wpe1.jpg (11127 bytes) George U. Roulet

Founder of The Roulet Company.

 

The Roulet Company's tradition of excellence began 121 years ago, thanks to George U. Roulet.  George was not only a skilled  jeweler, but an honorable and civic minded man.  He was born the son of a Swiss Watchmaker in Hoboken, New Jersey on May 12, 1857.  George and the family would put down roots in Toledo for good in 1866.  George left school at fourteen, and took a job as  a jewelers apprentice at S. K. McKinstry.  (Somewhat reminiscent of our Young Ben Koerper now, Eric Flynn 3 years ago, Doug Bosworth 30 years ago, and Roger Bovee 31 years ago!)  In 1877 he established The Roulet Company, manufacturing jewelers, and it was considered one of the top jewelry companies in the country.  One of the reasons The Roulet Company was so highly regarded was its exceedingly high quality fraternal and emblematic jewelry. 

Roulet Company Time Line

1857 On May 12, George U. Roulet was born the son of a Swiss watchmaker in Hoboken, NJ.
1866 George and his family moved to Toledo, Ohio.
1871

George left school at the age of 14 and became working as a jewelers apprentice at S.K. McKinstry

1877

George U. Roulet established The Roulet Company

1900

The Roulet Company acquires a new screw press to produce high-quality stampings and medallions.

c1910

George passes on, leaving The Roulet Company in good hands with his two surviving sons, Lloyd and Norman

c1910 Norman served as secretary-treasurer of The Roulet Company for many years. Like most of the men in his family, Norman was active in many of the organizations for which his namesake company was making jewelry.
1912

Norman served as a soldier in the US army in WWI

c1930 Norman became a very active leader of the American Legion Post in Toledo.
c1939 Lloyd creates a medal of honor for Amelia Earhart, America's best loved female aviatrix. This very medal was presented to Earhart before her fatal flight.
1941 Norman dies at the age of 45, passing the presidency of The Roulet Company on to his brother Lloyd.
c1950 Lloyd becomes a Toledo City Councilman for the next 18 years. He then was elected mayor, an office he held for 7 years. Lloyd served as Toledo's Vice Mayor for 3 years.
1968

Lloyd creates a Masonic pin that was worn by Walter "Wally" Schirra on the first manned Apollo space mission.

1985

Lloyd passes on, bringing an end a Roulet direct descendant actually making jewelry. Although many members of the family are still taking an interest in upholding the long tradition of excellence at The Roulet Company. Lloyd's daughters, Ruth, Elisabeth and Alice and their husbands, Alfred Wolfgang, Maurice Edgington and Leonard Delk have each played a role in continuing The Roulet Company's tradition of making the best jewelry at the lowest possible prices.

1996 Gary Wahl, son of longtime employee Lillian Wahl-Roulet and Lloyd, becomes the main shareholder.
1997 The Roulet Company installs computerized equipment to streamline it's order processing, record keeping and accounting. This monumental feat is spearheaded by Gary Wahl.
1998 The Company moves to 413 Madison Avenue in downtown Toledo.
2000 Although the faces around The Roulet Company have changed a bit over the past 123 years, our desire for making the finest jewelry available for the lowest prices possible hasn't. And while our manufacturing shop and showroom has relocated, many things haven't changed, like our commitment to quality products at a terrific price!  And, yes, we're still using that same screw press that George first bought way back in 1900!