The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-08-03
ENLARGED KNOTT
PLANT PROSPECT
Concern Never Has Been
So Busy In Its History
COMING OFORDERS
Future of Company Is Bright
More Room Is Now
Necessary

During the forty years eXistance
of the Knoff Manufacturing company
In MankatO business conditions have
never been better or more favorable
than during the year 1928. according
to a statement made this morning
by Melvin G. Knoff, a member OF
the firm. The outlook for the com :.
pany's business tor the coming IAN
and winter months, he declared,
were very bright, with the shortage
Of skilled labor as the only APPARENT
harrassment to continuance OF
successful year.
Few peopl> OF Mankato realize the
magnitude and development or the
hnoff Manufacturing company with
in the past few years. Contracts
are now on hand from many leading
store firms OF the Northwest for
large orders Of fixtures that Will
keep the company's force OF employ
ees busy for some time to come.
Large Order From East
One OF the largest orders now with
the company is the contract for FIX
lures for the entire northwest ter
ritory OF the Grand Union Tea com =
pany, which has its general head
Quarters in Brooklyn, N Y Fixtures
for all stores of the company are
being furnished by the local com :
pany. Something unique about the
large store fixture order Is the de-
mand OF the Brooklyn ofrice that the
Knoff Manufacturing company keep
two complete grocery store equip
ments on hand at all times for i'm :
mediate delivery to the Grand Union
Tea company stores In the north
west.
The orders consist of all store
shelving, wall case display sections
for the display Of tea and coffee,
counters and the other usual grocery
store equipment. All plans and de-
tails Of the store equipment were
designed by the .Knoff Manufacture
ing company and received the ap-
prevail Of the Brooklyn office.
Another Big Contract,
Still another large contract re-
Gently received Is the complete fix
ture furnishing Of the J. c. Penny
Department store at Rochester
Mimi. 1t is the largest complete
store fixture furnishings yet supplied
to any firm by the Knoff Manufac-
turing company in the forty years IN
business, and is also one Of the
finest. Shoe cases, counters. shelly
ing and all other department store
furnishings are included in the
equfping Of the new store. 1t was
through the effects of William Burk
hart, manager of the Mankato. J. c.
Penney store and John Rud, man
ager OF the Rochester store that the
order was obtained. II Is probably
that other orders will be obtained by
the local concern for other stores
in the northwest planned by the ]. c.
Penney company.
Fixtures In Teachers College
Still another exceptionally large
order for fixtures is the furnishing
Of the new building Of the Mankato
Teachers college with laboratory
tables, kindergarten supplies, lock
ers. wall cases and so fourth.
The company are now working on
the large order from the German
Lutheran church at James lie
Mimi, to furnish complete setting
of pews in the church. The company
is also now employed in the build
ing Of a complete fixture equipped
indy Kitchen on North Front
street which will be opened about
Septemb Der 1, by the Zimmerman
Bakery company.
According to Mr. Knoff the en-
largement Of the company's plant Is
an expectation of the near future, II
the business remains at the present
basis. although a great difficulty
will be met in obtaining the right
kind Of skilled workmen for their
iOb6