BEN BENJAMIN | DESIGNER & SHOEMAKER | PART 3 | CRIK-ETTS

Crik-Etts Inc. | Distinctive Footwear
131 West 17th Street - New York 11 - NY
Source: Julia Salleres/Women's Footwear In America

The detailed I.Miller bio about Ben Benjamin doesn't mention Crik-etts at all. In fact, it jumps from Schwartz & Benjamin (1919-1937) to his role as General Manager of the I.Miller's Long Island City plant (May 19, 1952). A newspaper clipping from June 15th, 1952 reports:

"…Mr. Benjamin is well known in the shoe industry, having spent some 46 years in it. At one time he was a partner in Schwartz & Benjamin, Inc. He was also an officer of The Reinhart Shoe Company, Inc., and owner of Cricketts, Inc. (sic). His most recent association was with Sherry Shoemakers of Boston, which post he left to go with I.Miller."

Which leads us to speculate that Crik-etts was at one time sold, being still active a few years after Mr. Benjamin joined I.Miller.

Julia Salleres: 
I recently found an ad from 1962 and a Licensing agreement from August 15th, 1958 between my grandfather and The Irving Drew Corporation in Lancaster, Ohio.

Unfortunately not much else is known.

Julia Salleres: 
"My grandfather, Ben Benjamin, created a shoe called Crik-etts that boasted the first flexible sole. I found these clippings (the last two) with some other things he gave me. He didn’t tell me much about it. I wish I had known to ask him about this part of his life and also his days at I. Miller that followed."


1943 | Crik-etts in Wartime
Bring Ration Book No.1 to purchase
At Gimbels, Pittsburgh

1943 | Crik-etts in Wartime
Bring Ration Book No.3 to purchase
At Gimbels, Pittsburgh

1946 | San Jose
Customer Eva Groger V/S Crik-etts
San Jose News | March 1946

1948 | Crik-etts | Sabot Strap
No more Rationing Books!
Sold at Gimbels, Pittsburgh

1952 | Crik-etts
At Lamson's | Toledo, Ohio

Crik-etts

Introducing
BEN BENJAMIN

BEN BENJAMIN
Designer & Shoemaker | Schwartz & Benjamin
PART 2


BEN BENJAMIN
Designer & Shoemaker | Crik-Etts
PART 3


BEN BENJAMIN
Designer & Shoemaker | I. Miller
PART 4

 

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