Robert Reiner (businessman)
His business is credited with helping to expand the machine embroidery industry in Hudson County, New Jersey during the first half of the twentieth century.
[1] He was the sole importer of VOMAG (Vogtländische Maschinenfabrik AG) embroidery machines from Plauen, Germany.
Reiner held an honorary doctorate of political economy and science from the University of Heidelberg.
Reiner began training to be a machinist at age 15 (about 1895) at Heller Brothers in Nürtingen, Germany.
In 1909 he built the 25,000 square foot, concrete building, at 550 Gregory Ave, Weehawken which still stands and has been converted to housing.
Saurer in Arbon, and VOMAG in Plauen became two of the largest developers and manufacturers of early embroidery machines.
The first half of the twentieth century saw great advancements in machine technology including mass production, interchangeable parts, and electrification.
Meanwhile, a third center for machine embroidery, North Hudson, New Jersey emerged at the beginning of the twentieth century.
Hudson County was close to the American market, e.g. New York City's garment district, textile manufacturing, and was a hub for both domestic and international transportation.
A photo taken circa 1903 shows an advertisement for the Robert Reiner Importing Company on the side of a horse-drawn wagon.
Many Swiss and Germans immigrated to Hudson County at the beginning of the century, and helped to build the industry there.
Ancillary businesses that supplied fabrics, thread, embroidery designs, “punching” or translating of designs to Jacquard punch tapes, dying, chemical lace etching, and bleaching of so-called "white goods" also developed in New Jersey.
A Robert Reiner Importing Company catalog published about 1914 opens with an illustration of the VOMAG factory in Plauen.
The captions reads: "3,800 experienced engineers and skilled workmen are continuously employed in this large establishment."
The catalog advertises: ten and 15-meter embroidery machines, demonstrations using the customer's own design, training, and also parts and technical support for other brands.
Contemporary publications provide a similar description of the business and demonstration plant[6] The industry in New Jersey experienced multiple highs and lows as demand followed fashion.
