Rialto N.Y. (American, 1936-1960s)
Rialto N.Y. was a famous New York brand of lucite and bakelite handbags in the middle of 20th century.
At the beginning the company was named Rialto Button & Wood Products Co. Its factory was located at 147 Baxter Street, New York City. They made wood frames, zipper pulls, locks and "ornaments of all styles" for knitting, shopping and bathing bags. Rialto first appeared in an advertisement for these products in the July 1936 issue of "Luggage & Leather Goods". By 1942, the company had changed its name, address, and product range. Now known as Rialto N.Y., it produced primarily women's handbags from Lucite and Bakelite, and the factory moved to 583 Broadway, New York. By 1950, the company also opened a Rialto Products showroom, located at 347 Fifth Ave., Room 1200, NYC. In January 1954, the company participated in the Handbags & Accessories Show at the Hotel McAlpin, New York City. "Handbags & Accessories" magazine noted a lot of new ideas that were incorporated into the spring collection of Rialto Products, see-through effects that were achieved by combining carved Incite box shapes with trimming of shell, gray or pearl, and a jeweled effect in over-all plastic material. "Pearl gray continues strongly for spring in many styles." In March 1955, the same magazine highlighted the company's new acetate shell plastic and button latch trim. Buttons like this are proprietary to Rialto bags and can be used to attribute unmarked examples. The company presented its spring 1956 collection on January 3, 1956, as a member of the National Authority for the Ladies Handbag Industry. The last mention of the Rialto N.Y. brand in advertising was in September 1962 in the New York Times. From 1954 to 2005, the price of this brand's handbags increased by 623%.
At the beginning the company was named Rialto Button & Wood Products Co. Its factory was located at 147 Baxter Street, New York City. They made wood frames, zipper pulls, locks and "ornaments of all styles" for knitting, shopping and bathing bags. Rialto first appeared in an advertisement for these products in the July 1936 issue of "Luggage & Leather Goods". By 1942, the company had changed its name, address, and product range. Now known as Rialto N.Y., it produced primarily women's handbags from Lucite and Bakelite, and the factory moved to 583 Broadway, New York. By 1950, the company also opened a Rialto Products showroom, located at 347 Fifth Ave., Room 1200, NYC. In January 1954, the company participated in the Handbags & Accessories Show at the Hotel McAlpin, New York City. "Handbags & Accessories" magazine noted a lot of new ideas that were incorporated into the spring collection of Rialto Products, see-through effects that were achieved by combining carved Incite box shapes with trimming of shell, gray or pearl, and a jeweled effect in over-all plastic material. "Pearl gray continues strongly for spring in many styles." In March 1955, the same magazine highlighted the company's new acetate shell plastic and button latch trim. Buttons like this are proprietary to Rialto bags and can be used to attribute unmarked examples. The company presented its spring 1956 collection on January 3, 1956, as a member of the National Authority for the Ladies Handbag Industry. The last mention of the Rialto N.Y. brand in advertising was in September 1962 in the New York Times. From 1954 to 2005, the price of this brand's handbags increased by 623%.