Tucker Coffee Company
Tucker Coffee Company
San Antonio, Texas coffee firm at 422–424 Ruiz Street in the 1920s, producing Aviation brand coffee. Founded after W. E. Hayman sold his Hoffmann-Hayman interest to the Mengers in January 1920, so Tucker is a separate, related San Antonio coffee line — not a predecessor of H&H.
Capital stock: $25,000, from H. W. Tucker, H. H. Tucker, and W. E. Hayman.
Officers named in site material: A. B. Walker, C. A. Luafenburg, T. W. Willard, A. Walker, and B. B. Dinius.
A surviving Aviation-brand can lid is documented in the collection (2017-09-18 post).
828 North San Marcos Street — second (or later) plant address. The January 1932 fire report identifies Tucker’s roasting plant at 828 North San Marcos Street — distinct from the 422–424 Ruiz Street address in the 1920s charter-era material. Whether this represents a move or a second location is undocumented.
Two roasting-room fires (1931–1932). The News of 7 January 1932 (p. 24) reports a second Tucker roasting-room fire within six months:
- First fire: July 1, 1931 — $10,000–$12,000 damage to the roasting plant.
- Second fire: January 7, 1932 — ~$1,200 damage; 25 sacks (625 lbs) of coffee destroyed; approximately $8,000 worth saved. Manager A. A. Walker (828 N. San Marcos) quoted. Cause unknown for both.
The January 1932 fire confirms Tucker Coffee was still operating through at least early 1932 — five years after the 1923 charter, extending the active period well beyond the mid-1920s. Source: 1932-01-07-the-news-tucker-coffee-plant-fire.
March 1932 — “Days Fresher” cooperative campaign. Tucker Coffee participated in a five-firm San Antonio roasters’ cooperative advertising drive, alongside Hoffmann-Hayman, San Antonio Coffee Co. (All Gold), Rheinhard/Ehrmann Coffee and Tea (Red Bird), and Thoms Vann (Manhattan). Brands pitched as “Days Fresher”: Aviation, H and H, All Gold, Red Bird, Manhattan. Sources: 1932-03-25-san-antonio-light-fresh-coffee-cooperative-ad, 1932-03-25-san-antonio-light-sa-coffee-men-unite-in-drive.
February 1924 — active at sample events. The San Antonio Express-News of 9 February 1924 (p. 5) lists Tucker Coffee Company / Aviation Coffee in a co-op “Free samples by these firms” directory alongside Hoffmann-Hayman, San Antonio Coffee Co. (All Gold), Reinhardt Coffee Co. (Red Swan), and other local food producers. This confirms Tucker was publicly operating and marketing under the Aviation brand by early 1924 — bracketing its active period between the December 1923 charter and at least February 1924. Source: 1924-02-09-san-antonio-express-news-free-samples-by-these-firms.
Brand portfolio
The San Antonio Evening News “San Antonio Manufacturers and Jobbers” directory of 17 November 1922 (p. not recorded) lists Tucker Coffee Company with three brands:
Tucker Coffee Company, Inc. — Aviation, Travis Club, La Mexicana Coffee, Tea and Spices.
Aviation was already documented (surviving can lid, letterhead). Travis Club and La Mexicana are first documented here. Source: 1922-11-17-san-antonio-evening-news-fri-nov-17-1922.
By February 1924, only “Aviation Coffee” is listed in the “Free samples” co-op directory — Travis Club and La Mexicana may have been discontinued or merged into the Aviation line by that date.
Open questions
- Tucker Coffee’s founding year (1920 or 1921 per Spice Mill incorporation notice; the December 1923 Light charter clip may be a re-charter or expansion)
- Hayman’s exact role — investor only, or operating principal?
- End-of-business date — Tucker drops out of the documentary record after the mid-1920s
- The two “A. Walker” entries in the officer list may be a duplicate of “A. B. Walker,” or a separate person