A Unique Beach Coast Business

By Barbara Voris Eastman

Would it surprise you to know that the small Beach Coast town of La Porte, Indiana is home to a world-class framing and art business?  Let me assure you,  “world-class” is not an exaggeration.  There are paintings in the Louvre, the White House, and other renowned museums and galleries all over the world that are surrounded by Thanhardt-Burger frames, or Newcomb-Macklin frames, a company founded in 1871 that was acquired by Thanhardt-Burger in 1979. Newcomb-Macklin specialized in creating frames for American impressionists like William Merritt Chase, Mary Cassatt, and others. 

A Legacy Business

Thanhardt-Burger was founded in 1927 by Austrian immigrant, Henry Thanhardt, who arrived in America with a collection of European prints.  He was seeking a source for quality frames and found his way to La Porte, Indiana, which was home to a business called Indiana Moulding. There, he met Walter Burger, who became Thanhardt’s bookkeeper and partner.  In 1946, they established a spin-off business called W. T. Burger, which for more than 65 years has sold fine art. Since people were already coming to Thanhardt-Burger for hand-made, historically accurate frames, why not, they reasoned, also become a resource for art to go in those frames? 

Mark and Randy Krentz, current owners of Thanhardt-Burger, grew up in the business. Their father, Carl, began working for the company in 1951 and eventually became a part-owner. As soon as his sons were old enough they had after-school and summer jobs, starting out with mundane tasks such as sweeping floors and unpacking and building crates. As they got older they took on more responsibility, including setting up showrooms and exhibits at trade shows.  

Mark had a natural affinity for marketing and sales and in the late 70s went out on the road working with museums, interior designers, furniture retailers, galleries, antique art dealers, and conservators across the country. Randy, on the other hand, preferred working in the shop and learned all of the old-world techniques for building a frame: carving, molding and applying composition ornament (compo), metal leafing, etc.

A Revered Company Becomes Part of the Thanhardt-Burger Family

When Thanhardt-Burger acquired Newcomb-Macklin, it became part of the legacy of the oldest continuously operating framing business in the US.

Still using old-world methods, Thanhardt-Burger frames are most often made from basswood.  Some are carved and elaborate ornamental elements are applied to others.  The company employs skilled artisans who are committed to the highest standards of craftsmanship and attention to detail—the hallmarks of Thanhardt-Burger.

Terry Magley, who has been with Thanhardt-Burger for 11 years, seals metal leaf. 

A Full-Service Art and Frame Resource

While in the past Thanhardt-Burger has focused on the needs of the trade, Mark and Randy Krentz want the people of The Beach Coast to know that they also welcome individuals and corporations seeking fine art and framing services.  At the showroom location, Mark is at your service and has a huge inventory of original paintings from landscapes and portraits to abstracts and high quality hand-colored engravings. Mark takes pride in the fact that Thanhardt-Burger has helped introduce European painters to the US market and has also helped advance the careers of several American painters.  He can advise you on the perfect frame to enhance your new work of art, and then Randy and his team of craftsmen can build the frame to your specifications.

Art: A Necessity, Not a Luxury

Since man began walking upright he has recognized the need for artistic expression.  Drawings on the walls of caves and examples of Greek and Roman art that are literally thousands of years old show that there is something inherent in humans that needs and responds to beauty in our surroundings.  Do yourself a favor and visit the Thanhardt-Burger Showroom in La Porte.  It is a unique Beach Coast business that has a legacy of making the world a more beautiful place.

Thanhardt-Burger Art and Frame Showroom
103 Polk Street
La Porte, IN  46350
(219) 369-6805
www.wtburger.com
Wed-Fri 12pm – 5pm CST
Sat 10am – 2pm CST
Or by appointment
 

Thanhardt-Burger Factory
1308 Lake Street
La Porte, IN  46350
(219) 362-2168
(800) 826-4375
www.thanhardtburger.com
By appointment
 

Barbara Voris Eastman grew up in Michigan City and moved back to the area after spending nearly 35 years working in Chicago. She is both the editor and a regular contributor to www.thebeachcoast.com.