Graphic Merger

Once the Sales Organization of American Multigraph Co. held a convention. At it the advertising manager, Tim Thrift, delivered a speech. That speech has been perpetuated by the Multigraph Co. in a little booklet called The Romance of the Multigraph.

"You may think that romance has only to do with a summer night, a silvery moon, and a girl," said Advertising Manager Thrift. "And you may query, therefore, what romance has to do with Multigraph.

"Much--if you are of the mind. Little --if life represents to you only the matter-of-fact.

"But to me--one of the Multigraph Family, living and loving this business as only one can come to live and love a business when one makes it a part of his every waking hour--the Multigraph is not a thing of metal, wood and paint; a mere machine sold to some man who can be convinced he should buy it. Ah, no! The Multigraph is a thing of service to the world. . . .

"As you go about your daily tasks carry with you a true conception of this business. A conception . . . that will keep ever before you the romance of the Multigraph ... a Holy Grail to ever seek."

Last week there was excitement in the romantic Multigraph family. A merger was planned by which American Multigraph of Cleveland will merge with Addressograph International Corp. of Chicago, by which they will become Addresso-graph-Multigraph Corp. Their range of products will cover complete business printing equipment.

Chairman of the executive committee of the combined companies will be Multigraph's Henry C. Osborn. Chairman of the board will be Frank Henry Woods, chairman of Addressograph, and president will be Joseph Egerton Rogers, Addressograph's president.

Chairman Woods is one of the many unpublicized U. S. multimillionaires. He has a home in Lincoln, Neb.; is president and majority-holder of Lincoln Telephone & Telegraph Co., large independent system. He has another home at Madeline Island, Wis., next to Hunter Larrabee Gary's (TIME, Oct. 20). With Mr. Gary he sits on the Board of Theodore Gary & Co., General Telephone & Electric Corp. He is of medium height, likes cigars, golf and bridge. He spends much time in Chicago, has three sons, all Yale graduates.

In 1924 Chairman Woods and his associates bought a half interest in Addressograph Co. for $2,500,000. Owners of the other half considered the Woods group mere promoters, tried to block all their moves. In 1927 they finally bought the remaining interest for $4,000,000. The business was started in 1896 with a capitalization of $25,000. Typical of its growth is English Addressograph Ltd., sold by the U. S. owners some 20 years ago for $20,000, bought back by the company last year for $1,000,000.

In 1926 Mr. Woods chose Joseph Rogers to be president of the company. Mr. Rogers is a smart executive, has done much for Addressograph. He is 50, was born in Toronto. He started in business as bicycle salesman, then sold National Cash Registers. In 1913 he became general manager of International Time Recording Co., later vice president of International Business Machines Corp. He lives in Chicago, has two daughters. He has a country home in the Adirondacks, a cruiser on Lake-of-the-Woods.

Both companies have many sales offices, world-wide organizations. Each will continue to function as a unit, the advantages of the merger to be in "co-operation and help."

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