The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-01-22
Nj. Austin of Carpenter Co
to Take Position Next
Monday
CARPENTER COMPANY
FUTURE UNDECIDED
European War Has Seriously Handi-
capped Cottage Organ Business
Outlook at Smith Plant Is for Big
Business the Coming Year.

A change OF business connections OF
much more than ordinary interest will take
place in Brattleboro next Monday morning.
when Martin Austin, treasurer and man
ager of the Carpenter Co., the longtime
manufacturers Of parlor organs and smaller
chapel organs, viii take up the duties OF
treasurer OF the s. A Smith Mfg Co,
succeeding IN that capacity the late Fred
l.. Smith The matter has been under con-
sideration for some weeks and the nego-
tiations have reached a point where the
change is assured, although Mr. Austins
formal election TO the Office by the 5. A.
Smith Mfg Co has not taken place. The
annual meeting Of the Smith Co. which was
set for Jan is has not been held, because
OF the absence of some of the stockholders,
but it will be held this afternoon or Mon
day, probably Monday
just what win 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 viii 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 +.
Crowel is the principal owner.
! The Carpenter organ business was found
ed in 1850, but the period of the incor-
porated activity dates from February,
1851 Mr. Austin's connection with the
company began Sept. %, 1884, over 81
years ago.
In the early days, through mismanage-
ment and a large loss made entirely out
side the organ business, the original cap
ital, which was small, was practically
hoo
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 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 il
appear to be certain that the year 1914
D would be the largest in 81 years. The
prospects for the business never were so
bright The company had a fine line OF
7. agencies scattered throughout the world
T and the Carpenter organ was handled as a
q high grade instrument everywhere.
I Then came the breaking out of the Euro
s pean war, and its effect was felt very Sc
I riously by the Carpenter company. Forty
r per cent of its business was foreign, 40 per
f cent in the southern states and the balance
T in the North and West.
BY much effort the production has been
kept up to GO 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 pei
I cent advance in wholesale prices necessary
> sary.
:. At a stockholders meeting Jan. S the
president. George f. Crowen, and tht
treasurer, Mr. Austin, were given author
a ity to decide the future policy of the busi
y ness. but no absolute decision has been ar
{, rived at as yet.
e The Smith Co, manufacturers for many
t years of toys, children's carriages, etc.
which was in the balance when the Hard
i ware & Woodenware Co. of New York
II of which it was a member, went into tn
! hands of a receiver, was reorganized lat
: IN 1912 the business being bought by Ar
: thur B. Clapp, president of the Brattlebor
A. Trust Co.; Frank J.. Hunt and Fred /
Smith of the former company George /
!, Dunham, head of the Dunham Brother
- Co; John B. Manley of AIanley Brothers
u u and Attorney Clarke c. Fits.
- Since then the business has grown raT
Z idly and to the regular lines has been ado
7; ed the Bart Toy Craft line, for which ther
III is a large demand. With the increased dc
n 'mand which exists for all its lines the out
rs look is favorable for a heavy increase j
- the company's business the coming year
n Tan rl~sala1 10