Schell Leather Company

The company was founded by Albert and Charles J. Schell,^[2][3] though sources differ on the year of establishment. One 1985 article gives the founding year as either 1865 or 1870,^[1] while other records suggest operations began in 1901^[4] or even as late as 1925.^[5] The company remained active until at least 1985.^[1]

By 1929, Schell's factory was located at 1015 Race Street in Cincinnati.^[6] It later moved to a two-story 100 ft × 100 ft (30 m × 30 m) facility at 2965 Central Parkway.^[7] Construction on the building began around 1931 by Parkway Construction Co. at a cost of approximately US$70,000 (equivalent to $1,447,330 in 2024),^[8] although some sources indicate the move occurred closer to 1938.^[9] Schell operated from that address until at least 1959,^[10] then relocated between 1959 and 1962 to 242 West McMicken Avenue,^[11] where it remained in operation through at least 1967.^[12] In 1980, the company moved its headquarters and manufacturing operations to St. Petersburg, Florida.^[1][13]

Charles Schell was involved with the business for approximately 35 years, serving as general manager, operator, and leather buyer.^[4] In 1968, Stephen Hahn acquired the company from the Schell family and became its president.^[1] Under Hahn's leadership, Schell purchased a Chicago-based plastic-case manufacturer and relocated production to Florida. During this period, the company’s annual revenue grew to about $6.5 million (equivalent to $19 million in 2024).^[1] The company also owned Action Leathercraft, Inc. in Commerce, California, and operated subsidiaries such as Allstate Custom Cases and Lords Business Cases.^[1]