When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
“FLANDRAU & CO.”
“NEW YORK”
“In the mid-1840s thetwo eldest Flandrau boys, William and Albert, apprenticed to their father andin 1852 established their own satellite branch in the style of W. & A.S.Flandrau at 240-250 Ninth Ave. (at W 26th St).In 1857 the pair were awarded a diploma for a trotting buggy they hadentered into competition at the American Institute of the City of New York.Like his father, William was most proficient at the coachbuilders art whileAlbert’s expertise was in the art of the deal. The firm of W. & A.S. Flandrau wasshort-lived and in 1859 Albert S. left and established a small brokerage houseat 60 Wall St. Albert was also involved in community affairs and was listed asa director of the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), New York Citychapter. William jr. returned to hisfather’s employ, remaining at 250 Ninth Ave., as the structure was still leasedby his father. By now his two youngerbrothers, Charles F. and Edgar Flandrau, had joined him in the family’scarriage business, which continued to operate two separate facilities, theoriginal establishment at 138 Elizabeth St., and the satellite manufactory at240-250 Ninth Ave. During the Civil Warbusiness was good for the house of Flandrau, although Albert S. Flandrau’sforay into stock & bonds was short-lived and at war’s end he was workingfor the Wood Bros. Co. as a carriage salesman at their 596 Broadway repository.He also spent some time working forBrewster of Broome St. after which he operated his own warerooms in the styleof A.S. Flandrau & Co. at No. 7 & No. 18 East 18th St. (between 5th Aveand Broadway). Assisting him in thatenterprise were Daniel T. Wilson, an experienced carriage builder, and Seth C.Keyes, a wealthy Manhattan ready-to-wear garment manufacturer.
At the end of the CivilWar William Flandrau moved his household to 116 W 26th St., in order to becloser to his 250 Ninth Ave. carriage factory. 136-138 Elizabeth St. was sold to St. MatthewsLutheran Church in 1868 who raised the aged structure to make way forconstruction of a new sanctuary. Theformer Flandrau property was sold to the Knickerbocker Ice Co., who raised itand erected a new building to house their ice factory.
By 1870 William Jr.,Charles F. and Edgar Flandrau had relocated their Ninth St. wareroom andfactory from 250 Ninth Ave. to 280 Ninth Ave. William Flandrau (Sr.) alsorelocated his residence from 116 W 26th St to 160 W. 26th. William Sr. was considered one of the grandold builders of Manhattan and served as judge for the American Institute’s 1870carriage and sleigh competition held. Businessfor A.S. Flandrau & Co. increased during the early 1870s and when Brewster& Co. (Brewster of Broome St.) relocated to the corner of Broadway and 47thStreet in 1874, Flandrau & Co. leased their old 372-374 Broome St.,six-story, manufactory. The firm was sometime listed at 75 Mott St. Just as they were set to open, Albert S.Flandrau suddenly and unexpectedly passed away. The two remaining partnersdecided to continue the business under their own names, Keyes & Wilson, assuccessors to A.S. Flandrau & Co.”.
