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75 YEARS OR MORE
(Continued from Page 44)
J. A. GOULD
President, Pratt, Read & Co.
Comstock, Cheney & Co. which loaned
its facilities to Pratt, Read until a new
building could be built and equipped.
The new factory was of modern con-
struction, equipped with sprinkler
system, fire doors and windows and
outside fireproof stairways were add-
ed, and in 1938 both plants were con-
centrated in Ivoryton. It was during
The company specializes in piano ac-
tions and piano keys, and also main-
tains a key repair department for the
convenience of tuner-technicians.
Besides manufacturing actions and
keys, the company manufactures heli-
copter blades. It was during the war
that the first glider to be flown over
the Atlantic to England started its
flight from the Pratt, Read & Co. plant
in Ivoryton, Conn.
The officers of the company at the
present time are James A. Gould. Pres-
ident and Treasurer; George Cheney
Seeley, Vice-President and Secretary;
Consultant; Har-
old B. Jopson.
Vice President and
Consulting Engi-
neer ; E. K e 1 s o
Davis, Sales and
Advertising Mana-
ger; Donald S.
Ross, Comptroller;
Donald K. Good.
Procurement
Man-
F. KELSO DAVIS
Sales Mgr.
ager a n d Stan
Renahan. Assistant to the Sales Man-
ager.
CHARLES J. PFRIEMER
President, Charles Pfriemer, Inc.
ing piano hammers and is reputed to
have been the first to have used iron
hammer covering machines. He created
a pear-shaped hammer which became
exceedingly popular.
Passing away in 1908, the business
from that time was conducted by two
sons, Charles J. Pfriemer and the late
William Pfriemer. At the present time.
CHAS. PFRIEMER, INC.
1870
84 years
/™\NE of the foremost supply houses
^•^ which has been operated continu-
ously by the same family for over
C. J. Pfriemer, Jr.
PETER H. COMSTOCK
Vice Pres., Pratt, Read & Co.
World War II that both of these plants
were engaged in the production of
gliders for the armed forces. In 1946.
the Deep River factories were sold.
Since the war, the company has stead-
ily expanded its manufacturing fa-
cilities which have been thoroughly
modernized. 48,000 square feet of a
modern one-story factory have been
completed and an additional 100,000
square feet of construction is planned
for the next three years. By that time,
all of Pratt, Read's operations should
be housed in a modern one-story plant
of approximately 150,000 square feet.
This will replace entirely the old group
of multi-story buildings, some of which
date back to practically one hundred
years.
46
CHARLES PFRIEMER
Founder, Chas. Pfriemer, Inc.
75 years is Chas. Pfriemer, Inc., New
York, makers of the Pfriemer double-
reenforced piano hammer, with a ham-
mer factory at 142nd St. and Wales
Ave., New York and a plant in Easton,
Pennsylvania where the company manu-
factures its own hammer felt.
The company was founded by
Charles Pfriemer who came to America
in 1866. He immediately became em-
ployed in the factory of Steinway &
Sons and that of Alfred Weber, a cab-
ine maker. In 1870. however, he went
into business for himself manufactur-
Henry Pfriemer
the personnel of the company includes
Chas. J. Pfriemer and his two sons,
Chas. J. Pfriemer, Jr. who operates the
felt plant in Easton, Pa., and Henry
Pfriemer who oversees the manufactur-
ing of hammers at the New York
plant.
It was in 1937 that the company
opened its own felt mill in Easton, Pa.
Previous to his taking over the man-
agement of that plant, Chas. J. Pfriem-
er, Jr. had learned the art of piano
hammer making in the plant in New
York and also learned how to make
felt with the result that he has success-
fully managed this felt mill for many
years. The company is the originator
of the double reinforced hammer with
which it has had remarkable success.
A unique department which is still
maintained by this company is one for
the manufacturing of piano hammers
for square pianos. This is part of the
service Chas. Pfriemer, Inc. renders for
tuners and technicians and rebuilders
of old pianos.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, MARCH, 1954