Fonds 2008.010 & 2009.020 - Rumpel Felt Company fonds

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Title proper

Rumpel Felt Company fonds

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  • Textual record
  • Graphic material

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Fonds

Reference code

CA ON00094 2008.010 & 2009.020

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Statement of scale (cartographic)

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Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

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Date(s)

  • 1906-1917 (Creation)

Physical description area

Physical description

.58m of textual records 1 photograph: b&w Some of the records are stained and dirty. The ledger books contain some page foxing, creases and tears in the leather, and metal corrosion.

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Archival description area

Name of creator

Biographical history

The Rumpel Felt Company was established in 1912 by Geroge Rumpel (1850-1916). A German immigrant, George Rumpel came to Canada in 1868 and lived in Hamilton as a shoemaker for five years. In 1875 he founded the Berlin Felt Boot Company with 3 employees which manufactured leather boots and felt lumberman ankle-high boots. In 1903 George and his two sons Walter and Oscar returned to Germany to study advanced felt making. With the implementation of this applied knowledge, the company grew rapidly. When he sold the company to the Consolidated Felt Company in 1909, the company employed 300 workers. George Rumpel continued as president until 1912 when he started the successful Rumpel Felt Company. George Rumpel was a prominent member of Berlin society by serving as member of the Park board, the water commission, and town council for five years. He was Reeve in 1897 and mayor in 1898. The family also owned an asbestos mine in northern Quebec, The Berlin Asbestos Mine which was managed by George's son Oscar Rumpel. Walter Rumpel, George Rumpel's son and successor managed the Rumpel Felt Company from 1916-1944. Walter established a felt factory at the corner of Victoria and Duke Streets in Kitchener, Ontario where it has operated ever since. From 1944-1966 Walter was succeeded by his son John W. Rumpel, who was succeeded by his son David Rumpel from 1966-2007. In 2007 the company closed production of felt but continue as a wholesaler from the factory.

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Custodial history

Fonds remained at the Rumpel Felt Company at Victoria and Duke Streets in Kitchener, ON, until 2008 when it was donated to the Waterloo Region Museum.

Scope and content

Fonds consists of records and other material created and accumulated by George Rumpel during the time of his executive role at the Rumpel Felt Company. Fonds include handwritten and carbon copies of business correspondence, in addition to other private correspondence, business receipts and invoices,a ledger, order book, and one photograph of George Rumpel. Creators of correspondence include Rumpel Felt Co., George Rumpel, Walter Rumpel, and Oscar Rumpel. Correspondence exchanged with: Industrial Commission, Canadian Asbestos Company, The Berlin Asbestos Company, McArthur Irwin, The C.S. Hyman Company Ltd., The Grosch Felt Shoe Company, The Great North Western Telegraph Company, The Grassell Chemical Company, The Grand Trunk Railway System, The Goldie & McCulloch Company, The Galt, Preston & Hespeler Railway Company, Forwell Foundry Ltd., R. Forbes Company, John Fennell & Son, The Employers Association of Waterloo County, Ellis & Howard, J & R Elliott, J.E. Edwards & Sons, Eaton-Clark Company, the Atteaux Dye Stuff & Chemical Co. Fonds is comprised of the following series: Correspondence Receipts and Invoices Ledgers and Order Books Photographs

Notes area

Physical condition

Immediate source of acquisition

Fonds was donated by David Rumpel of Rumpel Holdings Limited in 2008.

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      Availability of other formats

      View selected digitized records, such as 2008.010.032, in the Region of Waterloo Museums Online Collections Database.

      Restrictions on access

      Access to archival materials is unrestricted within the museum's Research Policy and its Library and Archives Policy. Materials may be used in the reading room by appointment.

      Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication

      The museum's Library and Archives Policy states conditions for making reproductions of archival materials. The museum's Research Policy states other conditions regarding publication.

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      A finding aid is available.

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      No further accruals expected.

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