Excerpts from the journals of John R. Lange, Jr.
Founded in 1927 by John R. Lange, Sr., the business grew out of a childhood hobby and interest in ham radios which he shared with his neighborhood friends. John, whose call letters were “JRL” allowed this childhood interest to drive his future endeavors and employment. Serving as a Radio Operator for a large wireless company offered him extensive voyages on vessels bound for areas all over Central America. Future endeavors also included serving a Radioman First Class in the Navy at the start of and throughout World War I.
In the late 20s and early 30s, radios were battery-powered and required rooftop aerials (not yet referred to as antennas). The radios were sold by many of the large Department stores of the era. John and Lange employees would handle the installation of these aerials. These Department stores were also selling oil burners at this time. The sale was a package deal that included installation. John and other employees would go to the homes where the burner oil tanks had been delivered, pull the fire and grates out of the coal furnace and build a combustion chamber in the furnace or boiler out of the fire brick. These types of installations served as the main areas of focus during the early years of the business.
Seeming like much of an oddity when looking back, John didn’t buy trucks for the business, but instead would buy large sedans, one of which was a Studebaker. He would stock them with conduit, fire brick, wire, boxes, etc. to take out on the jobs. He held strong to the belief that these cars were far better than the trucks of that era.
John R. Lange, Jr. (Bob), only son of John Sr. and Della, was involved in the business as a young man during the late 1930’s and early 40’s. He worked on service jobs during his school vacations. It was during this time that his father thought that branching out to authorized factory service would be beneficial to the business and its future. Many of these factory motors were widely used on residential refrigerators and washing machines. Although the competition was intense, John Sr. took on local service for these products. To add to the competitive landscape, there were no new motors available from 1941 to 1946, thus creating a tremendous repair market.
Lange moved their shop in the early 40’s to a building at 202-208 W. Chase Street. It had an old wood front, which was replaced by brickwork in 1946. In 1957, the City of Baltimore condemned all buildings on the North side of Chase Street for new street construction.
Over those 30+ years, Bob shepherded the family firm to a multifaceted, electrical equipment repair and distribution company. He led Lange Electric into new areas that included pump repair and machine work, field service and a strong emphasis on replacement equipment. The company added new equipment, capabilities, employees, inventory and product lines. Bob was a licensed Master Electrician, a long standing member of Independent Electrical Contractors, a Charter member of the Chesapeake Chapter of Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES) and during the 1960’s, an active member of the Electrical Apparatus Service Association (EASA).
