Drubin & Kantrowitz
A. W. Drubin & Kantrowitz, Waists, 127 W. 26th St. (2008)

The principals here were Arthur William Drubin (1879-1945) and Frank Herbert Kantrowitz (1877-1967). Drubin was an immigrant from Russia, apparently the eldest son of Louis Drubin, whose petition for naturalization 2 Nov. 1904 specified that he had arrived at the port of New York 1 June 1887. Arthur Drubin is one of ten children living with Louis Drubin at 209 E. 89th St., Manhattan, in the U. S. Census of 1900. He was called William at the time, was 20 years old, and his occupation was "salesman." Kantrowitz was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, the son of Joseph Kantrowitz, an immigrant from Germany in the mid-1850s. At the time of the 1900 Census the Kantrowitz family lived on E. 17th St., Minneapolis, Minnesota. Joseph Kantrowitz gave his occupation as "Commercial Traveler, Clothing," and Frank, age 23, is one of nine children living with him. Frank's occupation is also "Commercial Traveler, Clothing." In 1920 Frank Kantrowitz lived at the Hotel Hamilton, 141 W. 73d St.

In 1913 Drubin & Kantrowitz at 127 W. 26th St. had 79 employees, consisting of 3 office staff plus 8 men and 68 women in the shop (Documents of the Assembly of the State of New York: Industrial Directory, 1913 - Register of Factories). The Drubin/Kantrowitz partnership lasted from 1913 to 1919. They were located here at 127 W. 26th St. from 1913 to 1915. Subsequently both men continued to manufacture clothing, Drubin usually under his own name, and Kantrowitz with companies like Stratford Costumes Inc. (sportswear).

Among Arthur Drubin's several brothers were Samuel Albert Drubin (1883-1936) and Herman A. Drubin (1885-1964) . Samuel and Herman Drubin formed a company called S & H Drubin, Waists that succeeded A. W. Drubin & Kantrowitz at 127 W. 26th St. from 1915 to 1917. From 1914 to 1917 Arthur, Samuel and Herman Drubin, along with Frank Kantrowitz, were involved with Drubin & Co. Waists. This company was succeeded by Drubin Bros., Waists (1918-1921). Samuel Drubin was president of Drubin-Morganroth Co., cloak and waist manufacturers in business from 1918 to 1923. Herman Drubin was also involved in A. W. Drubin, Ladies Shirt Waists (1911-1921). He registered for the World War II draft in 1942 when employed at Monte Frocks, 90 Broadway, Patterson, NJ. Another brother involved in the business was Elias Shepard Drubin (1892-1965). He registered for the World War I draft in 1917, age 24, while a manager at S. & H. Drubin, 127 W. 26th St. (Elias Drubin was usually called Shep Drubin.) The Drubins were also involved in automobile rental and supply companies. This was particularly true of Michael Drubin (1888-1962). From around 1913 to 1922 Michael Drubin ran the Drubin Auto Renting Co., Drubin Funeral Car Co. and Drubin Tire Co. He was often a partner in these enterprises with his wife, Alice, and his brother, Arthur Drubin. The Drubin Auto Renting Co. ran this ad in the New York Times in 1913.

In 1914 Arthur W. Drubin was one among approximately 66,000 owners of privately owned pleasure cars in the state of New York (Official Automobile Directory of the State of New York, J. R. Burton & Co., publishers, One Madison Avenue, New York, 1914.).

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