Factory December 1941 Trenton, NJ.

Location January 1955:

Schoenfeld and Wolf Sales Co.
Bags by Parklane
14-16 East 32nd Street
New York 16, NY

Spring styles for 1942 are introduced in the February 1942 Luggage & Leather Goods, page 48. Emphasis is on "Morale! . . . one of the most important words in our vocabulary today. What has it to do with the handbag department ? Plenty, we say! It's the gay novelties that lift many a spirit out of the doldrums. Handbags this season will play their part in adding color and life to even the most tailored costume.

Bags For After-Dark

Due to more women entering war work, the evening bag story has been somewhat curtailed. Leading manufacturers do expect a spurt of business on cocktail types that can be worn with daylength dinner clothes. The feeling is that well dressed women will want to get out of uniforms and become soft and feminine after dark, but that there will not be much demand for the really formal evening bag this spring. To meet this demand better houses are showing beaded bags that will go with street length formal clothes, failles, taffeta and ribbon numbers with dainty shirring or tucking and gold and lucite trimmings. There is also some interest in inexpensive young evening bags for graduation gifts. Beaded styles, ruffled lace, and net and shirred fabrics are being shown for this purpose."

"Moderate sized patent leather envelope with deep "V" flap designed for initials. The collar showing on both sides of the flap is in natural color snakeskin. Bag by Schoenfeld & Wolf. Initials (not included with bag) by Monocraft."

Page 50 of the same issue reports the opening of the new factory on December 29, 1941.

"Scene at the opening of the new handbag factory of Schoenfeld & Wolf in Trenton, N.J. on December 29, 1941. The large American flag, a gift of the employees, was formally presented by Senator Jamison of New Jersey. The Senator is the tall gentleman standing directly in the center of the photo. At his right are Mr. and Mrs. Schoenfeld and at his left is Mr. Wolf."

Page 58 of the same issue announces a new Junior Miss line.

Jr. Miss Bags in Spring Line

"The new collection at Schoenfeld & Wolf includes a well styled group of Junior Miss Bags. Moderately sized, they are shown in patent leather, cape, alligator grain and Gahna morocco, to retail at $2.95. Expected to be one of the leaders in this group is an over-the-shoulder envelope in alligator grain, fitted with numerous inside pockets for flashlight, first aid kit, etc."

As World War II production shifted into high gear, materials normally available for handbag production were restricted to war use. Designers scrambled to innovate and unique solutions were found. Schoenfeld-Wolf, under thier Parklane brand, produced plastic tile clutch bags using moldable plastic, cotton or rayon and zippers from stocks existing before the war began.

980140: Parklane Plastic Tile Clutch bag from WWII carries a 1945 patent date. Celluloid pull opens metal zip interior to reveal a single open side pocket and the spotless black cotton lining. Measures 12 3/4 x 7 3/4 x 1 1/2". Excellent condition. Sold for $30 in 1999 at The Bag Lady Emporium.

Luggage & Leather Goods, August 1942 issue includes this story about Schoenfeld & Wolf's Fall line. This type of sports endorsed lines were more unusual then, especially for female athletes. Alice Marble was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1964.

Alice Marble Designs

The fall collection at Schoenfeld & Wolf includes three styles designed by Alice Marble, the tennis star. These are labeled "The Minute Woman" bag and are of saddle leather with adjustable shoulder straps. One has two stitched flaps, another is a top zipper styled with an extra envelope section and the third is a one-flap envelope style. All retail at $5. Thronged lacing on saddle leather and alligator grains to retail around $5.95 are featured in a group of tailored bags.
Stitched cape with a sculptured effect is a smart novelty in this line. These are shown in a wide color range to retail around $5.95.
A large group of $2.95 young miss bags for the sophisticated school crowd is shown in saddle, alligator grain, and suede. A smart new satchel shape with a pannier handle that may also be attached to the belt is an interesting promotional item.

Alice Marble graced the cover of Life Magazine's August 28, 1939 issue after her multiple Wimbeldon wins. Marble was the Associated Press Athlete of the Year in 1939.

Shoenfeld-Wolf produced this cunning box bag in suede for $57 per dozen wholesale or in faille for $35.65, both in black, brown, wine and green.

"For that out-of-the-band-box feeling a satchel in suede. Here is a bag that will make her feel "grown up." Schoenfield-Wolf." (July 1947 Handbags Illustrated, page 38)

Display ad page 45 of the same issue.

same issue, page 56

Salesmen sometimes struck out on their own and represented manufacturers outside New York City to the buyers in the Big Apple. This allowed makers to sell easily to the market without the expense of having their own showroom in the city. Well established salesmen could do well, representing makers and taking orders from shops in New York City and they would often take on several makers, show their lines and represent them to the stores.

"Arthur Falk is back in the handbag business after severing his association with Schoenfeld and Wolf. Mr. Falk has opened his own firm and is representing Nu-Mode Handbags Nu-ModeBagCoInc, Tado Bags TadoHandBagCo, and Joe Goldflaum."

Trend setting Fall shoe and bag designs were featured in "Handbag Buyer" June 1949, page 21. The bag retailed for $5.00, equivalent to $38 in inflation adjusted 2006 dollars.

"Horizontal polished frame vanity on oval base with stitched down bottom cuff. Saddle cowhide in black, brown, tan, cherry, green, natural. Smart, roomy, and budget priced."

The same issue showed the early Fall 1949 bags to be featured in department store promotions, page 24. The bag retailed for $7.95, equivalent to $60 2006 dollars.

"Dressy little pouch of French process suede has half-covered frame and puffed yoke decoration. Satin lined and fitted with coin-teller wallet. Budget priced in colors."

The "What's New in Handbags" column of the same issue included news about Shoenfeld & Wolf's Fall 1949 line.

Coin-Teller Wallet with the Bag

"An added attraction in one fall line is the coin-teller wallet provided instead of a framed coin purse. If the bag is satin lined, the wallet is satin and on the inside fold is a plastic coin holder that provides place for quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies. This "extra" is found in all bags that are not leather lined regardless of whether they are tailored or dressy styles.
Well priced and dainty in design is a group of French process suede bags in frame styles, boxy models and vagabond effects. Saddle cowhide is used for a series of popular-priced bags that include a vanity on horizontal lines with an oval base, a bucket shape vagabond with match stick closing and a doctor's satchel finished with metal studs on base. Colors are black, brown, tan, cherry, green and natural."

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The 1950s

"Casual Accessories for the Easter Parade" were highlighted in the February 1950 issue of "Handbags and Fashion Accessories," pages 42-43

"ACCENT on Criterion's combination patent and wicker belt. Carnation pin by Glamour. Hand painted umbrella has buffalo horn top handle by Uncle Sam. Bloch Freres' checked linen kerchief. Parchment cowhide bag with pigtex lining by Schoenfeld & Wolf. Sueded cotton and linen glove from Gutman-Lann."

July 1954 Handbags & Accessories, page 23

Six months later, new trims were featured for Spring.

Wrought iron trim on Park Lane bags

"Black accents are dramatic on new spring llama hide bags by Schoenfeld & Wolf, makers of Park Lane bags. Black wrought iron turn locks, handle rings and ornaments are complemented with black stitching with excellent effect. Llama hide is a soft, spongable top grain cowhide that is used in all types of adjustable shoulder strap casual bags. New spring colors are pink, light blue, white, canyon sand, cream together with usual darks. Bags in this group retail at $5, $7.95 and $10.95. They stress detail and offer extra pockets, several zippers, both inside and out, and soft construction.

Slightly off the beaten path is a novelty done in two-tones such as white with tan, pink or navy. This is a square bottom soft gusseted petal tote that closes with a ring.

A very unusual travel bag is offered to retail at $15. This is huge in size and has a zipper under a flap that slides through a slip lock. The handle goes through rings and adjusts to a double handle or shoulder strap.

A group of kip bags come in all new colors such as coffee, toast, avocado, canyon sand, etc. Smart in this leather is a Boston satchel vanity in two sizes. It has a side track frame filled in with matching leather." (January 1955 Handbags & Accessories, page 32)

The same issue carries the story of the New York handbag industry's contribution to the search for a cure for Polio.

Harry Schoenfeld again heads March of Dimes

Rounding out ten years of work on behalf of the National Foundation of Infantile Paralysis, Harry Schoenfeld, president of Schoenfeld & Wolf Sales Company, has again accepted the chairmanship of the Handbag division of the greater New York campaign.

Mr. Schoenfeld has spearheaded the campaign since 1946 when the Handbag Division was first organized as a unit of the Greater New York polio appeal, and under his leadership, the industry has contributed an important share of the funds raised by business firms in the city to fight polio.

Serving as his co-chairman in the '55 campaign will be Harold Sachs, president of Paris Style Bags, Inc. ParistyleHandbagsInc, and Louis Hirsch, handbag buyer for Lerner Shops.

Other members of Mr. Schoenfeld's committee include Arnold Garay, Garay and Co. Garay; Max Goldstein, Oppenheim Collins; Jack Hausman, M. Hausman & Sons; Milton Lefcourt, Graceline Handbags GracelineHandbags, Ruth Mason, Sears, Roebuck; Maurice Mosesson, National Authority Ladies' Handbag Industry National Authority For The Ladies Handbag Industry; Irving Pichel, Pichel, Inc. PichelInc; Ludwig Schlessinger and Leo Sternberg, Lesco, Ltd.; Murray Seltzer, Goldcrest GoldcrestFashionsInc; Abraham Wirklich, Pyramid Leather Goods; PyramidLeatherGoodsCo Jay Koppel, Koppel & Friedman, Inc. Friedman-LobelInc; Leonard Stander, Schoenfeld & Wolf Sales Co. and Betty Held, editor, HANDBAGS & ACCESSORIES.

The same issue carries this ad for Bags by Parklane.

Vary your collection to meet day, evening, sport and dress needs.

Keep an eye on the future — continue to show resort bags now

"SADDLE STITCHED kip satchel with buckle on detail has gold tabbed flap with turn lock closure. Center section is built out for added roominess. In many colors. Offered by Schoenfeld & Wolf" (Handbags & Accessories December 1955, page 19)

Bags for Spring 1956 were presented on January 3, 1956 by agreement as a member of the National Authority for the Ladies Handbag Industry. 1956NationalAuthorityMembers

Accessory market round-up

"A group of "Commuter" travel bags with a brand new lining treatment is being shown at Schoenfeld & Wolf, 14 E. 33rd St. Soft cowhides and beaver grains are in the group. Large shapes include a two-part bag on a facile frame, an enormous tote with top and additional zipper, and several large travel pouches. The lean look is noted in many of these styles to retail from $7.95 through $16.95. There are many back-to-school shoulder strap types." (Handbags & Accessories June 1956, page 58)

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Makers