Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 63, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 April 1909 — PIANO FACTORY IS A GOOD THING [ARTICLE]

PIANO FACTORY IS A GOOD THING

Fred Phillips aqd A. F. Long Like the Latest Thing Offered Us In Factory Line. Fred Phillips and A. F. Long were very favorably impressed with a factory proposition which they went to Chicago to investigate Wednesday anfl came home very enthusiastic about the matter. " The factory they went to see is the Marquette Piano Co., manufacturers -particularly of -a piano playeiv-whicb-is the invention of the man at the head of the factory. * The company also manufactures pianos and has been in business for the past four years. It is doing a good business and Messrs. Phillips and Long found forty men at work. They are in crowded quarters and as they Want to enlarge their biisiness they are anxious to get outside the city, and it is probable that Rensselaer can secure them by donating them a factory site and erecting them a building at a cost of about $15,000. No definite proposition came from them, but it is thought that this is about the amount they will require. They have been negotiating with one or two other commercial clubs but will probably come to Rensselaer and look the town over about the Ist of May. They will enter more extensively into the piano manufacture and will probably employvfrom 60 to 100 men within a year or two and the proprietor feels certain that he could guarantee that within two years he wduld have 150 men working at the factory. The piano player, Mr. Phillips says, is the finest manufactured. A meeting of the commercial club will probably be called to consider the matter, and it is probable that one of the pianos and players , will be shipped here and be placed on exhibition at Mr. Phlllipq’ store.