Judge — March 12, 1887 — page 11: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

SOHMER. AN INTERESTING CORD OF THE PROMINENT POSITION AND SUCCESS OF AN EMINENT FIRM — THEIR GREAT PROGRESS — THEIR NEW AND MAGNIFICENT FACTORY ON LONG ISLAND. _ The United States is certainly the greatest country in the world for being able not only to furnish so many instances of commercial enterprise, but also of inventive ability. It has given the old world many of the most im- portant inventions of the present day, and can also with pride point to the fact that the Piano was improved and perfected in the United States. The pianoforte industry here hasal ways been considered to be the most prosperous and flour- ishing of our trades, and although there are been established for more a quarter of a century, yet they have all been out-distanced in recent years by the re- markable record of SOHMER & CO. This young and rising house has only been in business since the year 1872, and yet, if ac- taken of what has been accomplished itcan readily be seen that they possess a vitality and business spirit which has assured to them the proud position of being one of the most eminent and successful firms of piano- forte manufacturers in the United States. first started in business they only pied a small factory and were not in a po- sition to enter into any strong competition, but their determination, integrity and marvelous ability soon enabled them from time time to increase their factories and add to their business, The original start of the house dates from their now large factory and warercoms on Fourteenth street, which then, of course, was only a plain and modest building. The num ber of instruments manufactured was from three to four a week. lready the first signs of the future ity of the firm began to show them- and they were compelled to lease the opposite buildings, Nos. 150 to 154 East Four- teenth street. These increased facilities enabled the firm to cture fifteen pianos a week. count by them busines ater, the demand forthe ‘‘Sohmer” p alre suming large proportions, and the tirm had to add-to their factories the buildings in Twenty-third street. Their total manufacturing capacity then being from thirty to thirty-Ave instruments a week. ‘The business since that period has increased ch an extent that, after careful and mature ation, they decided to erect a large fac- ‘vy, and for that purpose they purchased a number of lots in the best and healthiest part of Long Island City last year (1886), and made curatracts to have a fine factory erected. . THE SOHMER FACTORY is situated on a pleasant spot on Long Island, and can be seen from the Sound steamers and other vessels going up or down the East river. It occupies eight large lots, and is only a few minutes’ walk from the Ninety-second street Ferry. Viewed from the New York side of the river the factory presents an imposing and handsome appearance, and has already attract- ed the attention of many leading manufactur- er in various lines of bnsiness to the eligibility of this part of Long Island asa place which atfords every convenience for the erection of 1 manufacturing establishments. w Messrs. Sohmer & Co. have absolutely spared no expense in any detail of the new building, and after a most careful examination it can, without doubt, be emphatically pronounced one of the MOST MAGNIFICENT AND PERFECT PIANOFORTE FACTORIES IN THIS COUNTRY. The building is six stories in height, and from the basement to the tower it is exactly 150 feet high. There are a number of entrances to the fac” tory, one to the offices, another to the large lumber yards, and others to the dryhouses and for the reception of material, ete. Built in the form of an angle, by passing through the en- trance on the street to the yard, there are the boiler and engine houses and dryhouses. The boiler-house is a spacious building, con- taining three boilers of 100 horse-power tach. They were made specially for the firm at the ell-known establishment of Hewes & Phil- lips, Newark. The roof of the boiler-house has all been cov- ered with corrugated iron. This building alone contains over 55,000 bricks, so this’ will give some idea of the substantial manner in which it is bi Adjoining the boiler-house is the engine- room, where one of .the latest improved noise- less Corliss engines is at work. Everythii is in excellent order, and so perfec chinery that the movements of the engine can scarcely be heard. The floor here, generally called the basement, is very light and solid, having a foundation of four feet of concrete beneath it. Here is the machinery department, where are the latest pat- ented and most valuable labor-saving machines for cutting and planing the lumber for cases and keys, also doing the scroll sawing for desks, fancy panels and frames. It is very interesting to see the many compli- cated machines at work, each doing its special work of sawing, cutting, planing, frazing and boring the many different pieces with speed and accuracy. The dryhouses are situate in the yard, adja- cent to the floor, and contain large steam pipe, so that the lumber will have full opportunity to be put in proper condition before being used. The second floor is used for offices, which are all'fitted up in a businesslike and tasty manner. In.the plans of the building there has been special attention paid to the light, and each floor has been bnilt in such a manner that there are windows ou each side, and also every facility for the workmen to have all aid to help them to turn out first-class work. On the second floor, besides the offices, there are the key-making departments. On the third floor, which is reached by ascending iarge and broad stairways, which extend throughout the entire establishment, are ihe finishing, fly fin- ishing and tuning departments. On the fourth floor the bellymen are bus; at work, and there are extra braces of iron all over the floor, the ceiling being also double boarded, in order to give the men special facility for their work. The fifth floor is the case making department, containing special heating rooms for the dry- ing of the veneers. On the sixth floor is the varnish department, where, as in every department of this complete factory, the most experienced workmen are employed. Stairways from this floor lead to the large tower on the top of the building, from which can be seen a most beautiful view of the sur- rounding country. It would be utterly impossible in one article to mention all the many great improvements which Messrs. Sohmer & Co. have introduced into their new factory, but no expense has nin any way spared to make it one of the best equipped and most complete pianofore fac- tories in the United States. The carpenters, work is one of the features of the building, which has been done like evervthing else—in a first class manner, There are large elevators on the outside of the building, which go to every floor, also electric bells and speaking tubes are placed all over the establishment. The plumbing has all been done on the strictest sanitary principles. There are also three-inch pipes, with outlet_and valves, o1 every floor, so that, in case of fire, the factory can be flooded at a moment's notice. There are two large cisterns in the building, and the pumps will givea supply of 100 gallons a minute. Messrs. Sohmer & Co. have invested a large sum of money in the erection of their new fac- tory, and have allowed the builders to put it up in such a manner that it is, without doubt, with its wide floors, light, solidity and appear- ance, the most desirable factory in the country for the manufacture of pianos. ‘The fifteen years’ work of the progressive house of Sohmer & Co. is evidence of the fact that the manner in which they have steadily been striving to attain a leading position has gained for them the confidence, good will and support of the public, press and: the entire musical world. In their earnest efforts ta manufacture a strictly first-class instrument, and by that they meant a piano which would, upon its intrinsic merits, gain the ap- probation of the musical world, they did not seek to adopt any.of the so-called patents used by some of their competitors, which are after all only a means of attracting notice, but they used such patented improvements as, after. practical tests, had really been found to be an ; advantage to the instrument. The members of the firm, personally, have always been esteemed and respected for their strict integrity and honorable record, and they: have always used their large capital in their business, and have never at any time sought to invest in any speculations or in schemes or qinterests which were in any way not directly connected with th business. ‘They take art in controversies with other houses, and ‘rom the very commencement of their business. career they have never sought to make sales by unfair disparagement of their competitors, or by a reckless sacrifice of price in their instru- ments, New York city is the center of commerce in this country, and as Messrs. Sohmer & Co. are doing a large retail trade in the city, making a number of sales each day to: otir leading citi- zens and musicians, it can be seen that their statements regarding the worth of their instru- ments are accepted in perfect gocd faith. Their handsome warerooms on Fourteenth street near Third avenue are the headquarters of the most prominent musicians of this city, and any visitor to the warerooms can be sure to receive the most courteous treatment, Whether in their manufacturing or business departments, the house of Sohmer & Co, can be perfectly relied on, and the public and trade | have the greatest confidence in them, ‘Their great liberality and enterprise has made the ** Sohmer” piano a household word in this country, and already from European gities there is a growing demand for their instru- ments. The members of the firm, also being practi- cal pianoforte makers, are able to constantly watch and superintend each department of their extensive business. . In the last few years they have been awarded numerous honors at the leading Expositions. It is not necessary to mention the names of those who are foremost in the musical art} and who have thoroughly indorsed the“ Sohtaer” piano, as the firm have always relied on the merits of the instruments as being sufficient in themselves to increase their business, and have spent a large fortune in making their instru- ments known. The house of ‘‘Sohmer & Co.” have now obtained an eminent position in the pianoforte trade, and as their reputation is built upon the solid basis of strict business principles, yet, combined with liberality and enterprise, they will always find themselves in the front ranks of progress,