2004-10-30/2019-11-10 - From the OHS PC Database, derived from A Guide to North American Organbuilders, by David H. Fox (Richmond, Va.: Organ Historical Society, 1991). — Son of Bernard Schaefer; brother of John and Theodore Schaefer; father of Albert, Joseph, and Bernard J. Schaefer; with family firm of B. Schaefer & Sons of Schleisingerville {Slinger}, Wisconsin; incorporated firm as Schaefer Organ Co., 1920. Sources: The Cypher Newsletter 9/10 (Greater St. Louis Chapter of the Organ Historical Society), 7. Correspondence of David H. Fox. Organ Handbook 1984 (Richmond, Va.: Organ Historical Society), 29.
2015-10-16/2019-11-10 - From Organ Database Builders editor Stephen Hall, November 9, 2019. — Bernard Schaefer immigrated to the U.S. in 1873 from Germany. He built his first pipe organ for the Catholic church in Slinger WI in 1875 in partnership. He continued building organs until he retired in 1907, but again entered the business with three of his sons in 1912, his oldest son, John continued the business in the interim period. The new endeavor was known as B. Schaefer & Sons Co. with John, Theodore, and Joseph being the sons. After John's death, Theodore and Joseph continued the business. In 1920, they reorganized as Schaefer Organ Co. with Theodore as president, Joseph secretary-treasurer, and a friend, John F. Mayer, as vice-president. For a brief period in 1924 they merged with another firm in Milwalkee to form Weickhardt-Schaefer Organ company with the Milwaulkee firm operating as a branch location, but the arrangement was short-lived, and the firm again became Schaefer. Theodore later sold his interest to Joseph. Joseph continued the firm with his sons and two nephews (sons of his brother John). Source: Special Correspondent [sic] "Organ builder Paid in Goods" (The Milwaukee Journal, March 8, 1970), accessed Oct 16, 2015, via Google Newspapers.
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