Jacoby Bros. Ltd.

Vancouver, B.C.

     The firm of Jacoby Bros. Ltd., Manufacturing Jewelers was founded by Alfred James Jacoby, better known as "Dick" Jacoby in 1909. The family headed by father James J., had come from Altona, Germany to Tacoma, Washington in 1892. James J. had six children, four sons; Alfred (Dick), Martin, Sigfried (Sig), Henry and two daughters, Amalie and Henrietta. In Tacoma James J. went into the dry goods business and became an American citizen.

     In 1900, at age 14, Dick Jacoby started work with Mayer Bros. in Seattle where he learned the manufacturing jewellery trade. In 1905 he moved to Vancouver, B.C. where he started to work for Geo. E. Trorey, manufacturing and retail jewellers. Trorey sold out in 1907 to the Henry Birks & Sons chain but continued to manage the store for the new owners. By 1908 Jacoby had become Trorey's head jeweller. That year he was offered, and accepted, a job to manage a jeweller's factory in Nanaimo, [on Vancouver Island, about 30 miles due west of Vancouver] at a 50% increase in pay. In less than a year the factory was closed and Jacoby bought the equipment and returned to Vancouver where he set up in business in October 1909 with $500.00 in capital.

     It is unsure when the Jacoby Bros. decided to manufacture and sell their "Rice" spoon, but according to their patent, it was as early as 1918. I have a size 1 spoon and a size 4 as shown, and I can only assume they came in at least 4 different sizes and different finishes (I only have the 2 spoons in the brass finish).

	Jacoby Brothers Rice Spoon Here is the envelope the number 1 Rice Spoon came in showing their unique Alladin's lamp on the left, which can also be found on their early Jewelry advertisements (See Below).
	Jacoby Brothers Rice Spoon Here is a picture of the larger #4 Rice Spoon in brass.
	Early Jacoby Brothers Price List Here's an early 1918 price list from an early trade catalogue.