In 1873, a young 23-year-old man named Edward Jewett Brooks moved from Boston to New York to find his fortune. His story has the classic beginning of a young entrepreneur chasing the American dream and, in his case, he found it. It all began like most amazing success stories with taking a risk. That year he obtained a small lead-toy manufacturer on Pearl Street and renamed it E.J Brooks and Company. Before long, he moved to 346 Broadway and began the development of a new product line.