Decorate Display Windows

And Paint Signs For Merchants.

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STARTED ON SMALL

SCALE 5 YEARS AGO

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Known Over Territory Of

Seventy Miles From New Uim.

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From a very humble start in the painting and decorating business, Louis Windhorn, a New Ulm young man, is enjoying a splendid business and is prospering in his undertaking to such an extent that it will soon be necessary to enlarge his accommodations. This place of business is one of the most popular shops in the city, and its location on South Minnesota street aids in the success of the business.

Began in 1919

In 1919, Mr. Windhorn arranged the barn, belonging to his uncle, L. Dalig, into a room which would enable him to work at the painting of signs and window backgrounds. When a very young boy he had been interested in this work and had displayed considerable artistic ability in the material which he turned out for his own personal use. It did not take long for the community to realize the ability of the young man, and while he started on a very meager scale, it was not long before he found it necessary to look for a suitable location in the business district, where he might have better accommodations. In the late summer of the year in which he started his operations, Mr. Windhorn formed a partnership with Willard Vogel and the firm known as Windhorn & Vogel, rented the Old Overall factory build-ing which was then located in North German Park, and began their work with very little capital. Their ambition and determination carried them on and after a little less than a year, Mr. Windhorn purchased the interest of Willard Vogel and moved to new quarters in the Minnesota Central Creamery Building, occupying the first and second floors of the part now used for poultry and eggs by that concern. Under the name of L. Windhorn Sign Co., the business continued in this location for two years. In 1922, Mr. Windhorn leased the Siebenbrunner building at 15 So. Minnesota Street on the property recently purchased by J. A. Ochs and Son.

That location is used today by Mr. Windhorn and the building, while small, affords a neat display room and a large work shop. The store space is located in front of the work room in a space of 15×25 feet leaving the measurement of the work room 20×15. The first floor of the building is used by this thriving business. The display window is finished with a side en-trance which leads to the main store room. Shelving on each side and across the back of the room is stocked with paints, varnishes, brushes, reed baskets pottery, glass, etc. The well known, reliable line of the Pittsburg Plate Glass Co. paints and supplies are carried. A large display glass show case is arranged on the north side of the store and is used to show a variety of 25 different kinds of artificial flowers which are made in Germany. Fruits, rose leaves, holly leaves and ferns of all kinds are offered. Large baskets are arranged with fruit and flowers and are made up in attractive displays.

Handle Imported Goods

A special line of German Imported Pottery has been added to the stock of the store this fall and is well worth seeing. The various articles are copied from pieces produced in the old Copper Age and are so nearly identical with the original designs, that the artist who made them has copied the cracks and dents in the vases, pots, Jars, etc. These pieces will make beautiful gifts and are priced very reasonably. The fruit plates which have been made for hanging on the dining room wall, are selling fast and this fact proves their popularity. Among the offerings which have recently been received from Germany are several oil painting which are copies of pictures already famous in this country. The display window is beautifully decorated with some of the pottery, fruits and flower baskets and the pictures may be seen in the window. The background of the window is of a bronze and rose and represents the interior of a room. The color scheme is carried out further in wall lights with rose colored shades and the goods in the window is displayed on vermilion hued velvet.

New Instrument Used

An air brush, a new instrument used by painters and decorators, has been added to the equipment of this up-to-date shop. The work done by this brush will equal that of ten men done in the same length of time. The electric motor air compresses tank will hold one hundred pounds of air. A sort of gun is attached to an air hose and is operated with a trigger arrangement similar to that of a revolver. The air passing thru the hose forces the paint thru the cup and causes a spray which covers the article to be painted with an even coat of paint. The work is done quickly and efficiently and is a great time saver to the busy painter. The air brush is used also to blend the colors and a thousand different designs can be made with the brush. The new window backgrounds in the Schmucker & Burk windows and in the paint shop window are good examples of the work done by this brush.

Valuable To New Ulm

Mr. Windhorn conducts a business which is valuable to New Ulm. Besides supplying the needs of the public with paint, window glass, etc., he trims fifteen of the display windows of the main business places in this city every week. His work is unsurpassed in this line. His ideas and training have proven successful and he has visited Chicago several times to take training at Marshall-Fields, where they have the best trimmed windows of any business concern. The head window trimmer of that store is known as being one of the best in the world. Business from outside cities and towns extends to a radius of seventy miles. At the present time, Mr. Windhorn takes care of all the needs of the business, but it is growing so rapidly that it will be necessary to employ a helper in the near future. Success will mean a spreading out of the work now done and New Ulm will be well advertised by the first class work done by Mr. Windhorn who has decorated more than 2,000 windows since he started in the business.“Service” and “satisfaction”‘ are the watchwords of this rapidly growing business.

New Ulm Review,

Nov. 26, 1914

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