Vaporisateurs Robert Bloch & Erelbe

Mayer Jules Robert Bloch of 89, rue de Rome, Paris, France doing business as Vaporisateurs Robert Bloch, specialized in perfume atomizers fitted with multiple nozzles and was primarily known for his three and four chambered pump style atomizers as shown in the 1923 letterhead below known as the Vaporisateur des Fees. Also located at 19, rue Richer, Paris.




  seen in this 1920 letterhead. Notice the ad states "Vaporisateurs des Fees" - Sprays of the Fairies.

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 Dry Goods Economist, Volume 66, Issue 3, 1912:
"Quadruple Perfume Atomizer. Paris is just now greatly interested in quadruple perfume spray that was originated, and is being marketed by Sarah Felix, a producer of general toilet lines. This new spray or atomizer -one of was purchased in Paris by the DRY ECONOMIST, and is shown in two positions on this page - is of the pump type, and consists of a large bottle, having enclosed four separate or mated bottles in about an ounce for holding that number of different odors. The four bottles have individual spray pipes leading to outlets or small capped nozzles of the larger bottle.


The spray pipes have small cocks on the interior, making it possible for the user to spray any single odor, several odors, or all four may be sprayed instantaneously, thus forming a mélange of the odors by opening all the cocks at once. In addition to the cut offs concealed within the bottle, each vent is equipped with a screw cap, thus making accidental leakage an impossibility. The spraying is done by means of a spring pump forcing the air through the single or several open vents, when the perfume comes out through the row of keys resembling small knobs, seen at the front of the bottle in the illustration. 
The upper section of the atomizer is of nickel plated metal, in which is located the pump. The outer base is of etched glass and is 2 1/4 inches in diameter. The small vent caps are attached by chains to prevent their being lost and the whole object measures 6 inches in height. In a limited way, this new style of atomizer has been offered to the American trade in the nickel and in the gold plated styles, either of which has a retail value of about $7.50."

During the 19th century, the parisian perfumery of Sarah Felix was famous especially for her cosmetic "L'Eau des Fées" ("Water of the Fairies"), a beard and hair dye.  This name was trademarked in 1887 by J. Bloch of Paris trading as Sarah Felix of 43 rue Richu, Paris. Sarah Felix, sister of the famous actress Rachel, exercised several jobs before becoming perfumer. At first, she too was an actress, then she tried oyster culture in Normandy, most likely for the pearls. Abandoning these activities, Sarah Felix became a true businesswoman in Paris. She dedicated herself to perfumery, in particular to her infamous "L'Eau des Fées", from 1866. To help launch this product, she was associated with an engineer, a pharmacist, and a physician. She also benefited from the protection of the imperial family. A lawsuit between the associates and the 1870 war hindered the company's early days, but "L'Eau des Fées" persevered and became the company's best selling product. The "Parfumerie des Fées" completed the range of its cosmetics with creams, powders, etc.

The four chambered atomizer was invented and patented under the Sarah Felix name in 1912. It was called the "Vaporisateur des Fees". The Sarah Félix company was still owned by Bloch and by 1920 was known as Robert Bloch of Paris, who specialized in these atomizers with multiple "jets".










Erelbe

Érelbé, this was a subsidiary of Robert Bloch which produced and retailed atomizers. The Erelbe examples usually had a mark of RLB in a monogram, shown below:


The RLB mark was sometimes accompanied by "Made in France" and their perfume burners are marked "Catalyseur" (these lamps were direct competitors to Lampe Berger). They supplied hardware to Saint Louis, Baccarat, Limoges and various Czech factories.

Erelbe, as part of Robert Bloch, was situated at 19, rue Richer, Paris, France (c1935-1958).


The Erelbe brand produced:
  • Vaporisateurs de Luxe
  • Vaporisateurs pour Brillantine
  • Garnitures de Toilette
  • Montages pour Parfumeurs
  • Catalyseur Erelbe purifie l'air 




I have seen some bottles with the RLB monogram that sellers mistakenly claim are Rene Lalique, because of the RL in the monogram. Please note that this absolutely does not stand for Rene Lalique. If you happen to find such a bottle attributed to Lalique with the mark of RLB, please do not buy it on premise of a Lalique bottle as it is misappropriated.












Érelbé also produced perfume lamps of fine Limoges porcelain, sometimes you will find a mark such as “Serpaut Érelbé Limoges France”. This is the mark for Charles Serpaut. Serpaut worked for Bernardaud, and left in the early 1920's to form his own company. His company made the Art Deco perfume lamps as well as small porcelain perfume bottles, was in business in Limoges between the early 1920s til about 1930. You should find the little perfume bottles marked "Erelbe" and with the Serpaut backstamp on the porcelain.


Societe Erelbe was still doing business in the 1950s as evidenced by a patent filed in France for a spray apparatus and was still listed as a company in 1965 as "Etablissements Erelbe S.A. (manufacturer, dealer), 19 Rue Richer, Paris 9e" in the International Commerce, Volume 71.

Bulletin officiel des annonces commerciales, 1970:
"Liquidation of property: SOCIETE ERELBE, S. A. capital of 75,000 F, the purpose of which is the manufacture and sale of vaporizers, whose registered office is in Paris, 19 rue Richter. Trustee: Mr. Baumgartner, residing at 4 rue de la Coutellerie, in Paris No. 70 L. 495 of the registry, Posthouses, no. 70, of April 18, 1970."

Bulletin officiel des annonces civiles et commerciales, 1972:

"Ex Officio, by virtue of the Decree of May 20, 1955, of S. A. ETABLISSEMENTS ERELBE. Acquisition and operation of a factory of vaporizers and accessories. Registered office: 19, rue Richer, in Paris."




The New Yorker, 1946:
"The long absence of atomizers is apparently ended, though ; Bonwit, for instance, has French ones by Erelbe for from $5.95 to $25. "

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