The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-07-25
LARGEST IN THE CO NTRY.
Growth Of a Wyoming
Avenue Business Enterprise.

few years to a degree scarcely realized
by the majority Of our townspeople
who have witnessed the growth with
out being aware of its magnitude.
What is now the Griffin Art COM
pany started at the corner of Lacka-
wanna and Wyoming avenues with
two persons constituting the force. To-
day forty people are employed in varl-
Gus capacities connected with the
many departments of the expanding
enterprise.
1t has been a healthy growth, not
withstanding the fact that but thirteen
years have passed since G. L. Griffin
opened photograph gallery over what
was then Courtrights shoe store. In
1890 he had so shown his ability and
had secured such a class of patrons
that Charles Schlager thought 1t a
good investment to construct a build
ing adapted to the needs of the young
photographer, and the handsome set
of studios occupying three floors were
planned at 19S wyoming avenue.
His continued efforts, fastidlously
kept rooms, attracted still greater
patronage, and in 1896 they be-
came too small for the pros
pbCllNt advantages u De dlldllti
and Mr. Griffin purchased the Hart q
Ottinger Art store at 209 Wyoming
avenue, the place still occupied by his
establishment. 1t was the first expert
ment in this city with an operating
room on the ground floor, where spe-
cial rooms were built and where pa
irons found every convenience and
comfort without climbing stairs. 1t
made n great hit. and the place was
soon throngeu. 1t was most attractive.
with luxurious and costly furnishings,
and with beautiful art rooms, where
hours could be spent in looking over
the fine array of etchings, water colors,
photographs OF famous subjects, brio
a-brca, etc. From time to time exhibit
tions of celebrated collections were
held and these at once became popu-
lar. But the magnificent work done
by Mr.. Griffin was the chief feature
of the establishment. His photog-
raphs achieved far more than local
renown and were reproduced In maga-
zines and favorably commented upon
by undisputed authorities. Both he
and his brother, G. Taylor Griffin of
Wilkes Barre, made a constant study
of up-to-date methods, endeavoring to
approach perfection in their line of
work. That they have been recog-
nized as being at the top is evinced by
the great prominence of both men in
the State and National Photographers
associations, where they have held
prominent Offices and have received
many awards in exhibitions.
The beautiful results obtained by
Hr,a III,
and later in the platinotype and other
noted styles are we'll remembered.
SO great had the business become
that in June of 1898 Mr.. Griffin decid-
ed to give scope to further investiga-
tion and possibilities by enlarging the
plant, and therefrom a stock company
was formed, in which several of the
most prominent and influential citizens
of Scranton took an interest. Since
that time 1t has been known as the
Griffin Art company chartered for the
purpose of placing on the market GER
tain art productions original with Mr..
Griffin, and including water colors and
copies of the old masters. Mr.. G.. Tay-
lor Griffin, of Wilkes Barre, was in
duced to combine his own wide expert
ence and interests with the project and
devote his entire time to it, while other
persons of special fitness were also
engaged.
The establishment is now the larg-
est of the kind in the country, and in
cludes not only the building at 209
| Wyoming avenue but also the adjoin-
| ing structure, POS and 207, where sew
eral floors are occupied by the art de-
partment, where the manufacture
and placing on the market of exclu-
sive works are conducted by process
which is the result of Mr.. Griffin's
own experiments, portrait work of the
value and beauty of etchings has been
| added to the various branches of art
carried on in the establishment. Much
Of the reproduction in water colors and
| sepia is prepared for the wholesale
| trade. Among the recent results OF
| laboratory experiments the company
has secured a marvellous success in the
way of an exquisite effect of etching on
| Japanese paper. 1t is termed a grav-
ure and is in the soft sepa effects
| This Is accomplished in portrait work
and is simply dazzling in beauty.
The growth of the business enables
| the Company to make an offer to the
| public which, were it not for the large
manufacturing interests connected
with 1t, by no means could be done.
1t is proposed to give a dozen of the
best made new platinettes, exact coun'
terparts in appearance of the costly
| platlnotypes, for the nominal price OF
$3.50 together with water color minia
ture in a gold frame of French design
The platinette in it's rich, soft colorine
is exclusively a discovery of this es,
tablishment and cannot be produced
elsewhere. The studios have been re-
modelled and furnished waiting rooms
are arranged for the use of visitors
who are invited to come in and inspec
at their leisure They are delightful
place for an hours rest and afford al
opportunity for the study of many I'm,
works of art.
The platinettes can be seen in tht
show windows, together with the waite
color miniatures and gold frame.
fine collection of the new gravures ar,
also there on exhibition.
|
| EATcE ETENcTC