W. H. Horstmann & Sons

W.H. Horstmann & Sons of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was an American manufacturer and retailer operating from  1815 to 1940.  The business was founded by a German immigrant, William H. Horstmann, in 1815.  They sold silk trimmings, military goods and civilian accessories.  They are famous for supplying the U.S. military with accouterments and swords.  They imported fine German sword blades and assembled them with their own ornate American-made hilts and fittings.  They held large contracts for the U.S. War and Navy Departments, supplying officers and enlisted personnel.  They played a significant role during the U.S. Civil war and beyond.