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Posted By: scott brockelman

The American Caramel Company was created in March 28, 1889 when the Breisch-Hine Co. of Philadelphia and the P. C. Wiest Co. of York, Pa. merged together. After acquiring the Lancaster Caramel Company in 1900, the American Caramel Company became famous by including baseball and other cards in with their candies. With the addition of Lancaster Caramel Company, the American Caramel Company grew to control 90% of the caramel in the country. Later Breisch-Williams became Williams Caramel and even later York Caramel.

The Breisch of Breisch-Williams was George Breisch.
He is listed as a Confectioner as early as 1890 in Philadelphia, his father Frederick Breisch, from Germany, was also a Confectioner in Philadelphia in the 1890's. His brother Frederick Breisch was also involved in Candy making in Philadelphia in 1890 and may also have been a partner or employee of the company. In 1900 his brother Frederick, Jr. was a candy maker in Philadelphia, by 1910 Frederick was no longer with the company he is in Iowa working for a milk company in the candy department.
The Hine was Walter S. Hine.

The Williams of the company, MAY have been Gottlieb Williams, OR Henry Williams who also appears as a confectioner in Philadelphia in 1890 OR Josiah B. Williams OR Thomas Williams, All of which are confectioners in Philadelphia in 1890.