Tight Lines Tuesday Ace Hardware by Shakespeare

by John Etchieson
Here is a rare 80 year old ACE STORES “QUALITY” brand Japan silk casting line from 1937 that was manufactured by the Shakespeare Tackle Company. In 1924, to increase buying power and profits, entrepreneurs Richard Hesse, E. Gunnard Lindquist, Frank Burke and Oscar Fisher united their Chicago, Illinois hardware stores into “Ace Stores”. The company was named after the ace fighter pilots of
World War I, who were able to overcome all odds, and the company’s logo of an airplane was selected to honor them. Ace Stores was incorporated in 1928, and the company opened its first warehouse a year later. In 1931, the name was changed to Ace Hardware Corporation. ACE STORES used the logo on this label from 1931 – 1950, but Shakespeare’s Japan silk lines were discontinued in 1941 after Japan attacked the USA at Pearl Harbor. So. this particular line was made for the 5 year period from 1937 through 1941
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