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TV SALES & SERVICE

Bill Weller was the first television dealer in Brunswick and he was also the only TV repairman in town at that time, which was approximately 1947-48. The brand he sold was "GERARD" and the screens were very small in those early years. Very few homes had them back then but a few of the taverns did. At Darr's the TV set was placed on a high shelf that was located on a wall in the back area of the store. A thick magnifying glass was attached to the front of the TV screen so that the images were magnified enough that people sitting throughout the store at the various tables and booths could see the action. The football games, baseball games, Monday night boxing matches, the Wednesday night Arthur Godfrey Show and just about anything on nighttime TV would bring customers into a place of business. As the TV industry became more advanced and sophisticated the need for TV repairmen opened up avenues for this much-needed skill. The Peoples Home and Auto Store started selling TV's, as did Gross Brothers. Later, Shelly Dawson's Dry Cleaning establishment got into the business of selling TV sets; his brother, Norman, was the repairman.

experience working in a factory. Clara answered, "Yes." "Who did you work for?" they asked. "Polan Katz," she answered. "You said you would send for us when you needed us. And it's been a long time a-coming." I'll never forget the look on her face, says Clara. "We were patient," she jested. Once again Clara worked for Polan Katz until they closed. (When Price Electric was in the same building, she again worked until that business closed and left town.) Clara remembers the process for manufacturing umbrellas. Some workers sewed the seams of the cover. She was a "tipper," gathering the top of the umbrella and securing it and sewing the material to the tips with waxed thread, so they would remain secure. A top was put on to cover the stitches, just as nowadays tips are at the ends of the ribs of the frame. Clara would also cut off any fringes remaining. She said she became so adept at tipping that she would pick up the small scissors without putting her fingers through the holes and snip rapidly. Thomas Sigler, Jr., bought the furniture store property from Mrs. Durst, daughter of TheodoreSeihler, thepreviousand longtime owner. The "factory" on 5th Avenue, Brunswick's only "factory" today, is now devoted to woodworking. S - Clara Crowl Bohrer - Tom Sigler, Jr. - Theresa Thompson Sheppard

S - Memory Lane - B. L. Cavalier

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UMBRELLA FACTORY

THE V. KAPLON COMPANY

Polan Katz, of Baltimore, had operated an umbrella factory on the second floor of the building that became known as the Potomac Furniture Store at 310 West Potomac Street. Now owned by Thomas Sigler, Jr., since 1989, the building is the location ofBill Sa user's law office and eight apartments. Mr. Sigler also renewed the entire front of the building.The umbrella factory employed about 40 people. Clara Crowl Bohrer was one of these, having begun to work thereat about age 15. (She has faithfully shared her memories with the Brunswick History Commission over the years.) Clara was to work only during the summer vacation, but remained until the umbrella factory closed. At this time the workers were told "We will sendfor you when we need you." Years later, in the late 1930' s, a factory was built at 5th Avenue and D Street. Polan Katz had returned, and Clara Crowl and a friend applied for a job. First the interviewer asked if they had had any

Brunswick's leading - and for years, only department store, the V. Kaplan Company, was opened by Victor Kaplan in 1889 in a location between the railroad tracks, moving to his new building on the comer of West Potomac Street and Maryland A venue in 1907. This followed Mr. Ka pion's years as a peddler, carrying his wares on his circuit through the area. This new store had three floors and a basement: Furniture on the third floor, ready-to-wear on the second, and clothes for men and women, dry goods, and shoes on the first," to quote Amos Kaplon's memoirs. The basement was the location for various endeavors - once a bowling alley, and in later times, bargains. The store had a manually operated elevator, one of two of this kind locally. The 1896 Directory contained this ad: Kaplon & Bro., Headquarterss for fine dry goods, millinery, ladies', misses' and children's shoes. A specialty in ladies', misses' and children's cloaks,

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