Introduction: 1899-1910

At the turn of the 20th century, S. Karpen & Bros. was in the perfect position to take advantage of all the growth opportunities opening up in America. The population of the United States grew from 76 million to 92 million in the first decade of the 20^th century. The middle class grew as did the cities.  Changes in the way people lived opened the doors (quite literally) for Karpen Bros. furniture.

In 1900, eight Karpen brothers were in the prime of their lives. The eldest, Solomon at 42, led the expanding company while Julius, the youngest at 27, brought creative new ideas to marketing and sales. Adolph’s stature in the business world grew as did the company’s.

Real life events and trends do not fit in a perfect timeline. This period of growth for Karpen Bros. roughly encompassed the years 1899 to 1910. Unlike the first twenty years of the company’s history, events and developments in this period occurred over several years. So, after the events of 1899, the story changes to one of innovation, creativity, and expansion in different spheres of activity from 1900 to 1910.

Note: To compare historical financial information and prices to present day refer to: MeasuringWorth.