Mergers

Gold, Silver, Jewels. In Manhattan, in 1810, when Fifth Avenue was a woodsy suburb, Messrs. Isaac Marquand and Erastus Barton opened a jewelry shop at No. 166 Broadway. A descendant of this store may be seen today in Palm Beach, in Paris, in Manhattan (on Fifth Avenue). The name is now Black, Starr & Frost. Black, Starr & Frost fashioned the Davis Cup for the U. S. Lawn Tennis Association, and for U. S. and European ladies many a rare jewel, notably a $685,000 pink pearl necklace.

Likewise on Fifth Avenue, and just one block from Black, Starr & Frost is the retail store of the Rhode Island silver-&-goldsmiths, Gorham Manufacturing Co. For almost a century Gorham silver and gold has furnished U. S. dining rooms, churches. Gorham bronze has gone into the careful details of U. S. buildings.

Last week Black, Starr & Frost and its near neighbor, the Gorham store (not the Gorham manufacturing concern) were working out details of a merger, which obviously could not impair the traditions of either. Alfred & Co. are the bankers.

Alcohol. U. S. Industrial Alcohol Co.. controlled by Air Reduction Co. is the largest producer and distributor of industrial alcohol. Its products are used for fertilizers, motor fuel, lacquers, anti-freeze compounds. Last week, its dominant position was approached by Rossville Commercial Alcohol Corp., newly organized to acquire Orange Grove Refining Co., Seaboard Chemical Co., Industrial Chemical Mfg. Co., Rossville Co., Federal Products Co.

Chain Groceries. By adding last week the 62 units of the Cupp Grocery Co. (Johnstown, Pa.), to its chain, American Stores Co. brought its total of stores to 2.500.

Soft Drinks. Three beverage-bottling companies last week agreed to unite: Carl H. Schultz Corp. (70-year-old table & mineral water company), Schoneberger & Noble Inc. (Dr. Brown's Celery Tonic), Brownie Corp. (new "Brownie" chocolate drink). President E. C. McCullough of the holding company, American Beverage Corp., announced that these three are only the beginning of a nationwide soft-drink chain.

British Railroads & Busses. U. S. railroaders dared but admire, not imitate, the action of British railroaders who now are buying control of all motor bus lines which conflict with their traffic. In England municipalities own most of the city, suburban and even interurban bus lines. With their authorities, Sir Josiah Stamp and Sir Ralph Wedgewood, able, persuasive financiers both, have had on the whole successful parleys. As for the U. S., the New England railroads have done most to absorb or create bus lines. The severest railroad-bus competition is along the Pacific Coast.