Two Angry Jewelers

[brandm24]

These two guys, while looking to be honest, upright jewelers, look a bit scary to me. Today with all the glitzy and slick advertising for nearly everything they wouldn't due as spokesmen for even their own brand. Better to use a mascot from an auto insurance company...Jake from State Farm, maybe...or even a Nike superstar. Maybe bring the Budweiser Clydesdales out of retirement. Anything but these two spooky characters.

All fun aside, C.D. Peacock is the oldest retail organization in Chicago dating back to their founding in 1837. At that time and until 1889, the company was called the House of Peacock. Charles Daniel Peacock was the founder but when his son (?) Elijah took control of the company in 1889 the name was changed to C.D. Peacock.

Although the company has been bought out several times over the years the Peacock name was maintained because of their sterling reputation. I believe the company is still in business today, or at least their brand is.

A very nice token / medal celebrating their first one hundred years in business.

(Images courtesy of Steve Hayden)

Bruce
   

[chrisild]

But the faces of those two suggest "serious" business.

That lump of dirt next to the safe door made me curious. Managed to read most but not all of it: "This (...) piece of steel is a souvenir of the Chicago fire of 1871. It was cut from the door of the Peacock vault which withstood the flames and is at (present?) in daily use at our store, State and (...) streets."

And sure enough, the company has a very nicely done "Peacock History" online. Just keep scrolling, hehe. As for the names, somewhere on that page you see this. "In 1889, Elijah's son, Charles Daniel (C.D.), took control of the business and changed The House of Peacock to the name and luxury brand we now know as C.D. Peacock." And yes, that history also shows how the vault survived the fire. Amazing.

[brandm24]

You have a sharp eye, Christian. It is a great story about the safe.

 I did see the history of the company and wanted to attach a few of the pictures but, unfortunately, everything seems to be copyright protected. Thanks for adding the link.

Bruce