Farberware

{{Short description|American kitchenware brand}}

{{Infobox brand

| name = Farberware

| logo = fwb-logo.png

| image =

| type = Kitchenware

| currentowner = Meyer Corporation

| origin = United States

| introduced = {{start date and age|1900}}

| related = Circulon (cookware)
KitchenAid (cookware and bakeware)

| markets = International

| previousowners = Simon Farber
Isadore Farber
Milton Farber

| trademarkregistrations =

| ambassador =

| tagline = "Tradition of Excellence"

| website = {{Official website|https://www.farberwarecookware.com/}}

}}

Farberware is a brand of kitchen-related cookware and appliances. The company was founded in New York City in 1900 and acquired by Meyer Corporation in 1997.{{cite news |date=2003-03-13 |title=SAM the Straight Answer Ma'am column |url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/0F9C64FA856B14A0?p=WORLDNEWS |newspaper=Winston-Salem Journal |accessdate=2018-02-11 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240528072807/https://www.webcitation.org/6x8y83Vo3?url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/0F9C64FA856B14A0%3Fp=WORLDNEWS |url-status=live |archive-date=2024-05-28}}{{cite news |date=1993-04-18 |title=Cookware Saves Nutrients, Reduces Need for Cooking Oil |url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/12B03DF4C421B570?p=WORLDNEWS |newspaper=The Morning Call |accessdate=2018-02-11 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6x8zzVbmD?url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/12B03DF4C421B570?p=WORLDNEWS |url-status=live |archive-date=2018-02-11 }}

History

File:Farberware-Minute-Timer-White.jpg

Russian immigrant Simon Farber founded S. W. Farber, Inc., in 1897 manufacturing gift trays and racks.{{cite news |last1=Walker |first1=J. L. |title=The Farberware Story |url=https://dcmny.org/do/7fc07496-db51-4e9a-884d-094355cb1fda |access-date=16 July 2024 |work=Bronxboro |publisher=dcmny.org |date=Winter 1958}} The company was officially founded in 1900 and started as a match peddler located on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. It later expanded to Brooklyn,{{Cite news |last=Walker |first=J. L. |date=Winter 1958 |title=The Farberware Story |url=https://dcmny.org/do/7fc07496-db51-4e9a-884d-094355cb1fda |work=Lehman College, Bronx Business for Everybody |pages=7, 18-19}} opening a plant there and inventing a clamp-on light.

During the 1940s, Simon's son Isadore became the company's president, and his other son, Milton, became vice president. In 1944, the company moved to The Bronx and expanded into the manufacture of stainless steel pots and pans dubbed Farberware. During World War II, the company assisted the U.S. government in manufacturing small arms. Milton was honored for serving as chairman of production engineering and of the Small Business Mobilization Committee.{{cite news |last=Lambert |first=Bruce |date=1991-11-15 |title=Milton Farber, 81, Retired Head Of Farberware Company, Is Dead |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/11/15/nyregion/milton-farber-81-retired-head-of-farberware-company-is-dead.html |newspaper=The New York Times |accessdate=2018-02-11 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307023131/http://www.nytimes.com/1991/11/15/nyregion/milton-farber-81-retired-head-of-farberware-company-is-dead.html |url-status=live |archivedate=2018-03-07 }} Simon's nephew Sam Farber joined the company after serving in the Second World War.{{Cite news | title = Sam Farber, Creator of Oxo Utensils, Dies at 88| last = Fox | first = Margalit| work = The New York Times| date = 21 June 2013| accessdate = 2018-03-06| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/22/business/sam-farber-creator-of-oxo-utensils-dies-at-88.html}}

Milton became president after Isadore retired, and he opened a factory in Israel. The company was sold to Hanson Industries. Milton remained in his position until his retirement in 1973.

In 1946, the Bronx plant was built on the Bruckner Boulevard between 142nd and 144th streets.

In 1981 Farberware reversed its plans to move from the Bronx after New York City and State agreed to provide the company with $8 million in low-interest loans.{{Cite news |last=Kennedy |first=Shawn G. |date=1982-09-15 |title=Real Estate; Corporate Revival In Bronx |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/09/15/business/real-estate-corporate-revival-in-bronx.html |access-date=2023-02-24 |issn=0362-4331}}

In 1981, New Jersey leased Farberware's factory building, the borough's largest, to U.S. Industries, which pledged to operate for 25 years. U.S. Industries, however, sold the Farberware brand to Boston company Syratech Corporation in 1993.{{cite news |last=Foderaro |first=Lisa W. |date=1997-04-10 |title=Unusual Settlement Ends Dispute Over Farberware Factory |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/04/10/nyregion/unusual-settlement-ends-dispute-over-farberware-factory.html |newspaper=The New York Times |accessdate=2018-02-11 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228233004/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/04/10/nyregion/unusual-settlement-ends-dispute-over-farberware-factory.html |url-status=live |archivedate=2017-12-28 }}

The company has since undergone numerous name changes.

In 1992, Farberware Millennium, an antiscratch antistick pan, was described as "one of the finest cookware innovations". After testing "1,000 back-and-forth scrapes by a metal spatula" the Millennium pan did not scratch.{{cite news |last=Crea |first=Joe |date=1992-09-02 |title=Joe Crea's Food Tip - Farberware's Millennium line is tough stuff |url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/0EAF3EEA951BAF4D?p=WORLDNEWS |newspaper=Orange County Register |accessdate=2018-02-11 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240528072848/https://www.webcitation.org/6x8ypFjdc?url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/0EAF3EEA951BAF4D%3Fp=WORLDNEWS |url-status=live |archivedate=2024-05-28 }}

In 1993, Farberware's pans were manufactured by Syratech, which contracted with All American Lighting Corporation for recoating of nonstick pans, but All American Lighting failed to process orders promptly.

By 1995, Farberware was among the largest producers of stainless steel cookware in the United States, reporting an "anemic annual earnings of $1 million on sales of $125 million for the fiscal year". Syratech was a $169-million company at the time and paid higher wages than those offered in China or Malaysia. Union members feared that production would be outsourced to those countries with lower wages.{{cite news |last=Tergesen |first=Anne E. |date=1996-04-28 |title=The Heat Is On - Farberware Workers Make Pots & Plans |url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/0EB476C5C845D7FB?p=WORLDNEWS |newspaper=The Record |accessdate=2018-02-11 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240528072609/https://www.webcitation.org/6x8mfqjB9?url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/0EB476C5C845D7FB%3Fp=WORLDNEWS |url-status=live |archivedate=2024-05-28 }}

Meyer Corporation acquired the Farberware license in 1997, moving production outside of the USA at the cost of over 700 jobs.{{cite news |title=Farberware Deal Dies, Bronx Plant to Stay Closed |work=New York Daily News |date=October 25, 1996 |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/1996/10/25/farberware-deal-dies-bronx-plant-to-stay-closed/ |access-date=February 2, 2025}} It honors warranties for cookware made prior to the acquisition.{{cite news |last=Harris |first=Sheryl |date=2002-03-20 |title=Now it's raining frying pans |url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/0F33C20BF8B06828?p=WORLDNEWS |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |accessdate=2018-02-11 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240528072729/https://www.webcitation.org/6x8xnFe8B?url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/0F33C20BF8B06828%3Fp=WORLDNEWS |url-status=live |archivedate=2024-05-28 }}

Farberware products are currently found at most major retailers, including Walmart.{{cite news |last=Burkey |first=Brent |date=2007-12-05 |title=Local Pfaltzgraff factory stores are off the block Twenty-seven Farberware stores are closing, as well as three Pfaltzgraff stores. |url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/11E36630514AF4C8?p=WORLDNEWS |newspaper=York Daily Record |accessdate=2018-02-11 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240528072647/https://www.webcitation.org/6x8xSKyTe?url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/11E36630514AF4C8%3Fp=WORLDNEWS |url-status=live |archivedate=2024-05-28 }}

References

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