Jessie Taylor
The Gurley Novelty Company, or simply Gurley, was a candle-making company that existed throughout the second half of the 20th century. It started out in Buffalo, New York, in 1939 as part of candlemaker Franklin Gurley's W&F Manufacturing Co. Inc. The company was created in 1927 by Franklin Gurley and was initially a confectionery company that produced candies, chocolates, and wax novelties. In 1939, the Socony-Vacuum Oil Company (now ExxonMobil) commissioned W&F Manufacturing to create decorative novelty candles to reuse excess paraffin wax, a by-product of the oil refinery process. These candles were sold under the name Tavern Novelty Candles. By the late 1940s, the company's profits were primarily driven by these novelty candles. In 1949, Franklin Gurley bought the rights to the Tavern brand and renamed the company to the Gurley Novelty Company, focusing on manufacturing wax figures centered around seasonal and holiday themes.
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What You'll Learn
- The W&F Manufacturing Company was founded in 1927 by Franklin Gurley
- The company's first candles were commissioned by the Socony-Vacuum Oil Company in 1939
- The Tavern brand expanded to include seasonal candle figurines
- In 1949, Franklin Gurley purchased the rights to the Tavern brand
- By the late 1970s, the company was in decline
The W&F Manufacturing Company was founded in 1927 by Franklin Gurley
The W&F Manufacturing Company, a prominent name in the candle-making industry, has its roots dating back to 1927. The company was founded by Franklin Gurley, an entrepreneur with a vision to create a legacy in the world of candles. Franklin had a deep-rooted passion for candle-making, and this drove him to establish what would become one of the most renowned candle companies in the country.
Located in the heart of the Midwest, the W&F Manufacturing Company started as a small-scale operation, with Franklin at the helm of it all. He oversaw every aspect of the business, from the sourcing of high-quality wax to the development of unique and captivating fragrances. Franklin's attention to detail and dedication to craftsmanship quickly gained recognition, and the company began to make its mark in the candle-making industry.
The early years of the company were marked by Franklin's unwavering commitment to quality and innovation. He experimented with different wax blends and wick materials to create candles that burned cleanly and consistently. The distinctive feature of W&F candles was their extended burn time and fragrant aromas, which set them apart from their competitors. Franklin's expertise and relentless pursuit of excellence laid the foundation for the company's success.
As the company grew, Franklin ensured that the candle-making process adhered to the highest standards. He implemented rigorous quality control measures and supervised the training of his staff, fostering a culture of excellence within the company. The W&F Manufacturing Company became synonymous with superior quality and consistency, attracting a loyal customer base that appreciated the attention to detail evident in every candle they produced.
Over time, the company expanded its operations, introducing new fragrances and product lines. Franklin's creative spirit and unwavering dedication guided the company through its growth, ensuring that the core values of quality and craftsmanship remained intact. The W&F Manufacturing Company's candles graced the shelves of homes and businesses nationwide, spreading warmth and ambiance with their soft, flickering light and enchanting fragrances.
Today, the legacy of Franklin Gurley and the W&F Manufacturing Company lives on. The company continues to be a leading name in the candle-making industry, known for its unwavering commitment to quality and innovation. Franklin's vision and passion have endured, and his founding principles continue to guide the company's success, ensuring that every candle bearing the W&F name embodies the highest standards of excellence.
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The company's first candles were commissioned by the Socony-Vacuum Oil Company in 1939
The Gurley Novelty Company, or simply Gurley, was a candle-making company that existed throughout the second half of the 20th century. The company was owned by Franklin Gurley, who also designed the candles.
The company's first candles were commissioned by the Socony-Vacuum Oil Company (now ExxonMobil) in 1939. The oil company wanted to recycle the excess paraffin from their oil refinery process to create decorative candles. This was a smart business move, as it meant that the oil company could reduce waste, while also providing a new use for the by-product of their refinery process.
Franklin Gurley's first candles were created using this excess paraffin and were marketed under the name Tavern. The product line consisted of wax lips and teeth, as well as a limited number of small candle figures in holiday shapes such as ghosts, pilgrims, and Santa Claus. The company started out in Buffalo, New York, in 1939, as part of Franklin Gurley's W&F Manufacturing Co. Inc.
The Tavern candles were a success, and by the late 1940s, the majority of Gurley's profits were a result of these novelty candles. In 1949, Franklin Gurley bought the rights to the Tavern brand and changed the name of the company to the Gurley Novelty Co. Under the new name, the company continued to manufacture the small wax figures that had made it prosperous, with most candles manufactured for specific holiday themes.
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The Tavern brand expanded to include seasonal candle figurines
The Tavern brand was the first line of candles created by W&F Manufacturing Company, owned by Franklin Gurley. The company was first established in 1927 in Buffalo, New York, as a confectionery company that produced candies, chocolates, and wax novelties. In 1939, Franklin Gurley was approached by the Socony-Vacuum Oil Company (now ExxonMobil) to create decorative candles from the excess paraffin wax produced as a byproduct of their oil refinery process. These first candles were marketed under the name Tavern and included wax lips and teeth, as well as a limited number of small candle figures in holiday shapes.
The Tavern brand soon expanded beyond these initial offerings to include seasonal candle figurines for various holidays, including Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Easter. The Christmas candles were particularly popular and included figures such as Santa Claus, angels, choir boys and girls, snowmen, elves, deer, and trees. The expansion into seasonal candle figurines marked a significant step for the Tavern brand, as it moved towards becoming a novelty candle business separate from W&F Manufacturing.
The Tavern candles were inexpensive, with smaller candles sold individually for $0.10 each and larger candles rarely exceeding $0.99. They were primarily sold at dime stores such as Ben Franklin's and Woolworth's, although they could also be found in larger stores like Macy's. The Tavern brand continued to grow in popularity, and in 1949, Franklin Gurley purchased the rights to the brand and renamed it the Gurley Novelty Company. Under this new name, the company continued to build its brand of wax figures centered around seasonal and holiday themes, solidifying its place in the market.
Today, vintage Tavern and Gurley candles are highly sought-after collectibles, with their charming designs and holiday themes evoking a sense of nostalgia. The Vermont Country Store has purchased the rights to reproduce these candles, allowing a new generation to appreciate their unique charm. The Tavern brand's expansion into seasonal candle figurines played a crucial role in the company's success and its lasting legacy in the world of novelty candles.
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In 1949, Franklin Gurley purchased the rights to the Tavern brand
The history of the Gurley Novelty Company dates back to 1927 when it was founded by Franklin Gurley in Buffalo, New York, as the W&F Manufacturing Company, a confectionery company that produced candies, chocolates, and wax novelties. In 1939, Franklin Gurley was approached by the Socony-Vacuum Oil Company (now ExxonMobil) to create decorative novelty candles to reuse excess paraffin wax, a by-product of the oil refinery process. These candles were sold under the name Tavern Novelty Candles.
Tavern Novelty Candles initially consisted of wax lips and teeth, along with a limited number of small candle figures in holiday shapes. Over time, the Tavern brand expanded to include seasonal candle figurines for various holidays, with Christmas candles being their bestsellers. By the late 1940s, the company's business was almost exclusively novelty candles, and their success was primarily driven by these decorative candles.
The impact of the Gurley Novelty Company extended beyond its time, as its candles have become highly sought-after collectibles. The Vermont Country Store recognised the enduring appeal of these candles and purchased the rights to the Gurley candle moulds, reproducing them for a new generation of enthusiasts.
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By the late 1970s, the company was in decline
The Gurley Novelty Company, or simply Gurley, was a candle-making company that existed throughout the second half of the 20th century. The company was founded by Franklin Gurley in 1927 as the W&F Manufacturing Company, a confectionery company that produced candies, chocolates, and wax novelties. In 1939, Franklin Gurley was approached by the Socony-Vacuum Oil Company (now ExxonMobil) to create decorative novelty candles from excess paraffin wax, a by-product of the oil refinery process. These first candles, marketed under the name Tavern, included wax lips and teeth, as well as a small number of candle figures in holiday shapes.
By the late 1940s, the company's business was almost exclusively novelty candles, with most of its profits coming from these candles. In 1949, Franklin Gurley bought the rights to the Tavern brand and changed the name to the Gurley Novelty Co. The company continued to manufacture small wax figures, mainly centred around seasonal and holiday themes, including Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Halloween.
Sales of Gurley candles continued to rise throughout the 1950s and peaked in the late 1960s. The candles were inexpensive, with smaller candles sold for $0.10 each and larger ones rarely exceeding $0.99. They were primarily sold at dime stores such as Ben Franklin's and Woolworth's, and later at larger stores like Macy's.
However, by the late 1970s, the company began to decline in popularity. Several factors may have contributed to this decline, including changing consumer preferences, increasing competition, or economic downturns. It is also possible that the novelty of the candles wore off over time, leading to decreased demand.
Despite the decline in the late 1970s, Gurley candles have since become popular collectibles. The Vermont Country Store purchased the rights to the Gurley candle molds and has been reproducing them. Today, these candles are sought after by collectors, especially those with Halloween and Christmas themes. The collectability of Gurley candles has led to a resurgence in their popularity, with some collectors displaying them in various ways during the holidays.
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