From the OHS PC Database, derived from A Guide to North American Organbuilders, by David H. Fox (Richmond, Va.: Organ Historical Society, 1991). - With Roosevelt firm branch shop in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1879; established F. A. Bartholomay & Sons of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1900; resided in Haddon Heights, New Jersey, by 1920; retired and closed firm, 1954.*

* According to Orpha Ochse, it was Frederick, the son, who closed the firm and retired.

"Philadelphia ceased to be an organ-building city in 1954, when Frederick Bartholomay (the son) closed his doors in favor of retirement.�

  (Ochse, History of the Organ, 284 — see Sources below for full citation) -Ed.

Sources:

• Orpha Ochse, The History of the Organ in the United States (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1975), 284.
• The Diapason, November 1922, 22.
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Employees in 1940 (listed in news article): W.S.S. Bartholomay, John Ovack, George Grubb. Presumably Frederic Bartholomay, Jr. still active The Evening Times (Sayre, Pennsylvania) · Wed, May 22, 1940 · Page 5

From further research, William T. van Pelt published further biographical information on Bartholomay in a July 2025 CD release of the firm's Opus 149: "Frederick A. Bartholomay (June 1866 - April 18, 1942) had three sons who joined him in the organ business which had been named "F.S. Bartholomay & Sons) by ca. 1910. F.A. Bartholomay, Sr., was born in Baltimore to parents who had immigrated from Hesse, Germany. By approximately age 19, he was working in the Baltimore branch of the Roosevelt Organ Works, though he may have apprenticed...as early as 1879, when he was age 13, according to reports of his own statements. He married...and moved to Philadelphia in 1889." [Ed.: prior reports of him having worked in the Philadelphia branch of the same firm cannot be correct, as the firm was closed by 1889. Before moving to new workshops, hoever, the C.S. Haskell firm operated out of the old Roosevelt shop. It is unknown if he worked with the Haskell firm.] "...he is known to have maintained and rebuilt organs by 1890. By 1897, F.A. Bartholomay was an "organ maker" at 1911 Mifflin Street, Philadelphia."