outs with royal icing and colored nonpareils. The Butternut cookies were very hood also- miss them and wish someone would make them again!
My mother just showed me the prettiest old coffee can I have ever seen……it’s covered with tea cups and a silver tea pot. I looked up the company name on google to find out if there was any information about the Jewel Tea Co. and I was pleasantly surprised to read about the history of the company and all the comments others had posted. Thanks for giving my mother and I a few minutes of time together reminiscing over her childhood memories. My mother said, that because money was sooo tight back in those days, her mother would buy a bunch of little things to help her Jewel Tea man out,?because he was such a nice man. Thanks for the memories!!
I remember the Jewel Tea Company and the Jewel Man (1960s). He was a very personable individual. I loved looking as his merchandise while my mother made her selections.
I am married to a past Jewel Tea salesman from Fort Wayne Indiana. Joe Myers is his name. He’s 85 now. He has told me many stories of his customers whom he enjoyed very much. He had 24 years in until they sold to another company. It’s very interesting to listen to his stories.
My grandmother’s second husband was a Jewel Tea Salesman in the 1930’s through the 50’s in NE Ohio. My mother would buy his coffee and spices. I still remember opening a long glass tube to smell the vanilla bean. I was doing the family genealogy when I remembered this happy experience.
It was always a good day when the Jewel Tea man came. I was bedridden with Rheumatic Fever and it was a joy to my day when he’d walk in with his case. Mom would put me on the couch next to him while he displayed his “treasures”. Mom had the mixing bowl set, canisters, tea pot and of course, would buy cake mixes, coffee, etc. Wonderful memories!
My dad, mom and I were from Chicago, moved to California in 1947 and as far back as I can remember, we always had a Jewel Tea salesman come to our home. I was bedridden with Rheumatic Fever and always looked forward to his visit. Mom would put me next to him on the couch while he opened and presented his “treasures”. It was always such a fun time. Mom would serve him coffee and whatever she had just baked while I looked at all the good things. He came to our house for over 10 years and then just gradually stopped. My mother had the three-bowl set of mixing bowls, the canisters, teapot, and always bought coffee from him. When she wasn’t baking from scratch, she’d use the mixes from Jewel Tea. Fond memories! Too bad times have changed so drastically.
My grandfather was the southeastern manager of Mewel Tea. I remember it well.
Spent the summer of 1977 as vacation relief for Jewell Tea route salesmen. I had recently enrolled in business school at UW-EC, and a relative advised me to spend my summer breaks, doing what salesmen/businessmen do.
I worked one or two week stints for each salesmen, throughout northern Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. Their pay was predicated on how successful I was at selling the week, prior, so they made it known to me that I needed to take this seriously. Many of the customers were those that could not get out, because of handicap or illness. Also, a number of care facilities. I have many stories of interesting situations, remote locations and unique individuals. Even had one lady introduce me to her daughter (thought I was a “nice young man”). Ended my time in Michigan’s UP – which I still enjoy today!
Good advice, good experience, which led me to a very rewarding sales/ customer service/ account management/ marketing career! Thank you Jewell Tea – no regrets!
There are 2 pictures my family had stored in my father’s old school bus with the first being “Managers of the Jewel Tea Company” with a slogan of “Pushed it through in 22”. The second picture is titled “1st Head Salesman’s Convention” in Chicago from May 31 to June 2, 1923. These pictures are a wonderful piece of history but I am not certain if or who in my family may have been part of the Jewel Tea Company as I do not recognize any of the faces. The pictures are framed in black wooden frames and measure 10 1/2″ X 35 1/2″ in good condition.
I was born in Colorado Springs, CO and moved to Ellicott, CO when I was 5 years old moving into a house connected to the General Store, Gas Station and Garage that my grandparents built in the early 1900’s. One fond childhood memory was a saleswoman who would come to our home and open her trunk for my mom and others to shop her wares. It could be that she was a Jewel Tea Salesperson(?) I would love to know if there is a list of the sales people in the 1920’s that may list a family member so I could have a better idea of the face I am searching for. These pictures with the company history will be hung in the Ellicott General Store once it is cleaned up and fixed up and hopefully listed with the Colorado Historical Society.
The stories everyone is sharing on this site are wonderful! If you may have information that will help with my family history please share, my email is beequeened@gmail.com. Thank you!
My father joined Jewel in Barrington as an accountant in1929 or30. He advanced to becomeController of the. company and was for at least 15+ years.. Early in his employment a roasting oven exploded causing a wall to fall on his new Model A Ford..
DuringWWII Jewel made food rations for the military. The property was enclosed by an 8 foot high cyclone fence,
A herd of buffalo was brought in to roam the land. At wars end I believe they were shipped to Yellowstone Park.
I was born in 1932 and remember many good times at Jewel functions.
My father was a Jewel Tea salesman in the 1960’s. I still have my Debbie Dunbar doll that I got instead of Barbie. I used to help my father unpack and sort orders when they came in.
My Grandfather George Knackstedt worked for Jewel Tea Company for a few years and brought it from St. Louis to Ohio … have pictures from their company ?? picnics. We still had Jewel deliver into the 60s here in Mansfield Ohio and had many many things from them.
My grandmother Mabel Corder in McCook, Ne. was aJewel Tea customer back in the 30-40’s.She received many Autumn Leaf pieces of dinnerware as bonuses with purchases .I received many pieces from her before her death and the rest after she died.
I added to the collection, every where I went had a thrift store where I purchased more.And so it grew. I used them for special events.
Many were gifts from loved ones.
I have offered the collection to the Museum in McCook,Ne, My children have no desire for it. It is being considered.
My dad was a Jewel Tea man in the 70’s. He had many customers in the Chicago Heights, Ill area and northern Indiana. I remember helping him unpack and seperate items for his daily route. I also ran vacation routes during the summer and winter breaks in college. My dad was adored by all of his customers. Many times he would come home late not because of the amount of customers he saw , but because he would have coffee and lunch with many of them! I would go with him when I was younger and meet some of the customers, it was awesome
Here in Akron, we had a 4 truck garage that was built in the 1920’s for a coal and ice company. After they move out and my family moved in years later my dad rented out the first garage to the Jewel Tea Company. There were there in the 1960’s. Last night while organizing my parent’s closet there was a box I found they had used for shoes that says ‘Jewel Tea Company’.
Jewel Tea had the best gelatins and puddings I’ve ever tasted. Wish I could find them again.
My Father was an executive with Jewel Tea Co. in the 1930’s,, to 1940. He was in charge of Jewel operations from Chicago east, the whole eastern half of the US. This required extensive travel and he was gone much of the time.
I was born in 1938. After my birth, my father did not want to travel so much. Jewel was having trouble with the Teamsters Union in Minnesota and to try and solve the problem, Jewel sold the Jewel Franchise for all of Minnesota to my dad. It was the only franchise sold. When I was 2 years old., we moved to Minneapolis and my dad ran the business from St Paul. After a few years, the Union forced my dad out of business, and he died in 1945. Dan Diebold Burnsville Minnesota. djdiebold@gmail.com
My Husband Mark and I ( Gregory) been Collecting for years of Jewel Tea, Autumn leaf, a good friend of our Use to Work for the Company and is the One that did the Dolls and still do some designs of the Autumn leaf, We started a Page Hall &Jewel Tea identification show & sell it’s a free page you can join,
In 1959, I became the youngest of Advance Salesmen for Jewel Tea Company. We had crews of sales people who done nothing but write new customers for the Route sales people to call on. My father John H. Sandefer proceded me with Jewel, and went on to retire, after 31 years as an Advance. In 1973 , Advance Sales men were name changed to Promotional salesmen. I wrote 2000 new accounts that year, becoming 12th in the US , among 1898 employees. I never did drive a route truck, but always wrote new accounts for the delivery men to call on. I have a Jewel award ring, that I feel was custom made with the inscription Executive Salesman on it. My life with Jewel was memorible, later composing a crew that traveled 5 states writing new accounts, with myself as Crew chief. From 18 years of age, to age 35, it was truly an amazing experience. Too many great organizations like Jewel, are now gone, but not forgotten. John A. Sandefer, North Central Division, and later Midwest Region.
I had a metal die cast Jewel Tea truck that I gave rides to my guinea pig in. The other thing I remember most about the home delivery service was the metal case he brought in, and how cold it was in Winter. Part of it was bare aluminum with a crinkle finish.
These comments are all ‘Great’ so I’ll add on. In the summer of 1965 I worked a Vacation Route near Youngstown Oh. which was my first 40 hour/wk. job. I filled in for regular drivers during college break; while I was friendly and energetic later I realized that I didn’t come close to the sales pros these guys really were – hats off to them! Two quick memories 1) While shifting gear floor stick shift in J.T. truck Shift rod broke off in downtown Youngstown; somehow I got it to the repair shop! 2). Every week I was required to count and record sales in ledger, then submit same to J.T. I counted the weeks tally in our home in New Castle, Pa. – the Total one week was slightly over $1,000 cash, mostly in ones, fives and tens. I was so excited I threw all up in the air then recounted? Thanks!
This was really fascinating, thank you!