January IS, 1920.
15
PRESTO
BALDWIN CO. KEEPS PACE WITH DEMANDS
New Factory for Pianos, Grands and Manualos of Cincinnati Industry in Plans to Develop
Highest Productive Efficiency
DESIGN FOR NEW BALDWIN FACTORY.
The Baldwin Company, Cincinnati, has plans for
the future which are significant and command the
notice of the entire piano industry. During last
year the company has used every available effort to
meet the demands of dealers for pianos and players.,
Floor space was increased and new facilities pro-
vided for every department of the factory. Factory
additions were built and a new factory building ac-
quired which added to the output. But every effort
seemed futile to provide facilities equal to the con-
tinuous increase of dealers' demands for Baldwin
pianos and playerpianos. The calls for the Baldwin
grands were particularly numerous and the dealers'
requirements urgent. That something very big and
ambitious should be done by the company to make
the output keep pace with the demands of the trade
has been plain for some time.
About four months ago the firm of Lockwood,
Greene & Co., engineers, was commissioned to make
a survey of the various properties of the company
and their final decision and recommendation was
that instead of amplifying- its outside property, that
the Gilbert Avenue site in Cincinnati first should
be developed to its highest extent and efficiency.
Officers of the corporation have awarded the gen-
eral contract for the building which is to cost ap-
proximately $1,000,000, including equipment to the
Ferro Concrete Construction Company of Cincinnati.
Great New Plant to Arise.
For many years the Baldwin piano factory on
Gilbert Ave., opposite Eden Park entrance, Cincin-
nati, was one of the architectural and industrial
wonders of the Queen City of the West. There
was nothing quite so up-to-date and well appointed
anywhere in the piano industry. Large as it is, it
covers but a part of the very valuable ground upon
which it stands. That was the deciding factor.
This beautiful factory comes down, and in its stead
a new edifice will arise, covering all available space,
and meeting all of today's ideals of architectural
beauty and most efficient manufacturing facilities.
The contemplated structure is, of course, first of
all, a modern factory, so arranged and equipped as
to facilitate all processes entering into the making
of pianos, to eliminate all lost motion in the han-
dling of all materials and products in process of
construction. These great engineering problems
have been solved to a nicety, and at the same time
the welfare of the workers, their health and conven-
ience has been well taken care of.
The exterior design is an adaptation of the early
Italian renaissance period, applied to suit modern
conditions of lighting, etc., and to conform some-
what with the present buildings, and to preserve
the harmonious beauty of the entire group of fac-
tories. The buildings will be faced entirely with
brick, stone and terra cotta trimmings.- From the
upper cornice the roof will slope back about twelve
to fifteen feet and will be covered with red tile, in
keeping with the design of the present roofs. The
roof proper will be arranged and designed with a
roof garden for recreation purposes.
Seven Stories High.
The building will be 370 feet long by 84 feet wide,
seven stories and basement high. In the center on
the Gilbert Ave. side, will be a tower 40 feet square,
and extending 175 feet above the sidewalk. This
tower will contain the elevators and stairs, and the
upper part above the roof will house the elevator
machinery, tanks for water supply and tanks for
sprinkler system.
On the Gilbert Ave. side of the tower a large
clock, about 12 to 14 feet in diameter, will be in-
stalled, about 140 feet above the sidewalk. Above
the clock will be balconies, giving an extensive view
over Eden Park and the city.
Gain of Four Acres.
The total floor space covered by the new struc-
ture will be about 235,000 square feet, of which 190,-
000 feet (the equivalent of four acres) given over to
the manufacture of Baldwin pianos—grands, up-
rights and Manualos, will be the net gain available
for expanded manufacturing operations.
Although about 40,000 square feet of present
manufacturing space will be torn down by this im-
provement, yet there will be- absolutely no inter-
ruption to output of the present manufacturing
group, for the method of construction will be such
that sufficient floor space will be finished and oc-
cupied in the new part, before any of the old build-
ings are wrecked.
The plans have been developed by Lockwood,
Greene & Co., architects and engineers, Chicago,
who will also supervise the construction. The
contract has been awarded to The Ferro-Concrete
Construction Co., Cincinnati, amounting to approx-
imately $1,000,000.
"This is the home of the Baldwin Company," said
Captain Lucien Wulsin, "and after going into every
phase of the subject the company came to the con-
clusion that Cincinnati was best suited for its pur-
poses. It engaged the services of experts and their
reports bore out the feelings of the officers. Senti-
ment also entered into the situation and we feel
proud of having taken the decisive step, letting the
building contract." Captain Wulsin said nothing
would be done on the tract of land recently acquired
by the Baldwin Company at Blue Ash, O., a little
just outside of Cincinnati.
WATCHMAN IN STEGER PLANT
PROVES HEROISM IN DEATH
John Warburton Makes Sacrifice of Life to Save
Other Workers in Piano Factory.
John Warburton, 59 years old, watchman in the
Steger & So"ns Manufacturing company's plant aT*
Steger, 111., died this week of burns suffered last
week. He had gone into the varnish room of the
plant with a lighted lantern. A vat full of varnish
knocked the lantern down. The varnish caught fire.
The flames leaped up. Warburton tried to beat
them out, but his clothing caught fire.
Warburton did not hesitate. Unmindful of his
burning clothes he ran down two flights of stairs
and turned in the alarm. Then he fell to the floor,
aflame from head to foot. The fire in the factory
was extinguished before any considerable damage
had been done, but Warburton later died in St.
Francis hospital.
"He was a hero of the highest order," said George
Steger, treasurer of the company. "He knowingly
gave his life in obedience to duty. Unquestionably
he saved the lives of several other night workers
and thousands of dollars' worth of property.
"The Steger company will do whatever money
can do to reward such self-sacrifice. Mr. Warbur-
ton's family will be cared for, and the memory of
the watchman's heroism will be kept alive."
PROGRESS AT Q R S FACTORY.
Albert N. Page, assistant treasurer and secretary
of the Q R S Company, Chicago, returned on
Wednesday morning from a trip to New York. He
says the new eastern factory of the Q R S Com-
pany in the Bronx, New York, is approaching com-
pletion. It will be under roof by the end of this
week. . Nothing but good business is looming up
ahead of the Q R S Company.
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