Interview with Jay Lichtenbaum
IntervieweeInterview with
Jay Lichtenbaum
(American, 1927 - 2017)
InterviewerInterviewed by
Bruce M. Stave
(American, 1937 - 2017)
InterviewerInterviewed by
Sondra Astor Stave
Date2007 January 11
Mediumdigitized audio cassette tape
DimensionsDuration: 1 Hour, 33 Minutes, 14 Seconds
ClassificationsInformation Artifacts
Credit LineConnecticut Museum of Culture and History collection
Object number2009.85.17
DescriptionAudio cassette tape of an interview with Jay Lichtenbaum. He was interviewed on January 11, 2007 by Bruce M. Stave and Sondra Astor Stave at his home in Cromwell, Connecticut.
Jay Lichtenbaum was born on May 13, 1927 in Wilmington, Delaware. His father died when Jay was 3 years old, so his mother moved their family to Hartford, Connecticut, where her sister lived. They lived on Vine Street. He attended Vine Street School and graduated from Weaver High School in 1945. He enlisted in the Navy his senior year of high school.
After World War II, Jay worked at Lux, Bond & Green. He wanted to learn about engraving, so he went to Philadelphia to attend a College of Horology, which taught watch-making and engraving. Lux, Bond & Green wanted him to work as both an engraver and a salesman, but he didn't want to work in sales, so he left his job. In 1948, he got a job as an engraver at Henry Kohn & Son and was trained by Fred McCarthy. At the time he went to work at Henry Kohn & Son, the store was in the Kohn name only and was actually owned by Beatrice Fox Auerbach. However, the Kohn's still owned the building where the store was located. When the Kohn's decided to sell the building, they did not sell it to Beatrice Fox Auerbach, but to Ned Allen of Sage Allen. Mrs. Auerbach was not going to pay rent to her competitor, so she closed Henry Kohn & Son and moved the staff to G. Fox & Co. and created an Engraving Department.
Jay did the hand engraving for the staff gifts for the Moses Fox Club. G. Fox did engraving of silverware, fine watches, and jewelry. Beatrice Fox Auerbach preferred block lettering.
Jay discusses the store while it was under Beatrice Fox Auerbach's ownership and how it changed after the store was sold to the May Company. He discusses how engraving was eventually done by machines, and how he engraved fire horns during his personal time. He was a member of the Moses Fox Club and describes the events held for the members. He discusses what Hartford was like when he lived and worked there. He and his wife lived on Andover Street in Hartford, and he took the bus to work. He discusses how creating a labor union at G. Fox was unsuccessful. Jay retired from G. Fox in 1992.
Jay Lichtenbaum was born on May 13, 1927 in Wilmington, Delaware. His father died when Jay was 3 years old, so his mother moved their family to Hartford, Connecticut, where her sister lived. They lived on Vine Street. He attended Vine Street School and graduated from Weaver High School in 1945. He enlisted in the Navy his senior year of high school.
After World War II, Jay worked at Lux, Bond & Green. He wanted to learn about engraving, so he went to Philadelphia to attend a College of Horology, which taught watch-making and engraving. Lux, Bond & Green wanted him to work as both an engraver and a salesman, but he didn't want to work in sales, so he left his job. In 1948, he got a job as an engraver at Henry Kohn & Son and was trained by Fred McCarthy. At the time he went to work at Henry Kohn & Son, the store was in the Kohn name only and was actually owned by Beatrice Fox Auerbach. However, the Kohn's still owned the building where the store was located. When the Kohn's decided to sell the building, they did not sell it to Beatrice Fox Auerbach, but to Ned Allen of Sage Allen. Mrs. Auerbach was not going to pay rent to her competitor, so she closed Henry Kohn & Son and moved the staff to G. Fox & Co. and created an Engraving Department.
Jay did the hand engraving for the staff gifts for the Moses Fox Club. G. Fox did engraving of silverware, fine watches, and jewelry. Beatrice Fox Auerbach preferred block lettering.
Jay discusses the store while it was under Beatrice Fox Auerbach's ownership and how it changed after the store was sold to the May Company. He discusses how engraving was eventually done by machines, and how he engraved fire horns during his personal time. He was a member of the Moses Fox Club and describes the events held for the members. He discusses what Hartford was like when he lived and worked there. He and his wife lived on Andover Street in Hartford, and he took the bus to work. He discusses how creating a labor union at G. Fox was unsuccessful. Jay retired from G. Fox in 1992.
Collections
Funding Note: In 2006, the Connecticut Historical Society received a grant from the Beatrice Fox Auerbach Foundation Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving to support the collection of oral histories, the cataloging of G. Fox & Co. materials and Fox and Auerbach family materials, and the creation of web pages. Additional funding for the oral histories was provided by The Prospect Fund, The Brookside Fund, and The Maple Tree Fund. The Connecticut Historical Society gratefully acknowledges these generous supporters. Without such generosity, this project would not have been possible.
Status
Not on view