Name/Title
J. Wiss & Sons Promotional LeafletEntry/Object ID
2026.7.69Tags
1900s, shears, scissors, brochure, leaflet, americaDescription
Wiss were American manufacturers of scissors and shears. This advertising leaflet from the early 1900s illustrates a small selection of their products and gives some information about the company:
"Shears and Scissors the Stay Sharp Make Sewing and Dressmaking a Pleasure!
"Why You Should Select the Wiss. On scissors and shears a coat of shiny nickel will hide many defects in workmanship and material.
"Some shears and scissors are made of cast-iron, brittle and easily broken - others of cast-steel, will dull quickly and never hold and edge - poor screws in shears will soon be the cause of the blades becoming loose - and these are only a few of the defects which are so annoying in ordinary scissors and shears.
"Wiss scissors and shears are made by a manufacturer with a seventy-year reputation for quality - The name Wiss branded on them is your guarantee of satisfaction - for every article branded "Wiss" is guaranteed for its durability, and will stay sharp long after ordinary shears are completely worn out.
"Every Wiss Blade is forged, ground, polished and tempered with the utmost care by workmen who are experts in their trade. This insures exact adjustment - blades which are carefully matched - and shears which will cut easily and to the extreme points, whether used on the heaviest of fabrics or sheerest of silks - Try a Wiss - you will never regret it.
"They Are Guaranteed. Every pair of Wiss Shears or Scissors is unrestrictedly guaranteed, which means that if for any reason you are not satisfied with your purchase, we will gladly replace it. There can be no stronger guarantee.
"250 Styles and Sizes. For whatever purpose you require a shear or scissor there is a Wiss style and size. Dainty Embroidery Scissors! Light Serviceable Sewing Scissors! Strong Household Shears! Dressmaking Shears! Tinners' Snips, for metal!
"Household Shears. Strongly built for heavy duty - drop-forged frame and crucible steel cutting edge. Cuts everything from silk to heaviest fabrics, and stays sharp. [sizes 6" to 12"]
"Dressmaking Shears. Ideal for cloth cutting. This pattern is shaped to fit the hand, and the lower blade lies flat against the table like a tailor shear when cutting. [sizes 6" to 13"] Special style for left-handed persons.
"Sewing Scissors. Light, accurately made, and durable scissors - suitable for a lady's sewing basket. Forged entirely from crucible steel, remarkable for its edge-holding qualities. Extra fine nickel plated finish. [sizes 4" to 7"; optional gold plating; optional Shear Handles for 6" and 7", "Heavy pattern for heavy work."]
"Pocket Scissors. Beautifully made, blunt-point scissors, for children and for those who find it convenient to always have scissors about. Can be carried in pocket or on ribbon. [sizes 3" to 5"]
"Buttonhole Scissors. Forged from the finest steel. Adjustable set screw, so that once set the scissors will cut any number of buttonholes exactly alike. They stay sharp! [size 4 3/4"; full nickel, optional japanned handles, optional gold plating]
"Embroidery Scissors. Dainty and extremely accurate. Both points needle sharp for picking up and snipping off just the right thread. Cutting edges that stay sharp - extra fine nickel finish. [sizes 3" to 6"]
"Quality Will Tell. In 1848, Jacob Wiss, a Swiss instrument maker, opened a modest shop in Bank Street, Newark, N.J. He began to forge out, by hand, instruments and a few pair of shears - a trade he had thoroughly learned in Europe. In those days Jacob Wiss was workman, shopkeeper, janitor, etc. - but little by little people began to ask for his products and the business grew. There was a good reason for this demand, for Wiss instruments and shears were so excellently made that some of the first he produced are still in existence. Slowly the Wiss enterprise grew and in 1875, five years before the death of Jacob Wiss, his son, Frederick C. J., became head of the business. In 1887 a factory was built on what was then the outskirts of Newark, where the present Wiss factory now stands. This factory was devoted exclusively to the manufacture of fine shears and scissors. Today the factories of J. Wiss & Sons Company are the largest of their kind - and the fundamental reason for this prodigious growth is a firm adherence to the old policy of Jacob Wiss to produce nothing but goods of the highest quality."
[image] In 1848 a dog-power treadmill was used.
[image] One of the modern Wiss factories.Publication Details
Publication Type
BrochureAuthor
J. Wiss & SonsDate Published
circa 1920Notes
There is no date on the leaflet, but the company began in 1848 and the leaflet talks about a seventy year history, giving an approximate date of publication. The Internet Archive dates the leaflet to 1923.Created By
studygroup@scissornet.orgCreate Date
March 5, 2026Updated By
studygroup@scissornet.orgUpdate Date
March 6, 2026
