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Few people
contributed more to promote electric Christmas lighting than did
industry pioneer Morris Propp, founder of the M. Propp Company. For
a time, his company was one of the biggest Christmas lighting
concerns in the United States. His story is one of hard work and
strong family values... |
Morris Propp,
circa 1919 |
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Morris Propp was born in May of
1884 in Russia, and his family came to the United States in 1893. As a
child, he attended schools both in South Norfolk, Connecticut and New York
City. In 1901, when he was seventeen years of age, Morris went to work for
his sister, Anna Propp Glasgow, at her store in New York City. A hard and
diligent worker despite his youth, he toiled horribly long hours, usually
working from 6:00 A.M. until 11:00 P.M. every day.
Due to his hard work, Morris
was able to save enough money to seek employment
on
his own later that same year. A devout Jew, he went into business for
himself as it was hard to find a job which allowed him to honor the
Sabbath on Saturdays when working for others. He became a door-to-door
peddler of assorted merchandise, but soon was specializing in the sale of
Welsbach gas mantles. These mantles were chemically treated so that when
heated with a gas flame, they would incandesce, greatly increasing the
light output of the flame. Extremely popular for both home and streetlamp
use, mantles quite similar to the ones Morris sold are still in use today.
The picture to the left is a circa 1908 Welsbach advertising tray, which
shows the various mantles the company offered pictured around the rim.
Amazingly, Morris Propp was
only 18 when, in 1902, he had saved enough money from peddling to open a
tiny store
of his own. It was located at 92 East Broadway in New York City. His
savings of $250, a substantial amount of money in those days, allowed for
payment of first month's rent of $45, the purchase of twelve empty wooden
cases at 25 cents each which he made into shelves, and a used countertop
for $6. The remaining funds were used to buy stock to sell. He continued
to sell the popular Welsbach mantles, and other gas lighting parts and
accessories. Soon he was able to add lighting fixtures to his inventory,
and not long after had developed an impressive trade with door-to-door
peddlers and other merchants who re-sold his wares. Pictured on the right
is a 1905 gas lantern using a Welsbach mantle, similar to what Morris
sold.
During these early days of the
century, Morris demonstrated his wonderful aptitude for business by
quickly capitalizing on the growing public interest in electrical
illumination. He soon added electrical accessories and fixtures to his
line of wares, and it was not long after that he was actually
manufacturing and selling electrical accessories of his own. In 1907,
Morris' brother Louis joined him to work in the business. In 1910, Morris
married Anna Cohen.
Morris proudly employed family
members in his business, and, along with his brother, many cousins and
other family members immigrating to the United States were given good,
solid starts through employment within his company. One family member,
writing of her father's sister and her immigration to the US from
Lithuania, described Morris as a "very well to do relative who
manufactured electrical devices like Christmas tree lights." The woman was
most appreciative of the kind help that Morris extended to family. She
went on to say that Morris was "very successful", and "wore black silk
suits, and had an almost Chinese cast of features..." The sister's son,
Louis Gordon, was quite involved in the day-to-day operation of the Propp
company.
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Louis Propp, circa 1930.
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1913 was a pivotal year for both Morris and
Louis, for it was then that Louis became a partner in his brother's
business, and together they operated the business under the name of the M.
Propp Company. It was during this time that the Propp brothers also added
a selection of very high quality electric Christmas lights to their line
of manufactured goods, the humble beginnings of what was soon to become
the largest manufacturing company of electrical Christmas decorations in
the world for a time. Below is an ad placed in October of 1917:

Once again Morris Propp's
business skills were effectively showcased. Always the businessman, Morris
recognized the value of good advertising, and soon, public awareness of
electrical Christmas decorations was heightened by a judicious but
extensive advertising campaign sponsored by Morris' company. Propp
electrical accessories were in widespread use by this time, with their
line of Christmas lights leading the way. Almost all of the popular
women's magazines of the period included Propp ads for Christmas lights
during the season, as well as many trade publications and scientific
journals. Below are several examples of Propp advertising and a Propp
light bulb.
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Circa 1918 carbon filament lamp with Propp name. Lamp was made by
General Electric. |
Circa 1921 Dealer's Wall Sign |
Circa 1922 Trade Card |
Circa 1922 Ink Blotter |
The safety of Propp sets was
loudly touted in advertisements as well, for many people were still afraid
of electricity, despite the more obvious dangers of using candles on their
trees. The sets were approved for safety by the Underwriters
Laboratories, and many advertisements proclaimed that Propp outfits were
"Approved by Santa Claus and the Underwriters!" What more could anyone ask
for?
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