Bailey, Banks and Biddle
Bailey, Banks & Biddle started life as Bailey & Kitchen when Joseph Trowbridge Bailey and Andrew B. Kitchen formed a partnership and opened their store at 136 Chestnut Street, in our local town of Philadelphia in September 1832.
They began as both manufacturing and retail jewelers as well as silversmiths. The also sold a wide range of luxury goods such as Sevres porcelain and bronzes as well as stationary. In 1846 the name was changed to Bailey & Company and it remained so until 1878 when J. T. Bailey’s son, Joseph Bailey II (who had joined his father’s business in 1851) formed a new partnership. That partnership was with George Banks and Samuel Biddle thereby creating the name that the company still retains today.
By the late 19th Century the firm was flourishing. They had a highly successful insignia department which designed and manufactured medals, ribbons, and honor awards for the US government. These awards were also distributed to military and naval academies here in the United States. They even redesigned the Great Seal of the United States in 1904 and produced the Medal of Honor. Bailey, Banks, and Biddle produced everything from simple gold lockets to diamond set necklaces, and even tiaras! They changed with the times crafting delicate Edwardian and Belle Époque style jewels to the Art Deco period styles and even Retro styles. They are known for the quality of their craftsmanship and use of colorful black opals, aquamarines and rich vibrant rubies, all with fine quality diamonds. The firm became part of the Zale Corporation in 1962 and expanded widely across the States. It changed hands again in 2007 when it was bought by Finlay Enterprises who filed for bankruptcy just two years later. The name and several locations were subsequently acquired by the private equity group Twin Field.
They began as both manufacturing and retail jewelers as well as silversmiths. The also sold a wide range of luxury goods such as Sevres porcelain and bronzes as well as stationary. In 1846 the name was changed to Bailey & Company and it remained so until 1878 when J. T. Bailey’s son, Joseph Bailey II (who had joined his father’s business in 1851) formed a new partnership. That partnership was with George Banks and Samuel Biddle thereby creating the name that the company still retains today.
By the late 19th Century the firm was flourishing. They had a highly successful insignia department which designed and manufactured medals, ribbons, and honor awards for the US government. These awards were also distributed to military and naval academies here in the United States. They even redesigned the Great Seal of the United States in 1904 and produced the Medal of Honor. Bailey, Banks, and Biddle produced everything from simple gold lockets to diamond set necklaces, and even tiaras! They changed with the times crafting delicate Edwardian and Belle Époque style jewels to the Art Deco period styles and even Retro styles. They are known for the quality of their craftsmanship and use of colorful black opals, aquamarines and rich vibrant rubies, all with fine quality diamonds. The firm became part of the Zale Corporation in 1962 and expanded widely across the States. It changed hands again in 2007 when it was bought by Finlay Enterprises who filed for bankruptcy just two years later. The name and several locations were subsequently acquired by the private equity group Twin Field.
