The Brooklyn Daily Eagle from Brooklyn, New York • Page 75

Tage Five Age in Cr eating a ew AjJronze Erler By Diana John Polachek, Leading Founder, Sees a Vast New Development in Use of Alloy That Dates Bach to Ancient Days and Has Never Lost Its Popularity or Its Lasting Qualities ii I'm tmmmmm9mmfmmmwmmmmirmm iitm-i-- "iiintjifty" litl JOHN POLACHEK came to this country 25 years agt with little in the way of worldly assets but a strong determination to make good. Today he controls the world'i largest brone industry. Luck played small part In his success. His story is one of a steady rise through poverty and years of hard work. Three months after he had gained his first foothold In the commercial world he lost every cent he put into nil business through the failure of two banks.

Two yean later he was already making steady progress oq the road to success. Largely through the efforts of Mr. Polachek, a new bronze era exists today. About 15 years ago the metal wa practically unknown for architectural purposes. Today few buildings are constructed without the use of large of bronze In their structure and decoration.

A process which he perfected after years of experimentation has cut down the cost of manufacturing certain structural forms to less than half. In this age of "steel the metal known to our prehistoric ancestors thousands of years ago has become more popular than ever before. Office buildings, banks, theaters and municipal structures are replete with ornamental bronze work, and million dollar contracts for the embellishment of a 'single building have become quite usual. According to Mr. Polachek.

the world is "going wild" over bronze. The process of making bronze has come down through the ages, taught by experienced craftsmen to their younger apprentices. It Is a detailed and difficult procedure and formerly required the construction of a separate sard mould for every piece of casting. No rjtw bronze factory has ever been built and operated without the services of foundry men from some older pkr.t, lor the craft requires the practical guidance gained or.iy through years of experience. This complicated method Is used still for the manufacture cf ornamental objects, but because of the process perfected by Mr.

Polachek a large percentage of structural forms may be completed In a far simpler manner. This process, by means of which the molten alloy is forced through dies of various forms, lias come Into general use. Whfs Ji.hn Polachek was a boy. working as an apprentice to an artisan in Hungary, he often dreamed of America as the land of golden opportunities. At the aee of IS he felt sufficient confidence in his ability to leave his home and family and set sail for this country.

The ice a of merely getting a good job or earning a living was far from his objective. He refused to even consider compromises. He had come here to make a fortune, nothing less would satisfy him. In short time he hs.d become foreman and then superintendent of one of our largest bronze organizations, a company which is r.ow part of the corporation he controls. Meanwhile, for a period of nine years, he worked in various factories as a skilled mechanic.

"I hf.d made up my mind," he says in recalling those loft in Oreenpoint. 5-1 by MO feet In size. For a while everything seemed be going smoothly, but three months after I started I lose every cent I had put Into the business. "One Saturday I sent the office boy to the bank with a check for the payroll. He called me up and told me that the two banks where I deposited my money had failed.

It was a terrible shock. I had no idea what to do. I didnt know whether to tell my men and let them go or keep them in ignorance of what had happened. 'T determined to say nothing but kept them working overtime while I borrowed $400 to pay their salaries. I didn teU them anything was wrong and succeeded hi keeping things running.

Meanwhile I opened the shop at 7 o'clock every morning and worked until 10 at night. Including Sundays and holidays. "Then I'd go home, sleep for a couple of hours, get up at 2 o'clock and plan estimates and outlines for the day's work. If possible. I snatch another hour's sleep before going back to work.

I kept up this life until 1 got on my feet again. "Two years later I moved into my own plant In Long Island City. It wasn't very big in those days, but I paid $.12,000 for It without a mortgage. Every two years I added to the property and today the plant measures two and one half acres. I have 1.200 people working for nie today.

I have outgrown everybody. "Six years ago there was a strike in the industry. Five of my men left me and started a business of their own. They were successful and built up a large organization. When I reorganized my business last November I was able to buy them out." The General Bronze Corporation was recently formed, through a merger of the John Polachek Bronze and Iron Company, the Renaissance Bronze and Iron Works, and the Tiffany Studios.

While the process of centralizing the activities of the corporation is going on, Mr. Polachek still remains In his offices in Long Island City, where he first began his upward struggle. The building presents an unusual combination of art and the workings of industry. A bare and unimposing entrance opens onto a staircase ith a railing of beautiful ornamental bronze. On the ground floor are aery kilns, in which the metal is heated, and hues cranes.

Here the construction work is done by men of many nationalities. It early days, "that I was going to be a success, not failure. It was a hard struggle but it was worth had When I came to this country from Budapest, I Bronze doors cast hjr Polachek lu the offices above, where the designs are made, many of the completed objects are in evidence. Thenj are also several antiques and paintings by old masters, revealing Mr. Polachek as a connoisseur and collector of art.

in his office, away from the noise and grime of 'he factory. Mr. Polachek shows evidence of tut early i'rujirles. The days when he did most of his own work seem far away as he directs the policies of an or-ganiza'Kin maintaining a worldwide stope of activities. 3it he has not forgotten the days when he waa-dt-red through the streets of New York looking for a job.

Perhaps those memories are responsible for his attitude toward his employees, for when asked what he oonsidera the greatest factor in his success, he replies, "I aivwiya believed in treating my workers right." That this is no idle boast is evident from the fact that rive years ago he incorporated his business in ord'T to share the profits with 32 department heads. They received substantial dividends, and a few months ago. when the business was reorganized, he turned over to them stock amounting to a million dollars. Mr. Polachek is proud of his work and enjoys tli distinction of having been able to stop the traffic an Fifth Avenue for two hours.

That incident oecurrrxt when his men set up the bronze traffic towers constructed at his factories. Although the General Bronze Corporation supplies its products to the world's largest cities, it is sull Mr. Polacliek's ambition to "accomplish something big in the broa.te industry. "I've- tiiaie enough money." he says, "bul I want to develo? nte industry 3-td se its branches continue virvl. I w.int to A In licli jll m-r liu; no triends and knew no English.

Each morning I gor. xtp at 4 A M. and searched through the city for a job. It was several weeks before I got one. "In 1910 I felt that I had enough practical experience to go into business for myself.

I bought a smatt JL..