Of particular interest in this 1923 photo are the mandolins,
ukeleles, steamer trunks, and plated ware more below
(the sign in the case presenting silverplate marketed under
1847 Rogers). In the center is Charles Littman, and to his
left is his brother-in-law, Leon Hornstein. Leon's son, Bert,
came back into the store after his navy service in WW II,
and spent many years here with his wife Estelle until they
passed. Bert's sons, Steve and Don have worked in the shop,
along with assorted friends and family,and Don is now head
of the firm.
The shop pictured above was one of many lost in a massive
fire that leveled downtown Norfolk in 1931. The next two
locations were displaced in the early 1960's and in 1980 by
city planners, and the current store remains in a partially
renovated downtown building close to the Harbor.
The early 1980's saw great speculation in precious metals.
Many fine pieces of sterling flatware and holloware were
melted during the great gold rush brought on by the Hunt
Brothers' speculation. Some boullion dealers, including our
previous generation, had the foresight and appreciation for
art to hang on to some of the treasures before they were
poured into the refinery's melting pot. From that start, we
added to our sterling flatware collection which grew to over
600 patterns. After running ads in magazines offering to
buy and sell flatware,| we took to the internet and gradually
added additional lines, first silver chests, then watches and
clocks. We have also included sterling holloware items that
are not included together on other sites. All of this has cer-
tainly been bewildering for a business that started out as a
pawnshop and luggage purveyor, and bought and sold surplus
navy binoculars, but all retailers during the past hundred
years have certainly seen tremendous change.
The picture shows a safe that proclaims: "In the Public's
Confidence Since 1892." And the first Norfolk phone directory
lists the same phone we have today, MA 2-6989. If you seek
a contemporary reference point, we suggest that you click on
the yellow BBB Better Business Bureau icon on the left of this
page. Thanks.