Barnard Stamp

The new partnership was economical since the businesses were located on the first and second floors of the same building at 310 Olive, 3 blocks from where the famous St. Louis Gateway Arch now keeps watch over that same Mississippi. he merging of the two firms was a natural combination since the two businesses had the majority of their sales from t... he manufacture of stencils, and the employees, who knew each other, were familiar with each other's products from a history of swapping labor during slow and busy periods. t the time of the merger, Abraham Lincoln was president and the nation was on the brink of Civil War. After the death of Mr. Thomas, Mr. Barnard offered Samuel Arnold an interest in the firm to carry on the business. hortly after, 14-year-old John Henry Venker came on board in 1874 as an errand boy, a position that would remain key to the firm's delivery service for over a hundred more years. ohn Henry worked his way through the various marking devices that the firm specialized in: stencil cutter, steel stamp maker, and seal die puncher. By 1883, the innovations John Henry had brought into the business were noticed and rewarded with a partial interest in the company, thus starting the First Generation of Venkers to become involved in the ownership and operation ofthe business. en years later the firm was incorporated under its current name: Barnard Stamp Company. Eventually William Barnard's son sold his shares to Samuel Arnold and John Henry Venker, and at this time the company adopted the trademark "ARVEN" for products they manufactured with a patented press they sold. he trademark "ARVEN" was derived from the first letters of Arnold and Venker and is still in use today. John Henry became the sole owner after buying out Mr. Arnold's heirs. John Henry's five sons - Harry, Gerard, Bernard, Vincent and William - entered the business between 1895 and 1927 after doing part-time stints at the firm and after working in other fields.Six-day, Monday-Saturday, work weeks were the norm at the time. uring ...Read More