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University Library 1993.HENRI FREDERIC FRASSE
FounderONE CENTURY
IN BUSINESS
PETER A. FRASSE & CO.. Inc.
NEW YORK,
PHILADELPHIA
BUFFALO
HARTFORDCopyright 1916
by
Peter A. Frasse & Company, Inc.One Century in Business
“One thing is forever good,
that one thing is success.”
—Emerson
BACK in the earlier history of New York City, when
the great metropolis was scarcely out of its infancy,
there arrived in Manhattan an earnest and energetic
young man bearing splendid credentials from a well known
Swiss manufacturer of machinery, by whom he had been
employed for several years.
Born in La Brevine, Neufchatel, Switzerland, this
young man, Henri Frederic Frasse, was the direct descend-
ant of one of the oldest families in Savoy, whose ancient
lineage can be traced back almost to the original settlement
of that picturesque country, and where, to-day, there is
found a beautiful waterfall bearing the name of the “Cas-
cade du torrent de la Frasse.”
Here, in Switzerland, and in Italy as well, young
Frasse had learned much of the watch and clockmakers*
trade, and with that careful training, so characteristic of
all European apprenticeships, had become an expert
mechanic and a wizard at small tool and machinery making.
It was about 1 800 that young Frasse, then little more
than a youth, but well equipped with the keen discernment
and balanced judgment of maturity, felt that he had learned
enough of his trade in his own country, and yearning for abroader scope for his energies and ambitions, sailed for
America. Here he soon obtained employment as a
draughtsman in a leading American manufacturing plant,
which position marked the beginning of his career on this
side of the Atlantic.
Cascade du torrent de la Frasse
But this young Savoyard was too progressive to be
satisfied with the somewhat narrow confines of his new
work, which, although it required a thorough knowledge of
mechanics, gave him no opportunity to exercise his rare
facility in the handling of small tools, nor his intuitive busi-
ness ability, another of his natural gifts.So we find him a few years later established in his own
shop, an unpretentious little place at 95 Fair Street, after-
wards renamed Fulton Street in honor of Robert Fulton, and
a street that was destined to soon become one of New
York’s best known and busiest thoroughfares.
No. 95 FAIR STREET
Later re-named Fulton Street
As a dealer in watch and clockmakers’ supplies, young
Frasse’s reputation soon became general throughout the
then rapidly growing city. Indeed his little shop in Fair
(Fulton) Street was not only known as the headquarters
for the best materials in this line, but a safe place to bring
any kind of difficult repairing—from a clock to an engine—
for the young Swiss’ hand had not lost its cunning, andhere, in his own shop, he could let his mechanical ingenuity
have full sway. He attempted anything from the most
delicate watch-repairing to the most intricate model-
making.
Not satisfied with his success at this class of work, and
with that indomitable energy so characteristic of the Swiss,
Henri Frasse was also turning out in this little shop a very
superior type of clock tools, made on the blanking press,
a kind of tool making which was much of a rarity at the
time, and as circumstances, as well as his personal quali-
fications for executing this somewhat difficult work, were in
his favor, he soon attained an established place in this in-
dustry.
About this period Robert Fulton was punctuating his-
tory with some remarkable achievements. He had per-
fected the plans of an engine which was to realize his dream
of a steam-propelled vessel. He wished a working-model
made from these plans, and he wanted to obtain the aid of
the best model-maker available. Naturally he came to
Henri Frasse, and in the latter’s shop, in Fair (Fulton)
Street, was made the working-model of Fulton’s first boat,
which model—as tradition tells us—was tried out later on
in the historic old Collect Pond, on Centre Street, and
proved to be a complete success.
In fact, so entirely did this little engine come up to
Fulton’s fondest hopes and ambitions, that he took the
model with him to England, where in Boulton & Watt’s
plant, was built the larger engine for his famous “Clermont”
And without detracting in any detail from all the
glory given to Fulton for solving this problem of steam
navigation, it was unquestionably the expert advice and
great mechanical aid he received from Henri Frasse that
made his success possible. In the hands of a less expert
mechanic, using slip-shod methods, Fulton’s first model
might have proven a failure. Jeered and laughed at forthis failure, for he had few supporters, Fulton might have
abandoned the idea entirely. But with the help of a
mechanic of Henri Frasse’s calibre, whose initiative and
rare ingenuity was well known, mechanical inaccuracies in
the original plans were smoothed out, and a working-model
produced which actually worked. On the success of this
first experiment depended the greater success which was to
come later, and Fulton was remarkably fortunate in having
COLLECT POND ON CENTER STREET
From An Old Print
This pond was filled in a good many years ago, and the present
Tombs Prison marks its site
the co-operation of a man of Frasse’s unusual mechanical
ability, in overcoming the stumbling-blocks which have
harrassed every inventor.
Nor was this the only instance in which Fulton had
come to seek Henri Frasse’s aid in perfecting some of his
inventions, for by an almost contradictory condition of
affairs, the former had no sooner completed and made
practicable his methods of propelling vessels by steam, thanROBERT FULTON
From a Painting by Benjamin IVest
From “Robert Fulton and the Clermont”
by courtesy of the Century Co., N T.he began to work out some deadly engines of warfare which
would destroy them.
But it was not a warlike spirit in Fulton which led to
this thought, for he was a man of peace at all times, but
purely in the interest of humanity, for he felt if he could
make these engines of warfare he was evolving sufficiently
formidable, it would result in the stopping of wars for all
FULTON’S “CLERMONT”
times—at least, warfare on the high seas. And in perfect-
ing one of these curiosities of his fertile brain, an ingenious
torpedo, he again called upon the “wizard of machinery**
in Fulton Street to help him.
Fulton had invented a system of floating mines for
the protection of harbors, plans of which were submitted to
both the British and American governments in turn. After
this came a novel form of torpedo which, attached to a
harpoon, could be shot against the side of a sailing oranchored vessel, and which could be exploded within a
given time by a clockwork arrangement concealed in the end.
And it was the task of perfecting this clockwork at-
tachment, upon which much of the effectiveness of the
torpedo depended, that devolved upon Henri Frasse.
Benson J. Lossing in his “Pictorial Field Book of the
War of 1812,’* speaks of Fulton’s floating mines and tor-
pedoes at considerable length, giving detailed descriptions
and numerous diagrams of both, but writes rather dis-
paragingly of the former, contending that Fulton’s scheme
of harbor protection by means of mines was entirely im-
practicable and valueless, all of which is contradicted by
modern methods of warfare, for floating mines of prac-
tically the same type and character as those invented by
Fulton, have proven a most effective means of blocking a
harbor against the invasion of a hostile fleet.
Of the torpedo he had little to say, except to refer
to Henri Frasse’s work in perfecting the mechanism of this
contrivance, and at the same time quoting the following
interesting memoranda from one of the latter’s old account
books, and making this complimentary remark regarding
Frasse’s reputation as a machinist of that period:
“The late Henry Frasse, who for many years kept a
shop on Fulton Street, New York, for the sale of watch-
makers’ materials, made the clockwork for Fulton’s tor-
pedoes. In his account-book before me I find the follow-
ing entry:
‘Dt. Mr. Fulton a Henry Frasse:	26th May,
1820—a Fulton repare un Turpedos, le grand res-
sort, volant et roue, 4.50.*
Mr. Frasse was then the only machinist of note in New
York. He died in February, 1849, at the age of sixty-
eight years.”PETER A. FRASSEThat Benson J. Lossing did not overestimate the high
esteem in which Henri Frasse was held at that time by the
citizens of New York, for his expert mechanical ability, we
have only to refer to some of the latter’s old ledgers, still
CHARLES F. FRASSE
in existence, for here we find written down the names of
the best known earlier families of Manhattan, who came
to Henri Frasse for watch and clock repair-work of various
kinds. Among the more historic names are those of
Aaron Burr, Alexander Hamilton, and several others
equally famous, all of whom undoubtedly found in Henri
Frasse not only a careful and conscientious workman, but
a dependable merchant, whose integrity was unquestioned,
and whose word was as good as his work.The year 1816 separates what might be called the
“prehistoric” and the “historic” portions of Henri Frasse’s
career, for from that year on we are able to trace, through
the mercantile annals of the city, the history of this ever-
JOHN L. HOWE
The Late President
growing concern, the foundation of which was laid upon a
rock-like business basis by this thrifty and capable Swiss,
a few years before.
At this period, recognizing the increasing demands for
materials used in the clock and watchmakers’ trade, he
opened a store in conjunction with his machine shop, in-troducing a more complete and varied stock of jewelers*
supplies and commenced importing fine tools, which con-
sisted largely of' Files, Pliers, Nippers and similar tools
—for in those early days there were practically no tools
made in this country—thus promoting important business
relations between his adopted and his native country,
Switzerland, and becoming not only the first extensive im-
porter of fine tools in the United States, but firmly establish-
ing what has been justly termed the “root of the machinists
supply trade in New York City.*’
Henri Frasse had two sons, Henry Frederic and Peter
A., both of whom were destined to sustain the reputation
of the name in the machinists* supply business throughout
the second generation. Henry Frederic, who was born in
1818, went to Switzerland at the age of fourteen to learn
the trade of a toolmaker, and remained there two years.
He then returned to this country and later on went into
business for himself at 62 Chatham Street, New York City.
The second son, Peter A., who was born in 1822, entered
into business with his father in 1844. It was in this year
that Stubs Tools, Drill Rods, Piano Wire and Swiss Files
became important items on their list of importations.
We find in a New York business directory about the
year 1845, the following items:
“Frasse, Henry F. & Son, Watchmakers* tools,
95 Fulton.’’
“Frasse, Peter A., importer of watches, 95 Ful-
ton, h. 95 Fulton.*’
It will be noted that the residence is also given as
“95 Fulton’’ for the elder Frasse owned this building and
lived above his store with his family, as was the custom
with many New York merchants at that period.
When the founder of this remarkably successful house,
and the acknowledged pioneer in the fine-tool trade of the
city, died in 1849, the business passed over, by his request,to his second son, Peter A. Frasse, who changed the title
of the firm, using his own name instead.
Carrying out the policy of his father to the letter,
Peter A. conducted this store with continued success until
1 868, when a new member came into the firm in the person
of James M. Montgomery, and the house title became
“Peter A. Frasse & Company.” About this period the
business began to thrive still more rapidly owing to the
advent of Ameri-
can made tools and
materials, foremost
of which were
Twist Drills, Ma-
chine Screws and
Files, and in these
specialties the com-
p a n y transacted
what was then con-
sidered a large bus-
In 1876 James
M. M ontgomery
branched out for
himself, and found-
ed a company
known as James
M. Montgomery &
Company, thus es-
tablishing another
supply house cater-
ing to the same line
of trade.
After Mont-
gomery severed his
connection with the
parent company,
No. 94 FULTON STREETCharles Frederick, son of Peter A. Frasse, was taken into
the firm, the name of which remained unchanged.
One year later a young man entered the employ of
the company, who was destined to play an important part
in its business administration. This young man, John L.
Howe by name, started as a local salesman; his personal
attributes soon made for him many friends in the trade,
and his constant study and unremitting efforts to give the
best service to his customers, and to his employers as well,
soon manifested its affects by a very material increase in
the company’s sales.
In 1878, the year following young Howe’s advent into
the business, Peter Frasse advertised for an errand boy,
and out of the fifty applicants he chose Adolph E. Brion.
He little thought at that time that young Brion was even-
tually to become a dominant and important factor in the
affairs of the concern.
The company by this time was handling a complete
line of machinists* tools, of both American and foreign
manufacture, including heavier articles such as Vises,
Forges, Blacksmiths* Tools, Small Amateur Lathes and
Scroll Saws which were very much in demand in those
days.
The business steadily increased until it was found
necessary to tear down the old building at 95 Fulton Street
and erect a larger and more commodious structure for this
rapidly growing concern. While this new building was in
the course of construction the business was moved to a
nearby building and then returned to the new structure
upon its completion.
In two years time, young Brion had developed such
excellent business ability that he was appointed city sales-
man and was delegated to handle the commercial possi-
bilities offered by the electrical industry, which was thenADOLPH E. BRION
Presidentcoming into prominence, and that his efforts were success-
ful is attested by the volume of business he placed on the
company’s books.
Dating from 1885 Peter A. Frasse took less active
interest in the business, the management of which was now
JOHN BRIGGS
The Late Treasurer
ably taken care of by his son Charles and John L. Howe.
After his death, which occurred in 1891, the business
was incorporated with John L. Howe as president and
treasurer, Adolph E. Brion as secretary and Charles F.
Frasse, Matthew Hawe, John L. Howe, Adolph E. Brion
and William M. Embler as directors.Peter A. Frasse was survived by four children, Charles
Frederick, Annie Catherine, Ada Leete and Marie Louise;
the latter is still identified with the present company as one
of its stockholders.
Roscoe C. Stacy entered the service of the company
in 1886 as an errand boy; his personal qualifications soon
won recognition and he held increasingly important
positions, ultimately becoming an officer in the company.
In the year 1892 Charles F. Frasse passed away, and
John Briggs was elected to fill the vacancy in the Direc-
torate.
In 189 7 the company added to its various lines,
Bicycles, Bicycle Supplies, Steel Tubing and Tubular Parts.
By the year 1898 the company had outgrown its home
at 95 Fulton Street, and it became necessary to seek larger
quarters, which were found at No. 94 on the same street.
A very important business connection was made two
years later with the Shelby .Steel Tube Company, under
which arrangement
Peter A. Frasse &
Co., Inc., became
the sole eastern dis-
tributor for the
Shelby Cold Drawn
Seamless Steel
Tubes, which at the
time were used
principally in the
manufacture of bi-
cycle frames.
Since then,
however, the many
uses to which these
Seamless Steel
Tubes are adapted
No. 142-144 WORTH STREEThave been amply demonstrated by the greatly increased
and continuously growing demands from almost every class
of manufacturing industry, until now they are extensively
used for all mechanical and engineering purposes.
To-day, the Shelby Steel Tube Department has be-
ROSCOE C. STACY
Treasurer and Manager Buffalo Branch
come one of the most important departments of Peter A.
Frasse & Co., Inc., with individual warerooms carrying a
stock comprising more than two million feet of tubing.
President Howe’s death occurred in 1901, and in that
year Adolph E. Brion was elected to the presidency of
the company, with John Briggs as treasurer and Roscoe C.Stacy as secretary. The board of directors then consisted
of C. H. C. Beakes, Matthew Hawe, John Briggs, Adolph
E. Brion and Roscoe C. Stacy.
Simultaneously with the election of Adolph E. Brion
FREDERICK O. BECKER
Secretary
to the presidency of the company, great impetus was given
to the growth of the business by the birth of the automobile
industry, the growth of which was reflected particularly in
the department devoted to tubing, as it was found that
Shelby Seamless Steel Tubes were of great value in the
manufacture of tubular auto parts and for general auto-
mobile construction.C. H. C. BEAKES
From the com-
mencement of Presi-
dent Brion’s adminis-
tration, an immediate
growth took place in
the volume of the
company’s business,
and the capital stock
was largely increased.
Many notable and im-
portant business con-
nections were con-
summated with large
and well known for-
eign manufacturers,
foremost of which
was the agency ob-
tained for the United
States, of the Poldi
Steel Works of Aus-
tria.
Uirector	The Tool Steel
Department and the Steel Tube Department were now out-
growing all other departments of the company, arid the line
of bicycles and bicycle supplies carried by the company was
discontinued.
In 1903 Frederick O. Becker came with the company
and took an active and prominent part in the Sales De-
partment.
In 1905 John Briggs died and R. C. Stacy became
Treasurer, J. Lloyd Howe became Secretary, with Fred-
erick O. Becker as a Director in place of Matthew Hawe.
It now became necessary to provide additional space,
and a building, with an entrance on William Street and
directly in the rear of the main building, was acquired.In 1906 the Tube Department had grown to such
proportions that it was again necessary to secure more
space, and the Tube and Steel Departments were then re-
moved to 142 and 144 Worth Street.
In 1909 Frederick O. Becker, became the Manager of
LESTER E. BRION
Assistant Treasurer
the Tool and Supply Department, which was then removed
to 1 30 and 1 32 Worth Street, and in the same year a branch
office was opened in Philadelphia at 407 Commerce Street,
which later removed to a larger building at 623-625 Arch
Street. A branch was also established in Buffalo at 50-52
Exchange Street, which is under the direct management ofA. F. NIXON
SHIPPING DEPT
M. H. ROBERTS
PURCHASING DEPT.
ADMINISTRATIVE AND SALES FORCEE. F PEARD	H. J. MORSE
PHILADELPHIA SALESMAN	BUFFALO SALESMAN
ADMINISTRATIVE AND SALES FORCETreasurer Stacy. Both of these branches carry a com-
plete stock of Shelby Seamless Steel Tubes and of Tool
Steels, as well as the imported specialties controlled by the
company.
The rapid and persistent growth of the business made
it necessary to plan a still larger warehouse with show-rooms
and administrative offices whose spaciousness should be
commensurate with the constantly increasing demands for
the various products marketed by the company.
In the year 1910 a site was selected at the northwest -
corner of Canal and Sullivan Streets, and the construction
of a modern fireproof building commenced. In April of
the following year the company was completely and com-
fortably settled in its new quarters.
It may pertinently be added that it was rather a re-
markable coincidence that the site selected for the home
office and main building of this company, and where it
is now situated, is on what was formerly the banks of a
little stream leading to the Hudson River, and which was
an outlet for the historic old Collect Pond, on Centre
Street. On this pond, as we have heretofore mentioned,
took place the trial of Fulton’s model steamboat, with which
the founder of this company, Henri Frederic Frasse was so
intimately associated.
It has been the earnest endeavor of the company to
provide in every possible manner for the personal safe-
guarding of its employees, and the entire building was built
to conform in every respect to the stringent regulations of
the New York Fire Department, and another detail, which
has been carefully considered, is the fact that a maximum
amount of light and cleanliness is found throughout the
building. This is an item as vitally important to the
patrons of the company as to its employees, for these things
indicate that the products the company handles are subject
to the best conditions up to the moment of delivery to its
customers.HOME OFFICE AND MAIN BUILDING
417-421 Canal Street, New YorkOne of the most interesting features in the Tube De-
partment and Steel Department is the remarkable extent to
which the manual handling of steel bars and steel tubes
have been superseded by mechanical methods. Both of
these departments are adequately equipped with the latest
A CORNER OF THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE
devices and appliances for the rapid and convenient hand-
ling of heavy material. There are various forms of slide-
ways, roll ways, elevators, also overhead traveling cranes,,
or trolleys, running on tracks extending the entire length of
the building, reaching every nook or corner, and quickly
lifting from stock any material, irrespective of size, shape or
weight, and conveying it to either the Tube Cutting Depart-
ment or Steel Cutting Department, for cutting to sizes orlengths as specified by the customer—or for conveying the
material to the truck or automobile delivery platforms for
shipment.
Every detail relating to mechanical devices that would
contribute to a higher degree of efficiency has been care-
TOOL AND SUPPLY DEPARTMENT
fully considered, with the result that the equipment of the
building is the most complete and modern of its kind.
Foremost among the numerous foreign agencies of great
importance which have been secured by the company is
that of Hans Renold, Ltd., of Manchester, England, the
oldest and largest manufacturers in the world of driving
and transmission chains. The Renold Works occupiesapproximately ten acres of ground and employs about
1,400 men who are engaged solely in making the famous
Renold Chains. The high quality and perfection of design
of these driving chains, which were introduced in this
country a few years ago soon won for them an established
place in the American market.
A PORTION OF THE STORE
The Renold Chain Department of the company is
under the direct management of John R. Cautley, M. E.,
who was formerly the experimental engineer at the Hans
Renold Works in Manchester, England.
Other foreign agencies of great value obtained by the
company are those of the Deutsche Waffen-und Munitions-
fabriken of Berlin, manufacturers of the D. W. F. Steel
Balls which have been unanimously conceded to be theSHELBY SEAMLESS STEEL TUBE STOCK ROOMSHELBY SEAMLESS STEEL TUBE CUTTING DEPARTMENT.
finest steel balls on the market, and which have a guar-
anteed accuracy to within one ten thousandth part of an
inch: the Union Gesellshaft fur Metallindustrie, Fronden-
berg-Ruhr, Germany, makers of Bicycle Chains; William N.
Brunton & Sons, Musselberg, Scotland, manufacturers of
the famous Brunton Music Wire and High Speed Drill Rod.
In 1914 Frederick O. Becker was elected Secretary
of the company in place of J. Lloyd Howe who had re-
signed, and LestexJL Brion was elected Assistant Treasurer
and a Director.
Owing to the outbreak of the European War, causing
a stoppage of commerce between America and Austria,
it became necessary to discontinue the agency of the Poldi
Steel Works. The company was now confronted with theSHELBY SEAMLESS STEEL TUBE SHIPPING DEPARTMENTSTEEL CUTTING DEPARTMENT
problem of finding a way that would enable it to supply its
customers with a grade of steel equal in quality in every
respect to the steel formerly imported.
Fortunately, the many years devoted to the study of
the superior qualities of steel, combined with an accurate
knowledge of the methods employed by the foreign steel
makers, most of which was acquired through many visits
to the European steel mills, enabled the company to place
on the American market a complete line of Electric Fur-
nace and Open Hearth Tool and Alloy Construction Steels
of a very superior grade, made after the identical analyses
followed by the prominent European steel makers, thus
making the company independent of its former source of
supply.TOOL AND ALLOY CONSTRUCTION STEEL DEPARTMENTIn 1915, a tract of land with a railroad siding was
purchased in Hartford, and the construction of the Frasse-
Electric Steel plant was soon under way.
Hartford was chosen for the location of the new steel
plant and warehouse owing to the important fact that it
has direct railroad connection with Pittsburgh, and is within
easy reach of the company’s warehouses in New York,
Buffalo and Philadelphia. This new plant and warehouse
will, upon completion, be the largest of its kind in Hartford,
and will be of especial importance and great advantage to
the large manufacturing industries of Western New England.
The equipment of the new steel works has been care-
fully planned with a view to promoting the best interests of
the company’s customers. The warehouse section will
have, at all times, a large and complete stock of the various
products carried by this concern and will be amply equipped
for executing orders promptly.
In the heat-treating department, the latest improved
type of furnaces will be installed for annealing and heat-
treating of steels, with draw benches for cold drawing, and
modern rapid turning lathes for machining the outside sur-
face of large steel bars. These facilities will enable the
plant to deliver on short notice anything that a manu-
facturer may require* in the way of raw material or semi-
finished material in all the various grades of steel.
No effort will be spared by the management to make
this latest acquisition fully deserve the company’s new trade
mark-—“Quality First—Service Always.’’
The company will continue in the future, as in the
past, to direct its unremitting efforts toward maintaining
their long-established reputation for best quality goods at
reasonable prices, as well as for integrity, courtesy and
efficiency of service.BUFFALO BRANCH, 50-52 EXCHANGE STREETNo little of the success of Peter A. Frasse & Co., Inc.,
as it now stands, is due to the progressiveness and energy
of the man now occupying the president’s chair—Adolph
E. Brion. With keen insight and rare foresight as to the
possibilities of the business, President Brion has extended
and developed to the utmost the various channels followed
by the company.
With invaluable knowledge gained by many years of
close intimacy with all branches of the metal industry,
President Brion has been quick to recognize the unlimited
field open to a concern of this kind, and his excellent and
analytical judgment in the selection of materials and line
of supplies marketed by the company has been a most
happy and successful one.
The high standard of these materials, which the trade
has recognized and appreciated, has had much to do with
establishing upon a firm foundation the reputation of the
company for quality and dependability.
AUTOMOBILE DELIVERY TRUCKFRASSE-ELECTRIC STEEL WORKS AT HARTFORD, CONN.********* *
Such in brief is the history of the company which is
now celebrating its one hundredth anniversary. Little did
its founder imagine, in his old fashioned machine shop in
Fulton Street, over a century ago, that he was planting the
seed of a business oak that was destined to grow to such
huge proportions that its branches would extend to other
states, and its roots, firmly imbedded in the fecund soil of
integrity and reliability, bid fair to give it many other
centuries of life.
This country of great possibilities is full of histories of
other business achievements, equally remarkable; surely
none has a more interesting little story than this corporation,
which starting upon such a modest basis, has, by a strict
devotion of its originator’s principles of honesty and de-
pendability, obtained and held the confidence of its many
thousands of customers—to whom it sends this cheerful
greeting:—
“ONE HUNDRED YEARS OLD TO-DAY—
and doing very nicely, thank you!’*