52 East 19th Street

at the corner of 4th Ave was the address of

ALCO & ALCO GRAVURE

The American Lithographic Co. 1892-1929

The Knapp Co. 1900-1929
(Alco's art division )

and also the showroom for

SEA SLED BOATS 1925-1930's

 

In short it was the headquarters for Joseph Palmer Knapp's

Printing Empire and where his son Dodi Knapp worked & played

(he was bullish on Sea Sleds)

I thought it would be neat to see where it once was .....

 

Little did I know as I headed down 4th I would see this ....

 

It certainly looked familiar

KNAPP THIS!

from my 1910 Knapp Co. Sales Brochure

 

 

but at first I wasn't sure because I had the impression it was on the north west corner. However as I got closer a wide smile broke out in my brain!

 

 

AND WHEN I LOOKED WEST UP 19th STREET I COULD ACTUALLY
READ THE SIGN THAT WAS CHISLED IN STONE

 

I THEN STARTED SNAPPING AWAY AT EVERYTHING
ON IT.

The Railing BTW Is Very Reminiscent Of The One That

Was On The Terrace Of Their Mastic Beach Mansion

The Address For The Entire Building Is Now

230 Park Ave South

 

 

Looking West Up East 19th St.

 

American Lithographic Co. which became the largest company of it's type in the world

was capitalised in 1892 with 13 Million ... Some Of It Looks Very Well Spent

Take A Bow

Mr. Joseph Palmer Knapp esq.

 

 

 

 

Naturally I went inside and asked the security guard at the front desk if I could take photos. Of course he said NO.....The fact that I told him I know the guy that had it built did not seem to impress him at all .....but it looked like it has been heavily remodeled on the interior into typical modern nothingness. Still I Had To Wonder..... If the second story lobby where Knapp Co. Had their Showroom Was Left Alone.

 

Would It Not Be A Crime To

Replace This ?

 

If anyone out there who has access to or works in this building ( It's mostly all advertising agencies )

wants to contact me to tell me how the interior has fared....please have at it.

E MAIL

 

Park Ave. Showrooms

Once Upon A Time You Could Buy A Sea Sled One Of The Finest Boats made in America Here... Today you can get a lemon!

 

after that it was onward uptown to the AKC Library where I made many more fruitfull

discoveries...... that will be revealed all in due time...WOOF!

FOR MORE ON AMERICAN LITHOGRAPHIC CO
CLICK HERE

 

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