Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1916-01-28
GOES TO S.A. SMITH co.
Martin Austin for Many Years al
Carpenter Organ Plant
Chosen Secretary and Treasurer by
Smith Co. Directors-Carpenter Co.
May Decide to Liquidate.

Lf1dy 0OOAuO w AAquAuUVS'
A change of business connections of
much more than ordinary interest took
place in Brattleboro Monday morning,
when Martin Austin, treasurer and man
ager of the Carpenter Co., the longtime
manufacturers of parlor organs and smaller
chapel organs, took up the duties of
treasurer of the S. A. Smith Mfg. Co.,
succeeding in that capacity the late Fred
l.. Smith.
Just what will be the future of the Car
penter Co. is not certain. The business
may be liquidated or some arrangement
may be made for keeping the factory run
ming For the present, while making his
headquarters at the Smith Co. plant on
Frost street, Mr.. Austin will devote GER
tain amount of time each day to the over
sight of the business of the Carpenter Co.
on Elliot street, of which George E.
Crowell is the principal owner.
The Carpenter organ business was found
ed in 1850, but the period of the incor-
porated activity dates from February,
1884. Mr.. Austin's connection with the
company began Sept. 20, 1884, over 81
years ago.
In the early days. through mismanage-
ment and large loss made entirely out
side the organ business, the original cap
ital, which was small, was practically
wiped out and heavy interest-bearing
debt saddled upon the company
Under Mr.. Austin's personal manage
ment, beginning in June, 1898, not dollar
of new capital has been required to be put
into the business, and today the company
is practically free from debt, and in the
event of liquidation a very substantial re-
turn will be made to holders of the pre-
ferred stock, probably enough to cover
their actual investment.
The company has had a fine record for
steady operation of the plant since its in
ception. The first seven months of 1914
were the largest the company had expert
enced and orders booked ahead made it
appear to be certain that the year 1914
would be the largest in 81 years The
prospects for the business never were so
bright. The company had fine line of
agencies scattered throughout the world
and the Carpenter organ was handled as
high grade instrument everywhere.
Then came the breaking out of the Euro
pean war, and its effect was felt very Sc
riously by the Carpenter company. Forty
per cent of it's business was foreign, 40 per
cent in the southern states and the balance
in the North and West.
kept up to 60 per cent of normal, but a
profitable business cannot be done on that
restricted output, especially in view of the
fact that materials have taken big jump
on account of the war, making a 10 per
! cent advance in wholesale prices necessary.
sary.T
At stockholders meeting Jan. 8 the
president, George e. Crowell and the
treasurer, Mr.. Austin, were given author
ity to decide the future policy of the bust
ness, but no absolute decision has been ar
rived at as yet.
The Smith Co., manufacturers for many
years of toys, children's carriages, etc,
which was in the balance when the Hard
ware & Woodenware Co. of New York,
of which it was a member, went into the
hands of a receiver, was reorganized late
in 1912, the business being bought by Ar
thur B. Clapp, president of the Brattleboro
Trust Co.; Frank L. Hunt and Fred l..
Smith of the former company; George l..
Durham, head of the Durham Brothers
Co.; John B. Manley of Manley Brothers,
and Attorney Clarke c. Fits
Since then the business has grown rap
idly and to the regular lines has been add
ed the Bart Toy Craft line for which there
is a large demand With the increased de-
'mand which exists for all its lines the out
look is favorable for heavy increase in
the company's business the coming year.
The stockholders of the S. A. Smith
Mfg. Co. held their annual meeting
Monday and elected these direc.
tors: Arthur B. Clapp, Frank L. Hunt
George l.. Durham, John B. Marley
Clarke C. Fits and Charles A. Boyden
The directors elected these officers:
President, Arthur B. Clapp; genera
manager, Frank l.. Hunt; secretary
and treasurer, Martin Austin.