Science, Industry and Business Library >
B.
Altman & Co.
N the upper floors
of the building are assembled the numerous industries which make of
the Altman establishment a vast human beehive. Here are the immense
storerooms for reserve merchandise--for this is a wholesale as well
as a retail house, and every day brings in its augmentations of
stock from home and foreign markets, while every day witnesses a
tremendous output. Here, too, are the workrooms--for gowns, suits,
riding habits, furs, millinery, corsets, men's shirts, lace
curtains, decorative laces, upholsteries, lamp shades, table
decorations, etc., etc.
The Mail Order Department, on the Eighth Floor, is deserving of
special mention, were it only for the fact that it reaches out its
helpful hands to patrons of the store all over the world. The woman
who resides far beyond visiting distance of any store, whether in
America or a foreign territory, may readily supply herself, through
the agency of this department, with the latest novelties in
fashion, without any personal trouble whatever and with no more
delay than is required for the transmission of the order and the
shipment of goods. The regular staff of the department includes a
large force of expert shoppers, who are fully competent to select
from the store's various departments any merchandise may be called
for, from the smallest individual item to an entire wardrobe.
Another keenly interesting feature of the establishment is the
artificial refrigerating plant for the safe storage of furs, rugs
and draperies. The walls, ceilings and floors of the storage vaults
(illustrated on page 27) are completely
encased in thick sheathings of cork, insuring evenness of
temperature and absolute protection against moisture. The storage
plant covers an immense area, as, although the floor space is
divided into compartments, mainly as a protective measure against
fire, the vaults extend across the entire width of the ninth floor
of the building. All of this space is kept cool and dry by the
refrigerating apparatus in the basement. None of the coils
composing it are located in the storage vaults; hence there is no
possibility of damage to the valuable articles stored through
leakage from faulty pipes or moisture deposits.
Go to the next chapter
