Hammacher Schlemmer

Hammacher Schlemmer
Company type	Private
Industry	Retail
Founded	1848; 178 years ago
Founder	Charles Tollner, R. Stern
Headquarters	Niles, United States
Area served	United States, global (planned expansion)
Key people	David Steinhafel (leader of S5 Equity, current owner)
Products	Retail merchandise, catalog products, innovative consumer goods
Owner	S5 Equity (private equity firm)
Website	www.hammacher.com

Hammacher Schlemmer is a U.S.-based retailer and catalog company with its headquarters located in Niles, Illinois.

History

Established in 1848 as a hardware store offering rare tools in New York City's Bowery neighborhood, Hammacher Schlemmer was founded by Charles Tollner alongside Mr. R. Stern. After Stern's early exit, Tollner remained involved until 1859 when Albert Hammacher invested $5,000, leading to the renaming of the business to C. Tollner and A. Hammacher. During the Civil War period, due to a shortage of currency, the company briefly produced its own copper coins.

William Schlemmer, who was Tollner’s nephew through marriage, gradually took over ownership and entered into partnership with Hammacher and Peter F. Taaks. By 1883, with Schlemmer as the principal owner, the firm adopted the name Hammacher Schlemmer & Co., which it still uses today. The company was among the first American retailers to embrace new technology, being an early user of the telephone and introducing products like the pop-up toaster in 1930, the electric toothbrush in 1955, and the telephone answering machine in 1968.

The catalog was introduced in 1881 and expanded dramatically by 1912 to exceed 1,100 pages; this historic catalog is now part of the Smithsonian Institution’s archives. In 1926, Hammacher Schlemmer moved its operations to a prominent site on East 57th Street in New York City.

Leadership transitioned from Hammacher to William Schlemmer and subsequently to his son William F. Schlemmer, who held the Vice President position. During the 1930s, the catalog began emphasizing innovative inventions such as portable radios and outdoor grills. Following William F. Schlemmer’s passing in 1945, his widow Else took over management until her death in 1955; she notably distributed ownership shares among more than 100 employees.

In 1953, after over one hundred years under family control, Hammacher Schlemmer was sold to investors and later acquired by John Gerald. The Kayser-Roth Corporation purchased it in 1960. Under Dominic Tampone’s leadership from 1962 onward, the firm established Invento Products Corporation—a subsidiary focused on product development and wholesale distribution—which achieved nearly $2.5 million annually by sourcing innovative items worldwide for retailers such as Sears and Neiman Marcus.

Ownership shifted again with acquisitions by Gulf + Western Industries in 1975 and John Roderick MacArthur’s Bradford Exchange Ltd. Inc. in 1980. MacArthur founded the Hammacher Schlemmer Institute in 1983 to independently evaluate product quality. After MacArthur died in 1984, his heirs ultimately transferred ownership to employees by 2014.

Hammacher Schlemmer was among the pioneers of online retailing, selling products through CompuServe as early as 1988 and launching its own website by 1998—the same year it celebrated its sesquicentennial with New York City renaming a block on East 57th Street as Hammacher Schlemmer Way.

In August 2024, private equity firm S5 Equity, led by David Steinhafel, acquired Hammacher Schlemmer with plans centered on revitalizing this historic brand via contemporary growth strategies aimed at broadening market presence and strengthening global operations while maintaining its heritage.

Retail locations

Hammacher Schlemmer originated as a hardware outlet at 221 The Bowery from 1848 until 1859, after which it relocated to 209 The Bowery, remaining there until 1904. The store then moved to the intersection of 13th Street and Fourth Avenue, operating there from 1904 to 1926. In 1926, it established its present-day headquarters at 147 East 57th Street, a twelve-story structure near Park Avenue. This building has accommodated an extensive array of merchandise and services over the years, ranging from hardware and housewares to furniture and distinctive consumer products.

During the 1980s, Hammacher Schlemmer expanded its retail footprint by opening stores in Chicago (1984) and Beverly Hills (1986). Nevertheless, with e-commerce sales increasing by roughly 30% annually, both branches were shuttered in 2005, consolidating all retail activities back to the flagship New York City location. In November 2013, the company marked its 165th anniversary by unveiling a renovated interior at the Manhattan store, highlighting its hallmark selection of innovative merchandise.

The retailer also operated a branch at The Shops at Sunset Place in South Miami, Florida for a brief period; this location has since been closed. In January 2023, Hammacher Schlemmer announced it would not renew the lease of its 57th Street store after nearly a century of operation, signaling the conclusion of its longstanding physical retail presence there.

In popular culture

The New York City flagship was featured in the 1990 movie Joe Versus the Volcano, where Tom Hanks’ character visits the store while preparing for an adventurous journey.

A humorous reference appears in Chris and Bob Elliott’s 1989 book Daddy’s Boy, which lists a "two-man submarine from Hammacher Schlemmer" among eccentric travel accessories.

In the 2006 comedy film Beerfest, characters from the German Drinking Team are named Hammacher and Schlemmer.

Catalogs

Hammacher Schlemmer released its inaugural illustrated catalog and price list in 1881, featuring detailed pen-and-ink illustrations that became synonymous with its hardware catalogs. By 1896, it had published a comprehensive 400-page catalog emphasizing premium tools and an ongoing introduction of novel items.

From 1904 until 1971, the U.S. Navy utilized Hammacher Schlemmer’s catalog as an official equipment manual.

In 1912, the company issued its largest catalog to date—a volume of 1,112 pages—solidifying its reputation as a premier hardware supplier on the East Coast; one edition is preserved in the Smithsonian Institution.

A commemorative brochure in 1923 celebrated Hammacher Schlemmer’s 75th anniversary, highlighting growth parallel to that of New York City and the nation.

The "gnome" advertising initiative began in 1920, featuring whimsical cartoon figures within catalogs to strengthen brand recognition.

In 1931, Hammacher Schlemmer introduced a housewares supplement—the first nationally available—signaling an expansion beyond traditional hardware offerings.

The catalog marking the company’s 125th anniversary in 1973 spotlighted distinctive kitchen and entertaining products. This edition replaced gnome imagery with tin man figures and reinforced a dedication to customer satisfaction under the slogan: "COMPLETE SATISFACTION GUARANTEED."

The first full-color product catalog was issued in 1977, continuing to feature the iconic gnome characters.

The Fall Catalog of 1983 debuted product evaluations conducted by the Hammacher Schlemmer Institute using a seven-point blue "enstar" rating system: one enstar denoted "Unique" items, two indicated "Best of Kind," and three signified "Best Overall."

To commemorate its 150th anniversary in 1998, the cover showcased the Bertazzon Venetian Carousel—a handcrafted full-sized carousel inspired by Old World craftsmanship—offered by special order with an estimated five-month production period.

Departing from tradition, the Holiday Preview catalog for 2003 displayed a cartoon on its cover that playfully acknowledged the retailer’s reputation for carrying unusual merchandise.

In 2014, Hammacher Schlemmer introduced its first Augmented Reality Catalog, allowing customers to engage with three-dimensional product visuals through iPad scanning technology, enhancing user interaction via videos and complete 360-degree views.

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