Pipe Organ Database

From Organ Database Builders editor Stephen Hall, November 10, 2019. —

Bernard Schaefer immigrated to the United States in 1873 from Germany. He was a clockmaker who set up shop in Slinger, Wisconsin. He built his first pipe organ for the Catholic church in Slinger Wisconsin in 1875 in partnership with friend and fellow immigrant Valentin Fischer. They were paid in potatoes and flour by the farm families in the parish. He continued building organs until he retired in 1907, but again entered the business with three of his sons in 1912, his oldest son, John continued the business in the interim period. The new endevor was known as B. Schaefer & Sons Co. with John, Theodore, and Joseph being the sons.

Source:

• Special Correspondent [sic] "Organ builder Paid in Goods" (The Milwaukee Journal, March 8, 1970), accessed Oct 16, 2015, via Google Newspapers.

From Organ Database Builders editor Stephen Hall, November 10, 2019. —

From a local history by Larry Gunndrum:

  "In 1875 Bernhard built his first organ for St. Peter's Church in Schleisingerville [now Slinger WI] and thus started the B. SCHAEFER ORGAN COMPANY.
  Bernhard and his wife Mary had 15 children. His eldest son John joined him in the organ making business. Other family members also helped out at times in Bernhard's business pursuits which at times included the manufacture of cigars, sulfur matches and pearl buttons along with clock making.
  In 1913 the name of the primary business was changed to the B. SCHAEFER & SONS ORGAN COMPANY. John and his twin brothers Theodore and Joseph A. Schaefer who were born in 1887 also joined the business. In 1918, John died at the age of 52. Bernhard suffered a stroke in 1914 from which he never fully recovered. He passed away in 1920. After Bernhard's death the business was incorporated under the name of the Schaefer Organ Company."

Source:

• Larry Gundrum, Slinger historical album: Schleisingerville to Slinger, 125 years, 1869-1994 (Slinger, Wis.: Slinger Advancement Association, 1994).

From the OHS PC Database, derived from A Guide to North American Organbuilders, by David H. Fox (Richmond, Va.: Organ Historical Society, 1991; rev. ed. 1997 with updated information). —

Born January 16, 1845 in Untererthal, Bavaria, Germany; father of John, Joseph A. Schaefer Sr., and Theodore Schaefer; immigrated to the United States, 1873; clockmaker in Schleisingerville {later renamed Slinger}, Wisconsin, by 1875; began pipe organ production with his sons shortly thereafter as the Wisconsin Pipe Organ Factory; firm renamed B. Schaefer & Sons, c. 1910. [incorporated as Schaefer Organ Company in 1920.]

Sources:

• The Cypher Newsletter 9/10 (Greater St. Louis Chapter of the Organ Historical Society), 7.
• The Diapason May 1929, 4.
• Organ Handbook 1984 (Richmond, Va.: Organ Historical Society), 29.