Western Lithograph Company (1899 - 1953)

Western Lithograph Company (1899 - 1953) was a long-lived lithographic printing firm active in Los Angeles and later San Francisco, from roughly the turn of the century. The firm was founded in 1899 by Anton Ernest Stoetzer (1860 - 1909). By 1900, they were one of two lithographic firms operating in Los Angeles, their primary competitor being the Los Angeles Lithographic Company. A management stir occurred in 1906, when the firm was purchased by partners William Gilbert and William Alvord Jones (1863 - 1924), who renamed it the 'Gilbert-Jones-Rugg Company' - exactly who 'Rugg' is remains unknown. An announcement that 'Gilbert-Jones-Rugg' was taking over the business of Western Lithograph Company appeared in the August 1906 issue of American Stationer. Imprints under this name appear in 1907. In 1908, Jones sold his interest to Milton L . Davidson - apparently in exchange for a Montana ranch. Stoetzer died in 1909. By 1910, Davidson returned the company to the original 'Western Lithograph' imprint. An advertisement appears in the September 10, 1910 issue of Los Angeles Financier promoting 'Western Lithograph' as the successor to 'Gilbert-Jones-Rugg.' From their first days, their primary business was to design and print colorful crate labels for California citrus growers. They also bid on general advertising, job printing, posters, and government stamp printing contracts. Western was bought out by Brown-Bigelow in 1953.