Harvey Fisk & Sons
| Company type | Partnership |
|---|---|
| Industry | Investment banking, finance |
| Predecessor | Fisk & Hatch (founded 1862) |
| Founded | 1885 |
| Founder | Harvey Fisk |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Government bonds, municipal bonds, railroad financing |
Number of employees | Unknown |
Harvey Fisk & Sons originated in 1885 as a successor to the earlier enterprise Fisk & Hatch, which was founded in 1862. The company focused primarily on financing railroads, supporting ventures such as the American Locomotive Company and the Hudson & Manhattan Railroad.
History
In March 1885, the dissolution of Fisk & Hatch led Harvey Fisk to restructure the enterprise under the name Harvey Fisk & Sons, partnering with his three oldest sons: Harvey Edward Fisk, Charles J. Fisk, and Pliny Fisk. Subsequently, Alexander G. Fisk and Wilbur C. Fisk also became part of the partnership.
Among the firm's initial significant projects were funding for the American Locomotive Company, construction of tunnels beneath the Hudson River, and financial backing during the Spanish–American War.
Throughout Grover Cleveland's first term as president, the company facilitated sales exceeding $50 million in government bonds, a figure they matched during Benjamin Harrison's administration. Their last major transaction was the issuance of $7 million in 4% bonds in September 1890.
In the final years before Harvey Fisk Sr.'s passing in 1890, his sons assumed greater responsibilities within the firm, with Pliny Fisk becoming a prominent leader.
Harvey Edward Fisk departed in 1899 to establish Fisk & Robinson alongside George H. Robinson, who had previously been affiliated with Harvey Fisk & Sons.
The firm maintained membership on the New York Stock Exchange for four decades until 1919, after which it concentrated exclusively on investment bond activities.
Following the stock market crash of 1929, Harvey Fisk & Sons distinguished itself as the first investment firm to discontinue margin accounts, focusing entirely on cash transactions to emphasize investment and commission services.
A reformed partnership was created in 1930 that preserved the Harvey Fisk & Sons name. The general partners were Frederic M. Halsey and Frank L. Scherrer; special partners included John Aspinwall and Charles S. Eytinge. The Exchange membership formerly held by the late John C. Collingwood was transferred to Scherrer.
By 1940, Robert A. Morse joined Harvey Fisk & Sons, which had by then specialized in U.S. government securities as well as state and municipal bonds. Morse brought valuable expertise from his previous roles at Lehman Brothers and Otis & Co., enhancing the firm's capabilities in municipal bond markets.