Henry Hotze & Sons 1862 - 1962

by Bent Hotze

Page 7

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Jay Kay, who knew every detail of a saddle from fitting, cutting, and sewing, (I saw him sit at a sewing machine, and without a pattern, stitch in Oak Leaves, Roses, and Lilies of the Valley in a seat cover). His most important know how was his ability to estimate accurately how much leather would be needed in a saddle, and how much labor. The other factory representatives at the meeting in South Bend were so impressed that they based their bids on Jay Kay's estimate.

When Jay Kay got back to St. Louis, the only way the bank would loan Henry Hotze and Sons money to finance the purchase of supplies for the contract entailed Harry Hotze (second generation), his partner, putting up $5,000.00. That was Harry's lifetime savings. His lunch was an apple. An apple a day over 20 years or so enable the small company to take on a big contract, and Jay Kay never forgot it.

He rented the building next door (5 stories) and later on a building to the rear of 219-221. When that was done, numbers 219-221 Chestnut was the home building. 217 next door on a wide alley, or lane, was annexed.. Later the building was occupied by Denver Wright (My very good friend). Also a rear building facing the alley. His brother, Will, ran one department, and Albert, one, in the rear building. Albert ran the starting layout department, Charlie was in the shipping room.

Jay Kay detailed everything, in fact blue printed the whole operation, and the management from start to finish, as well as coordinating the purchases. Harry handled the payroll and invoicing.

At the finish of the Studebaker contract, when I came back, 1914, from Columbia, Missouri, Jay Kay was driving a Dodge car down to Mossy Springs on the Gasconade, his second home. He was in the money for the first time in his life.

A Greek contract followed. The trouble, there, was collecting from the Greek government representative, an army colonel. It seems the colonel stalled payment, and a little Grease was needed to expedite settlement. Jay Kay finally got the colonel to a New York city big bank and got the final payment. The banker said his time cost $5,000.00 an hour - believe it or not - so the bank got into the act also. Came 1917, despite President Wilson's campaign promise that no American boy would go overseas, I was in France in September, 1917, Private First Class, 10th Engineers.