Mayer, Merkel and Ottmann
Mayer, Merkel and Ottmann (1869 - 1901) was a New York City based lithography firm founded in New York by the German immigrants Vincent Mayer and August Merkel. Merkel and Mayer initially worked under 'Ferdinand Mayer and Company', before founding their own publishing partnership in 1869 as 'Mayer and Markel.' The Prussian immigrant Jacob Ottmann (1849 - 1890) joined the firm shortly thereafter and, when he had built up enough equity, became a partner. The firm officially changed to 'Mayer, Merkel and Ottmann' in 1874. The concern specialized in highly graphic color printed trade cards, and, by the 1800s, were a major American lithographic firm. Mayer and Merkel retired in 1885, leaving the firm to Ottmann, who renamed it 'J. Ottmann Lithographic' and in 1886 relocated to the Puck Building at 39 E. Houston Street. Around this time, he began to publish the weekly magazine Puck, known for graphically intense and witty political satire. After Ottmann's death in 1890, the firm was taken over by his son, William Ottmann, who shunted day to day management to Frank A. Bloom (1855 - 1901). Bloom ran the firm until his death in 1901, when it was acquired and became part of the United States Printing and Lithographing Company.
Was Puck Empfiehlt.
The Best 'Use' of the Brooklyn Bridge in Its Present Condition.
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This is a curious c. 1879 Joseph Keppler satirical broadside, issued for Puck, lampooning the state of construction on the Brooklyn Bridge, which had begun nearly a decade earlier. The bridge project, during its long construction, suffered numerous setbacks and was only accomplished thanks to the herculean efforts of the Roebling engineering family, which led the project, and the many workers who toiled to bring the bridge to completion. (more details)