Alfred L. Fritzche
Alfred L. Fritzsche. The deadly peril of fire, one of the accepted four elements of earth formation, and that most essential agent of civilized living, attends every footstep of man despite its genial and beneficent offices in his behalf. That it has become a harnessed giant, submissive and obedient to a large extent, by no means eliminates its underlying peril, its possibility of breaking bonds and its consequent terrific power of devastation. To make common use of this mighty agent and to completely control the operation of its energy, have been objects of scientific thought and experimental mechanical genius for ages. Inventions have multiplied whereby life and property may have protection; nevertheless, in America alone, it is estimated that even in these progressive, modern days, no less than 3,000 persons annually lose their lives through preventable fires, while property losses amount to millions. The word preventable is purposely used, because the happy time has come when this fearful desolation may practically be banished. Inventive genius has, in the Grinnell Automatic Sprinkler, perfected a simple, practical, economic method of doing away with the great fire loss than yearly has taken its heavy tool (sic) of heroic and innocent lives and swept fortunes in property into nothingness. This notable invention, however, like many devices that preceded it, has required the guiding hand of business efficiency to bring it before the world, and no member of the manufacturing official force has done more in this direction than has Alfred L. Fritzsche, who is general sales manager for the General Fire Extinguisher Company for the United States and Canada, with headquarters in Cleveland.
Alfred L. Fritzsche is a native of Ohio, born in Cleveland, May 21, 1869, and is a son of Alfred and Caroline Fritzsche. The father was born in Dresden, Germany, in April, 1836, of affluent parents who were able to afford him a private tutor in boyhood and later a course in the University of Berlin, with a half brother, now Judge E. H. Bohm, of Cleveland. On completing his university training he entered the Berlin Theological Seminary, from which institution he was also graduated. In 1855 he came to the United States and located at Cleveland, embarking in a real estate business, which he conducted until 1863, when he became a soldier in the Union army and served until the close of the Civil war as a member of the One Hundred Forty-third Ohio Infantry. Upon his return to Cleveland he resumed his former business and continued to deal in real estate until 1873, when he went into the insurance line, this he continuing until his death, which occurred April 8, 1889. He was a man of sterling character, a public spirited citizen at all times and was quite active in the political affairs of Cleveland. In 1867 he was married in this city to Miss Caroline Schneider, and three children were born to them: Alfred L., Henry E., and Carolyne Meta.
Alfred L. Fritzsche attended the public schools until he was ten years old and then prevailed upon his parents to permit his entering a printing office to learn the typesetter's trade. For two years he worked in the office of the Sunday Journal and or two years more in the office of the Sun and Voice, and it is quite probable that Mr. Fritzsche at the present time could acquit himself very creditably at a case.
In 1890 Mr. Fritzsche entered the employ of the Neracher Sprinkler Company as a pipe fitter and worked as a mechanic for two years and then became a salesman for the company, his practical experience in the shops being very helpful in the latter position. In 1893 the Neracher Sprinkler Company consolidated with the Grinnell Sprinkler Company, adopting the name of the General Fire Extinguisher Company, Mr. Fritzsche remaining under the new organization and in 1903 became western sales manager and a director in that company. Since 1913 he has filled the office of general sales manager for the United States and Canada, and largely through his wisdom and enterprise the sale and installation of the automatic sprinklers controlled by this company has been so well developed.
The General Fire Extinguisher Company was started by William Neracher of Cleveland, who was the inventor of the Neracher sprinkler. When consolidation with the Grinnell Sprinkler Company was effected in 1893, the plant was at Warren, Ohio, and since then ten other plants have been located in the United States and Canada. The development of this business under excellent salesmanship has been truly remarkable, growing from $1,000,000 in 1893 to $12,500,000 in 1917. This company today is protecting property valued at over $100,000,000,000, maintaining fire protection in such large cities as New York, Chicago, Boston, Cleveland and Minneapolis, where such systems are required by present laws in buildings of certain construction and occupancy. The basic idea on which the Grinnell Automatic Sprinkler was developed was to attack a fire in its incipiency by automatically drenching the slight blaze from which fires start. In manufacturing his automatic sprinkler the company commands highly perfected engineering work, careful planning and scientific thought. This combination of engineering skill and manufacturing exactitude has secured for Grinnell equipments the title "Standard of the World," and with expert and enlightened salesmanship it has made many people and cities feel secure. This company also does heating and power piping for large industrial plants.
Mr. Fritzsche was married June 6, 1894, at Cleveland, to Miss Clara Neracher, and they have four children; Allen W. , born in 1895, is a graduate of Notre Dame and Western Reserve universities, was employed in the engineering department of the General Fire Extinguisher Company and is now a first lieutenant in the U. S. Army; Alfred L, a student at Cornell, has enlisted in the navy; Paul H., at Carlton Academy, summit, New Jersey; and William N., a pupil in the city schools. Mr. Fritzsche and family are members of the Roman Catholic Church. In political alliance he is a republican, and his club connections are representative of high standing in both business and social life; these including: the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce, Cleveland Athletic and Shaker Heights Country clubs, the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Toledo Club of Toledo, Ohio. He also belongs to the Knights of Columbus.
From Cleveland - Special Limited Edition, The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago & New York, 1918 v.1