Postcards and Cocktails
Twilight Hour Tuesday. Not just Pots and Pans
An industrious Russian immigrant, Simon Farber, founded S.W. Farber Inc. in 1897. Initially Simon peddled matches on New York City’s Lower East Side, but his company expanded to Brooklyn and opened a plant producing an appealing line of giftware. When the process of electroplating chrome became feasible in the 1920s he included an enticing array of shiny trays, cocktail shakers, and serveware to the firm’s line up. The S.W. Farber company introduced a breakthrough product to the American public in the 1930s; the electric percolator! The company’s association with coffee making devices was sealed and dominated the market for decades. By the 1940s Simon’s son, Isidor, took over the company and moved the plant to the Bronx. Soon S.W. Farber, Inc. changed its name to Farberware and the firm became synonymous with the aluminum clad pots and pans that are still available on the market today.
What adds to the confusion about S.W. Farber Inc. is that Simon had two younger brothers. Louis and Harry worked for Simon until 1915 when they broke off to form their own company naming it Farber Brothers Krome-Kraft. The two companies had no relationship to one another despite sharing the family name. Krome-Kraft manufactured an innovative line of chrome plated products including cocktail shakers, ice buckets, trays, sugar bowls and creamers. Many of their products featured unique glass inserts that were used in cordial and wine glasses making them quite desirable to today’s collectors. Unlike Farberware, Farber Brothers Krome-Kraft ceased operations in 1965.
What the two companies have in common is an enduring legacy of shiny, chrome plated, Art Deco style products that wear well and maintain their cache decades after their manufacture. The eye-catching chrome pieces never tarnish and many good examples can be found online, in flea markets, and at stores specializing in vintage items. Collectors treasure these pieces and companies, such as Retro Den, will refurbish them or recycle them into custom made objects for modern tastes.
Consider mixing a Gibson Martini to reflect on the Farber family’s gleaming products. The cool, clean, Gibson captures the concept of chrome in a glass. RECIPE: 2 ½ oz. of London Dry Gin, ½ oz. Dry Vermouth, pickled cocktail onions. Chill the gin and cocktail glass in the freezer prior to making the cocktail. Place the gin and vermouth in a mixing glass with ice. Stir for a minimum of 36 rotations. Strain into a chilled glass and garnish with pickled onions.
Love this! I use my thrift store Farberware percolators whenever I am making coffee for a crowd. Love your Gibson picture!
I absolutely love Krome-Kraft and love seeing it used even today. Beautiful presentation as always, Anne. Cheers to the Farber family and all the companies who created such wonderful designs!