258-260 Race Street
By 1871 the Russell, Morgan & Company needed more space. Fortunately, some property came up for sale a block away on Race Street at 258 and 260. They had previously been a grocery store and a candy store. The buildings were torn down and a new one built. Their new building would be four stories and 19,000 square feet. In November 1872 they moved in.
An 1891 Sanborn Fire Insurance map showing Russell & Morgan's two locations
This building even appeared on one of their early show posters
Also at this time another business deal came up. Russell, Morgan & Company purchased James Robinson’s circus after he had another bad season.
James had left John Robinson's Circus and gone into business with another well known performer named Frank Pastor. They called their show the Great Circus and Animal Show. Their circus was recovering after suffering an accident in 1870 in Middletown, Kansas. During their Main Street parade the horses pulling the lion wagon were spooked and took off down the street. It struck a rock causing the roof to collapse. The circus band, who had been on top of the wagon playing, all fell into the den of lions to the spectators' horror. Three were killed and four greatly mauled before the lions were shot or beaten to death.
Russell and Morgan rented the circus back to Robinson for $600 per week ($15,000). This was about what James was making for a week as the most famous bareback rider in the World at the time. Even with the addition of Professor Judson's Flying Airship the circus only lasted about 2 more years. (Oddly, this incredible airship, shown on the right, was never seen again)
Russell and Morgan rented the circus back to Robinson for $600 per week ($15,000). This was about what James was making for a week as the most famous bareback rider in the World at the time. Even with the addition of Professor Judson's Flying Airship the circus only lasted about 2 more years. (Oddly, this incredible airship, shown on the right, was never seen again)
In 1877 it was reported the company now had 80 employees and had done $125,000 (almost $4 million) in business the previous year. Founder James M. Armstrong had stopped being active in the business and had been elected to the Ohio State Senate.
Then in 1880 they came up with another idea to make more money. They decided to start making playing cards. So they added two more stories to their building (shown on the left) which increased it by another 9,000 square feet.
Did Russell or Morgan really come up with the idea or were they influenced or backed by others? This has always been, to playing card collectors, a big mystery. Let's take a minute to discuss this.
THE CONTROVERSY
There are three possible versions of where the playing card idea came from. The people involved were.........
A. O. Russell
Victor E. Mauger
Servetus Longley
A. O. Russell
Victor E. Mauger
Servetus Longley
Let's start with Mr. Russell. When he started his playing card factory, he brought in two very well known people from New York City with lots of playing card making experience. They were Samuel J. Murray and August Crusius. Murray was a mechanical genius and had invented and patented several playing card making machines. Crusius was a well known playing card salesman and had been involved in playing card making for years.
Samuel J Murray August Crusius
You can read their biographies at my National Card Company website.
In March 1880 this story had appeared in The American Stationer trade magazine.........
Gives Up Making Playing Cards
"Victor E Mauger & John Petrie have relinquished the manufacture of playing cards, but will continue to receive orders and supply the trade from the stocks of other manufacturers. The trade in these is very active and factories are running extra hours to supply the demand."
Who were two of his employees? Murray and Crusius. Why did these two men then move to Cincinnati? In an 1892 interview Victor E. Mauger had with The American Stationer magazine, he stated "I first suggested the manufacture of cards to Russell & Morgan, of Cincinnati." Plus, he also became their agent in New York City and sold their cards there.
Was Russell and Morgan influenced by anyone else? I believe so. In 1879 there was a failing playing card company in Cincinnati called Paper Fabrique. It had been partly owned by Servetus Longley. He was a longtime well known printer in Cincinnati and also had two brothers associated with the Cincinnati Enquirer. Longley family history says Servetus sold the company to Russell & Morgan to start their playing card business. You can read about the Longley's playing card history on my Longley Brothers website.
In May 1881 Russell, Morgan & Company registered their playing card trademark and were issued their personally designed tax revenue stamp. Their brand was named United States Playing Cards.
In May 1881 Russell, Morgan & Company registered their playing card trademark and were issued their personally designed tax revenue stamp. Their brand was named United States Playing Cards.
The tiger design had already been used by Russell, Morgan & Company in their advertising and correspondence.
The tiger must have been associated with investor John F. Robinson's circus. A few years before the business started Robinson had a building at 7th and College near his house, where he kept his circus animals. Late one night his pet tiger escaped and strolled down 7th street unnoticed. After it travelled about 3/4 of a mile it climbed a wall into the backyard of the Martin family. Their little girl, who was playing in the backyard, ran into the house screaming. The tiger, in pursuit, jumped against the backdoor as her mother slammed it shut. Fortunately circus men hunting the missing tiger heard the commotion and subdued it.
The Tiger's Path
On June 28, 1881 their first deck was printed. A. O. Russell supposedly said "There, that pack of cards cost $35,000". Present day that would relate to $1 million. They then started printing 1,000 packs per day (about 7 gross) and had 20 employees working just to make playing cards.
UPDATE NOVEMBER 2023
Russell & Morgan's first printing of the Tiger 101 had one way courts. It has now been found that these courts are copies of Andrew Dougherty's.
Russell & Morgan's first printing of the Tiger 101 had one way courts. It has now been found that these courts are copies of Andrew Dougherty's.
Andrew Dougherty Russell & Morgan
UPDATE NOVEMBER 2023
When Russell & Morgan very soon after went to double ended courts, they were similar to the English maker Charles Goodall which Victor E. Mauger's designs were based on. This now lends credence to Mauger's statement that he got Russell & Morgan into card making.
When Russell & Morgan very soon after went to double ended courts, they were similar to the English maker Charles Goodall which Victor E. Mauger's designs were based on. This now lends credence to Mauger's statement that he got Russell & Morgan into card making.
Goodall Victor E Mauger R & M Steamboat
By March of 1883, only 21 months after printing their first deck, a total of 1,304,100 tax revenue stamps for their cards had been issued. This would equate to at least $325,000 in playing card sales or about $10 million today.
Also in 1883 a salesman that worked across the street from the Race street plant at Shillito's Department store quit and went to work at R & M. His name was John Omwake (shown on the left). He would make many contributions to the company and rise through the ranks to eventually become the President of United States Playing Cards in 1902.
With business booming they executed a real estate mortgage for $80,000 ($2.3 million) to build a new and bigger factory on the east side of town on Eggleston street.
In December 1883 the Russell, Morgan & Company was incorporated as the Russell & Morgan Printing Company. They then put the Race street building up for a long term rental agreement.
With business booming they executed a real estate mortgage for $80,000 ($2.3 million) to build a new and bigger factory on the east side of town on Eggleston street.
In December 1883 the Russell, Morgan & Company was incorporated as the Russell & Morgan Printing Company. They then put the Race street building up for a long term rental agreement.
At first the Cincinnati Courts were interested. The Court House was nearby and they needed more room. Instead Peter G. Thomson bought the building in 1884 immediately after his factory on Baymiller street burned down. Thomson was a bookbinder, engraver and toy and game maker. He needed to get back into business quickly to meet the demands of the upcoming Christmas season.
Peter G. Thomson and one of his popular games
At the time Thomson was quickly becoming a major player in the toy and game business. It wasn't long before he was bought out by the larger toy, game and publishing company of the McLoughlin Brothers of Brooklyn to stop his competition. He sold the business to them for $100,000 ($3.3 million) and in 1893 created The Champion Coated Paper Company. This became the largest coated paper manufacturer in the U.S. for over 50 years.
The streets in Cincinnati were re-numbered during 1895 and 1896. The Russell, Morgan & Company's old building's present address is 624-628 Race Street. It is now owned by 3CDC. The Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC) is a non-profit, real estate development and finance organization focused on strategically revitalizing Cincinnati's urban core in partnership with the City of Cincinnati and the Cincinnati corporate community.
This photo was taken in 2021 as renovation was started on the building. You can see where some of the original building has been exposed.
This photo was taken in 2021 as renovation was started on the building. You can see where some of the original building has been exposed.