A Closer Look: Former Wood & Brooks piano key factory
From the Photo series: A Closer Look: Explore Western New York’s architectural treasures series
Wood & Brooks Company operated in Tonawanda from 1902 to 1970, making piano keys and keyboards. In 1970, Raymond Wopperer purchased the building under the company Frontier Insulation Contractors, the family business that still operates the property. A portion of a historic century-old industrial complex at 2101 Kenmore Ave. in Tonawanda is poised to become a new apartment building.
Piano key maker
Wood & Brooks Co. facility that once produced over 125,000 piano keys and mechanisms each year.Â
A vision for a former factory
Michael Wopperer is the vice president of Frontier Insulation and is spearheading the development of the Wood & Brooks building.
Former Wood & Brooks
The first building, right, was constructed in 1902 and the one on left in 1911. Phase one will involve the newer building as well as a one story building behind it. They produced keys and keyboards while another of their factories in Illinois produces piano actions.
Boiler room
In the existing boiler room are the old boilers that were used long ago.Â
Vintage doors
The weighted sliding industrial doors, such as this one on the fifth floor of the taller building are throughout the complex.
Woods & Brooks
This is the second building of former Wood & Brooks constructed in 1911 when the company ramped up production. They employed about 200 workers.
Property plans from 1901
Displayed on the wall are the drawings of the property from 1901.
Plan for the windows
Michael Wopperer, vice president of Frontier Insulation who is spearheading the renovation, explains that in phase one, the windows will be replaced, but they will be replicas.
Giant kilns
John Wopperer, president of Frontier Insulation, shows the large kilns used to dry the wood to make the piano keyboards and keys. Each of the three kilns are 89 feet deep by 20 feet wide. They will be transformed into work space for contractors and storage.
Heater in former kiln
This is where the heat came down from the ceiling in one of the large kilns used to dry the wood to make the piano keyboards and keys.
Woods & Brooks
The company used ivory that came from elephant tusks to cover the wooden keys for decades. In 1939, they imported 150,000 pounds of ivory. By 1952, 90% of the keys were made of plastic and wood. In 1954, they still imported 10,000 of ivory tusks for the very expensive pianos.Â
Skilled trades training area
This is an area in the first floor of the six-floor building that will be renovated in the first phase for skilled trade workforce development.
Sprinkler system
This alarm valve for a sprinkler system from 1944 still works.
Elevator mechanism
This is the elevator mechanism above the sixth floor.
Space for apartments
The fifth floor is empty. Floors 3 through 6 will be made into 11 apartments on each floor.Â
Where the vision began
Raymond Wopperer, 98, walks around the fifth floor. He bought the complex through his company Frontier Insulation in 1970. His family has continued in the business.Â
Elevator shaft
This is looking up the shaft in one of the original elevators in the six-story building.
Going up
This is one of the original elevators in the six-story building.
Constructed in 1911
The second building of the former Wood & Brooks company was constructed in 1911.
Optimal productivity
This second building of the former Wood & Brooks company was designed for maximum efficiency.
Future patio
A door going onto roof of the original four-story building, which will be turned into a patio in the second phase of the renovation.
Renovation for a working-class neighborhood
Looking out from the sixth-floor roof, Michael Wopperer shares his vision of the complex fitting in with the working class and industrial neighborhoods surrounding the complex.
Kenmore Avenue
A view of the surrounding neighborhood from the sixth-floor roof showing the roundabout at Kenmore Avenue and Amherst Street.
Wood & Brooks
A view of the Riverside neighborhood from the sixth-floor roof. The renovation will fit in with the industrial and working-class neighborhood.
Door weights
This is a weight on one of the vintage sliding industrial doors.
Area for phase 2 of renovation
A tenant is renting a space on the first floor of the original building. This portion of the building will be renovated in the second phase.
Lobby
This is the lobby of the 1901 building, which is where some of the offices are.
Staircase
This is a staircase to offices in the 1901 building.
A thriving business in its day
This is the original building of Wood & Brooks company, which operated in Tonawanda from 1902-1970 making piano keys and keyboards.
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