Small Black Metal Trunk

The Belber company was established in 1891 when two school-age brothers, Aaron and Henry Belber, scraped together $200 and started making luggage in a South Philadelphia basement. The Belber brothers, ages 14 and 17, worked 10 hours a day, six days a week, hand-stitching luggage. They opened their first factory in 1903 and were soon joined by their 2 other brothers, Herman and Maurice.

From 1919 the Belber Trunk and Bag Company started a period of expansion based on acquisition and by 1920 became one of the world's biggest manufacturers of quality traveling goods. This continued until the 1950s when the advent of air travel lessened demand for their product and they became dormant in the 1970s.