The Marblehead Mile (Article 4) - Lorrie Halblaub

Biro Manufacturing

In this series we are taking an historical look at an area that covers approximately a mile of Main Street in downtown Marblehead. Heading east from the Village limits, we will discover the facts and the stories of how Marblehead became what it is today.

This company was founded by Carl George Biro, who emigrated from Hungary to Marblehead in 1906.  At first he worked in the quarry railroad shop as a blacksmith.  He also attended technical school at night and on weekends, where it is assumed he learned to be a butcher.  Then he opened a meat market.  In his spare time, he did a little inventing. He started with a patent on a band saw for use in butcher shops. In 1921 began a company that still manufactures meat cutting and processing equipment to this day.

This small company began in a building that first served as the second St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Marblehead.  The first St. Joseph Church was a stone building, then as the congregation grew, they built a larger wooden building. The parish built the even larger limestone building in 1917 that stands today on Barclay Street. To make room for this last church, the smaller wooden church was moved one street north, to Church Street.  That former church building was where Carl perfected his products. Today that former church is a garage attached to a private home. 

 Carl’s successful and clever inventions grew into an international business where they make what has been described as “the Cadillac of meat saws.”  When they outgrew the wooden building,  they built two brick buildings that stand today.  The building to the west at 1114 W. Main St. is where all the manufacturing is done. In the 1940’s, Biro meat saws went to war on most U.S. Navy ships.  Today, Carnival Cruise lines use their meat tenderizing machines. Biro meat processing equipment can be found in the United States and in countries all over the world.

However, Carl G. Biro was not the only Biro to come to Marblehead from Hungary.  His father, Paul Biro Sr. was a blacksmith, who emigrated to Marblehead and worked his trade for the quarry when they still used horses. All of Paul Sr.’s other sons also emigrated from Hungary to Ohio.  Paul Jr. came in 1906, George Sr. came in 1911, and by the time he was 27, the youngest son, Emery came to the United States. George Sr. worked in the Marblehead shop while Paul Jr. and Emery Sr. were in the distribution part of the business. All of Paul Biro Sr.’s daughters remained in Hungary and raised families there. There was Margaret who died before age 1, Barbara, Elizabeth, and Mary.

Over the years, Carl Sr.’s sons, grandsons and great-grandsons have been part of Biro Manufacturing and it is still a family business. Carl’s  grandson is the current president.