MELCHIOR, ARMSTRONG, & DESSAU,
JUL
XX
1900
NEW YORK.
Here is another mystery company, but for reasons quite different than the cancel for a firm that is long dead and has left no trace by the year 2011. Melchior Armstrong & Dessau draws 100s if not 1000s of Google hits. Virtually all of the hits are for commercial websites that list or rate heating and cooling contractors in local areas, particularly on the east coast of the United States. These businesses all appear to be locally owned, small shops. However, there is not an M, A & D website that I can find. The firm clearly existed, and was doing big things in 1900 when this stamp was cancelled.
Dave Thompson sent this scan and had some doubts about the spelling. I think I've got that one solved but need a bit more help in pursuing exactly what kind of business this firm was doing in 1900.
I used to work for them in the early 70’s at a wholesale refrigeration supply house. They were at that time a wholly owned subsidiary of The Hillman Coal and Coke Company. They were headquartered in Ridgefield NJ and had branches throughout all of the northeast. It is my understand that they were exporters at the turn of the last century. Here is a hotlink to more information:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.google.com/#q=Melchior%2C+Armstrong%2C+%26+Dessau&hl=en&tbm=bks&ei=yC68TtzqNaXW0QG4ypzfCQ&start=10&sa=N&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=5e518ad5f0fbacb7&biw=1280&bih=731
It is my understand that they were sold to a company call Pameco Air who subsequently went out of business. Apparently; many of the branch mangers and other must have purchased the branches and incorporated them in their respective states using the Melchior Armstrong Dessau name.
Link doesn't work..ARRRRGG
ReplyDeleteGo to Google Books and enter:
MELCHIOR, ARMSTRONG, & DESSAU
in the search box. Good Luck
Going through my folks' thongs, as they have passed on. Discovered a stack of envelopes, including many addresses to Messrs Melchior, etc. The return addresses come from all over the world!
ReplyDeleteVenezuela, Netherlands, Portugal, Ecuador, Mexico, Siam (!), Joahannesburg, Columbia, Cape town, and more.
The company names appear to be related to electric, however another refers to "representing fabrics extranjeras". Very interesting! Postmarks range from 1937- 1947.
Things, not thongs... :)
ReplyDeletecheck: http://denstoredanske.dk/Dansk_Biografisk_Leksikon/Handel_og_industri/Grosserer/Moses_Melchior
ReplyDeleteMy grandfather was president of M, A & D back in the 1960s. From what I was told the company installed refrigeration sysyems to grocery stores back when they didn’t have such things. I know he travelled a lot and all over the place.
ReplyDeleteI worked for Melchior Armstrong Dessau aka Melco and left in 1987. Melco was an exclusive distributor for Copeland compressors and they operated about 8 branch offices in NY and NJ. The second source of revenue was Ice Machines (I believe they were exclusive for Monitowic) Their HQ were in Ridgefield, NJ. Their clientele were local Refrigeration-HVAC contractors in the Northeast. I worked there part time through College (in Jersey City) and did a brief full time stint as a manager for their office in Ramsey, NJ. It was a great part time job but selling the metal monsters as a career was not for me.
ReplyDelete