National Garment / Avrutine Bros., 34-36 W. 32 St. (2003)

The National Garment Co., also known as Avrutine Bros., manufactured ladies' dresses and was owned and operated by the brothers, Samuel Avrutine (1891-1969) and Herman Avrutine (1896-?). The business started at 8 W. 19th St. around 1915, was located on W. 21st St., then E. 28th, and moved to the W. 32nd St. address of the sign in 1921. They remained at this address until 1928. The business closed some dozen years later, around 1941.

The Avrutine brothers were the sons of Abraham Avrutine (born Russia 1866, immigrated 1890?), who for many years was a partner with Hyman Adelstein (born Russia 1868 immigrated 1887) first in an iron foundry (from 1896 to 1913) and later as real estate brokers (1914 to 1930s). Hyman Adelstein, in turn, was the father of the same Samuel Adelstein (1898-?) who was the partner (and brother) of Michael Addison of Michael Addison & Bro., manufacturers of silk underwear at 112 Madison Ave.

The line at the bottom reads "Popular Priced Dresses." Herman Avrutine was an officer in a trade group called the Popular Priced Dress Manufacturers Group.

Another manufacturer of ladies' dresses at this address was Kohn-Goldschmidt Inc. (Click for image.) The partners were Joseph Kohn (1872-?) and Howard Goldschmidt (1898-?). Joseph Kohn appears in the US Census of 1920 age 47 living at 140 W. 71st St. with his wife, son, daughter, mother-in-law and 3 maids. Howard Goldschmidt, much younger than Kohn, registered for the World War I draft at age 19 in 1918. He gave his occupation at the time as "Coat & Suit Buyer, Edward Loewy & Co., 1140 Broadway."
Kohn-Goldschmidt was located here on 32nd St. between 1922 and 1924. (Click for ad from 1923.) They moved to W. 37th St. in 1924 and remained in business until the mid-1930s. The sign is somewhat unique: the first names of the partners appear in smaller lettering above their last names. "Howard" can still be read clearly. "Joseph" is pretty much invisible. The line beneath "Dresses" says "Immediate Delivery."

Other signs on this wall include D. Saltzman and M. Weisman & Son above Kohn-Goldschmidt (click for image) :

The D in D. Saltzman, High Grade Coats was David Saltzman (ca.1871-?), an immigrant from Russia around 1890. He was in business manufacturing coats and suits from around 1900 to the early 1920s. From at least as early as 1915 he had a partner, Philip Saltzman (1872-1966), who also immigrated from Russia around 1890. Philip was very likely David Saltzman's brother. Another partner was Max Glickin (1878-1960), another immigrant from Russia around 1890, born 6 March 1878. Glickin registered for the World War I draft in 1917 while employed at D. Saltzman, 99 Madison Ave. The business moved to 34 W. 32nd St. in 1920, but closed in 1923. Both David and Philip Saltzman give their professions as "Real Estate" in the U. S. Census of 1930.

Moses Weisman (born Russia ca.1840, immigrated 1892) of M. Weisman & Son went from M. Weisman & Sons, Underwear, at 99 East Broadway in 1896 to M. Weisman & Son (singular), Overalls, at 51 Walker St. in 1898. Apparently the original sons, Isaac & Louis, dropped out, and their place was taken by another son, Jacob Weisman (born Russia Jan. 1876). The firm name then reverted to the plural in 1908 with the addition of yet another son, Joseph Weisman (born Russia March 1877). By this time the business had become manufacture of ladies' waists at 205 Wooster St. Moses Weisman seems to have died (or retired) around 1920, and the business was run by Jacob and Joseph from this point. The business changed around this time from manufacturing waists (blouses) to dresses, and they re-located to 34 W. 32nd St., where they remained until 1925. By 1927 they were out of business. In the late 1910s M. Weisman was located at 118 W. 22nd St. (click for ad at this address), where they also did business as the Underselling Waist Co. (Click for Buyers Wants ad from 1918.)

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