The Beginning of Behr Brothers Piano Manufacturing - as reported in 1880 in the MTR magazine

A new firm of piano manufacturers was organized in this city (New York) under the name of Behr Bros. & Co., at Nos. 292 to 298 Eleventh avenue. The first two members of the firm have long been known to the piano trade as manufacturers of piano cases, and it is in the building used for that purpose that they are now making their pianos. They have associated themselves with Mr. Paul G Mehlin of this city, who has had almost a life-long experience as a practical piano manufacturer; beginning in Europe with Wilhelm Doner in Stuttgart, and afterwards serving here with such men as Jacob Decker, J. & C. Fischer, and lastly for thirteen years with Ernst Gabler.

During this long experience many good ideas concerning the manufacture of pianos have suggested themselves to Mr. G Mehlin, and some improvements in pianos have had their source in his brain. It would be difficult to find a man better qualified by experience and education for the mechanical department of the new firm than Mr. G Mehlin; for, in addition to his experience he combines a quality which goes a long way towards success, viz., a love for and an enthusiasm in his profession.The new firm propose at first to confine themselves to the manufacture of upright pianos of which they are making about ten per week at present, but will increase this number as rapidly as the growth of the business demands,to four or five times that number. Their facilities are large, the building which they occupy extending from 292 to 298 Eleventh avenue, New York city, five stories high, and covering a space of 75 x 100 feet, the whole substantially built of brick and situated in a part of the city adjacent to one of the principal lines of railroad communication, the freight cars of that road passing the door. All the upright pianos manufactured by this house will have the patent cylinder top by means of which the upper part of the piano can be opened for increasing the volume of sound or for tuning without disturbing the top of the piano, thereby enabling it to serve as a permanent resting place for ornaments, books or music. The cylinder top is one of the important features of the new uprights, and will no doubt add much to their popularity. In addition to this improvement the cases will be of entirely new and original designs, of which illustrations will be given in subsequent issues of this paper. In regard to the interior of the piano everything has been done that long experience could suggest to make a perfect instrument, Mr. G Mehlin himself superintending every detail. The firm state that only the best materials are used, and the result is a sympathetic and powerful toned upright.

Messrs. Behr Bros. & Co. state that they will spare no pains nor expense to make a really first class piano, and they will sell it at as moderate a price as is consistent with its quality and cost of manufacture. They also say that they have abundant capital to meet all the requirements of the new enterprise. The partners are men in the prime of life, in good health and vigor, and promise to make the new firm an important factor in the piano manufacturing industry of the country.

The demand for pianos in the United States is very large and is increasing at a greater rate than the increase in population, so there is plenty of room for the new firm, and we bespeak for it the favorable consideration of the trade and the public.