October 9, 1888
"The National Card Co." is Trademarked.
Serial Number 71124456, Registration Number 0133071.
October 10, 1888
Incorporated in New Jersey.
National Card Company, Label St., Montclair, New Jersey.
Capital Stock Authorized 100,000 ($3.2 million in 2023)
Par Value of Shares $100.
Commenced Business With 1,000 Shares ($27,000 in 2019)
The company is comprised of Samuel J. Murray, August Crusius (still employees of Russell & Morgan) and New York City businessman Robert H. McCutcheon ,who is also an agent for the Russell & Morgan Printing Company.
March 1889
Crusius and McCutcheon form the R. H. McCutcheon & Co. in New York City to market the products they do not have yet.
October 29, 1889
Indianapolis News
To Make Playing Cards and Stationery
Several months ago the plant of the old Shaw Carriage Works was purchased by an Eastern company, and recently a large amount of new machinery has been put into it. The firm is the “National Card Company of Indianapolis and New York,” and here is the point where the goods are to be manufactured. Playing cards and fine stationery will be the products of the establishment. Robert H. McCutcheon, of New York, is President, and A. Crusius, of the same place, Secretary of the company and Samuel J. Murray, of Cincinnati, will be Superintendent when, in a few weeks, business begins.
November 7, 1889
The American Stationer
The National Card Company
This venture will have an important bearing upon the playing card industry, there seems to be no reason to doubt. The factory is as complete as capital and brains can make it. The National's cards will be placed on the market shortly. The jokers are to be printed from entirely different designs.
February 13, 1890
The American Stationer
The National Card Company's factory at Indianapolis has already placed on the market its “Steamboat " cards and will soon issue its higher grade goods. The "Steamboat" series is declared by good judges to be a superior card of its kind, the smoothness, pliability and strength being specially noticeable. Moreover, the colors are fresh and harmonious, while the backs and general finish will make these cards popular and acceptable to the average player.
July 31, 1890
The first train car load (125,000 packs) of the National Card Company’s first cards leave Indianapolis for Chicago. Also advertised are the two card back designs for “Rambler”. A Maltese Cross pattern and a Pyrotechnic pattern called "Geometric". (The Rambler was not trademarked until May 10, 1892 by R. H. McCutcheon)
January 19, 1891
National Card increases their capital stock to $150,000. (Over 5 million in 2023 dollars)
November 19, 1891
American Stationer
National Card Company is awarded the contract to make cards for the American Whist League.
(These would be the National Whist #175. They also produce a rules book for them.)
May 11, 1892
Commissioner of Patents
“National Card Company, Indianapolis, Ind., Jersey City, N. J., and New York,”; Playing Cards “Aluminum” (NU7 Ramblers)
September 19, 1892
The Indianapolis Journal
The National Card Company is steadily increasing its number of employees, last week the company's pay-roll showing 315 persons employed about the establishment. These works are becoming noted far and near. Last week they received orders from London, Australia and South America. The steamship lines which cross the ocean are among the company's largest purchasers. This morning the putting in of the stone foundation for the fourth building will be commenced. This building is as large as the others, and is to be four stories high.
November 07, 1892
The Indianapolis Journal
Rapid Growth of the National Card Company
As an instance of growth the National Playing-card Company was organized four years ago, and began operations in part of the four-story building on Gatling street, employing in the beginning twenty-two persons. The pay-rolls on Saturday showed 453 people now employed, about 60 per cent of them women, and the production of the works is now 23,000 packs per day. There are thirty-five grades of cards which the company manufactures. The principal difference being in the backs of the cards. The card they manufacture has taken precedence of all other cards manufactured in this or foreign countries.
(NOTE: Increase of 128 employees in 2 months. Almost a 40% increase in employees)
March 15, 1893
Indianapolis Journal
National Card Company Absorbed by the United States Printing Company
The announcement that the National Playing Card Company has sold its plant to the United States Printing Company is not verified by Manager Samuel J. Murray. He says that the Indianapolis stockholders are letting go of their shares because no dividends are being paid, but the stock is being disposed of to a good advantage. It is being purchased by Eastern individuals instead of rival card manufacturers, among whom there is a bitter fight waging at present. Whether or not the plant will be removed from the city has not been fully decided upon. The stockholders declare that the plant will surely be taken away if the street-car facilities are not improved and the streets leading to the company’s plant are not repaired. (The city fails to make these improvements.)
April 26, 1893
The Indianapolis Journal
The National Card Company sells it’s property to the United States Printing Company for $50,000.
(NOTE: Lots were originally purchased for $16,000)
April 29, 1893
National Card Co. stock capital decreases to $5,000.
1894 Indianapolis City Directory
The former National Card Company is now listed as "United States Printing Company National Factory #5"
1893/94 New York City Directory
Last appearance of the National Card company at 226 Canal Street. This was also Robert McCutcheon's business address for his capsule company. He moves his capsule business to Greenwich Village.
Christmas 1894
The American Stationer
Advertisement shows the list of cards being sold for the holidays by the new United States Playing Card Company. Most of the National cards are listed. Steamboats and Owls are not.
April 16, 1895
Indianapolis News
The Owners Here
J. E. Hinds, S. A. Cohen and R. H. McCutcheon, principal owners of the United States Playing Card Company, with headquarters in this city and Cincinnati, and the United States Printing Company, of Cincinnati, arrived in the city from New York to-day. They have under discussion the question as to whether the plant in this city shall be removed to Cincinnati or whether the United States Printing Company will be moved here. (USPC had tried to purchase land on the eastside of Indianapolis to move the entire operation there. But, the land owner wanted three times the value when they found out who wanted to buy it. Once again the city failed to make infrastructure improvements for the factory neighborhood.)
April 22, 1895
Indianapolis News
The factory has resumed operations with 100 employees.
(Was the factory closed since Christmas? This is about a quarter of the employees they had in late 1892)
1896 Indianapolis City Directory
The company is now listed as The United States Playing Card Company.
1899
250 employees now work at the factory.
In July no decision had been finalized for a new plant. The next month USPC decides on Norwood, Ohio.
January 1900
The papers report that the National Card factory makes 12 to 15 million decks a year.
February 9, 1900
Indianapolis Journal
Buildings Sold
The buildings and grounds occupied by the National Card Company were sold yesterday for a consideration of $37,500. The purchaser is a manufacturer (The Bemis Bag Company of Tennessee. See picture below) of another city and will employ about 200 people. The National Card Company will move to Cincinnati about April 1.
February 20, 1904
The United States Playing Card Company registers the name "The National Card Co."
The United States Playing Card Company registers the name "The National Card Co."
November 1989
The empty Bemis Bag building was destroyed by a fire started on purpose by 4 young teenagers that were skipping school during their lunch period. The location is now covered by the Pleasant Springs Apartments.
The empty Bemis Bag building was destroyed by a fire started on purpose by 4 young teenagers that were skipping school during their lunch period. The location is now covered by the Pleasant Springs Apartments.