52nd Street & Grays Avenue, Philadelphia PA 19143
© John Mayer,
Workshop of the
World (Oliver Evans Press, 1990).
Michael A. Bruder started his
paint business in 1899 with a single paint store on
Passyunk Avenue in Philadelphia. By 1926 the company had
opened another store across the Delaware River in Camden
and operated a paint factory at 17th and Mifflin
Streets. 1
After the loss of
the Mifflin Street factory, destroyed by fire in 1935,
the company purchased the property at 52nd Street and
Grays Avenue and built the existing factory.
This three story, concrete/steel frame and brick factory
is the Philadelphia manufacturing facility for the MAB
Company. Included in this plant are a chemical
laboratory, paint making operations and warehouse space.
Approximately 500 employees are engaged at the plant.
MAB paints are also manufactured in Terre Haute, Indiana
and Orlando, Florida for distribution throughout the
Mid-Atlantic and southeastern portion of the country. MAB
continues today as a family owned, independent paint
company. 2
1 M.A.
Bruder and Sons, A 75-Year
History,
(Philadelphia, 1974).
2 MAB promotional
brochure, no date.
Update May
2007 (by
Joel Spivak):
No change.
See also:
MAB Paints - corporate
website