Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1903-05-08
ONE Of OUR OLDEST
BUSINESS INSTITUTIONS
Montisel's Machine Shop and
Foundry First Started in 1870.
MANUFACTURED STOVES
FIRST THREE YEARS.
DESTROYED by Fire in 1901 and Has
Been Rebuilt Since that Time.
Better Than Before.

One of Alma's oldest business insti.
tutions is the machine shop and business
conducted by J NJ Montigel, just north
of the corner Of Superior and Pine-sts.
J. NJ. Montigel, Sr first built foundry
on this location just 33 years ago this
coming December. AT that time j f.
Schwartz was connected with the bust
ness, the firm name being j. NJ. Montigel
q Co. For the first three years gene
raj foundry was carried on, the manu-
fscture Of stoves being the principal
product. Some of these stoves are still
in use in Alma today and doing good
service. Later what was known as the
"Alma" plow was turned out, and in
the fields surrounding Alma some OF
those plows can be found at the present
time
In 1877 Mr. Montigels two sons,
Martin and Ferdinand, were taken into
the company and six years later, in the
winter Of 1888 4, the machine shop was
added TO the business and from
that time Montigels machine shop
shop was known as the best shop of the
kind in this part Of the state. Both
threshing and stationary engines were
brought here from many miles distance
to be repaired and refitted. The work
was always the best for the firm always
employed first.class mechanics and j.
NJ. Montigel, Jr., personally supervised
all of the mechanical workings of the
shop, besides having general supervision
of the business
On March IL, 1890, Mr.. Schwartz
drew out of the company and engaged
in business for himself, while one year
later, the two brothers, Martin and
Ferdinand. formed partnership and
assumed control OF the business of
the firm. During this time the business
steadily increased and besides the many
different styles of plows that were be.
ing made, they were manufacturing
sleighs, land rollers, feed cookers,
kettles and steam engines for the trade,
besides handling mill supplies OF all
kinds and doing general foundry and
machine shop business. In September,
| 1900, Martin bought out his brothers
interest and from that time the business
has been conducted under the name Of
J. NJ. Montigel.
November %, 1901, the plant was de-
stroyed by fire, entailing complete loss
OF the machine shop and foundry. Pre-.
vious to this, the fire element mad at
tackled the place several times, but had
always been extinguished without
serious damage. but at this time clean
sweep was made. Not dishesrtened,
Mr.. Montigel moved what little stuff he
could rebuild and use into warehouse
building near the burned buildings, and
installing new machinery soon had an.
other machine shop In operation and ex-
poets some time during the coming sum
mer TO rebuild the foundry. When that
is completed he will have everything in
good working order again, az the wood
working shop has already been rebuilt
and in use for some time.
In addition TO the business as outlined
above, MIR. Montigel has added agri-
cultural implements of all kinds, har.
vesting machinery, wagons, buggies,
plows. cultivators, in fact almost every.
thing the farmer needs to till the soil
and harvest his crops. Cream sepsra.
tors are also one % the new additions to
the stock that is being sold, q demand
having been created in Alma for these
machines.
Mr.. Montigel has always shown good
business instincts in conducting his
business, which, with his constant de.
vo,ion to all the personal details and
hard labor, have made successful what.
ever he has undertaken.