Encyclopedia Dubuque
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FROMMELT INDUSTRIES INC.: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:dubuqueawning.png|left|thumb| | [[Image:dubuqueawning.png|left|thumb|350px|]]FROMMELT INDUSTRIES INC. Frommelt Industries was a manufacturer of doors, screens, safety shields, fire resistant clothing, and industrial safety equipment. In 1909 Ludwig Frommelt, a former employee of the [[A. A. COOPER WAGON AND BUGGY COMPANY]], bought the awning and tent company once owned by [[COOPER, Augustin A.|Augustin A. COOPER]]. Frommelt named his business the [[DUBUQUE AWNING & TENT COMPANY]]. (1) It was renamed Frommelt Industries, Inc. in 1950. | ||
The company, operating within a fifty-mile radius of Dubuque, included Ludwig who personally made the measurements of each item ordered, his wife Mary, and five employees who worked in manufacturing. Fire destroyed the company in 1925, but Meyer's Grocery (a satisfied customer) offered Frommelt the back of | The company, operating within a fifty-mile radius of Dubuque, included Ludwig who personally made the measurements of each item ordered, his wife Mary, and five employees who worked in manufacturing. Fire destroyed the company in 1925, but Meyer's Grocery (a satisfied customer) offered Frommelt the back of their store until a new location could be found. | ||
[[Image:packet-1.png|left|thumb|200px|Army pouch]] | [[Image:packet-1.png|left|thumb|200px|Army pouch]] | ||
[[Image:packet-2.png|right|thumb|200px|]]Frommelts worked in the grocery until 1928 when the company was moved to a building at Third and Main [[STREETS]]. Growth, slow during the | [[Image:packet-2.png|right|thumb|200px|]]Frommelts worked in the grocery until 1928 when the company was moved to a building at Third and Main [[STREETS]]. A major part of the business during the 1920s was the manufacture of home awnings. Commercial awnings were also manufactured with complete installations of the company's products within 100 miles of Dubuque. (2) Growth, slow during the [[GREAT DEPRESSION]], turned to boom years after [[WORLD WAR II]]. Inventions by [[FROMMELT, Cyril P.|Cyril P. FROMMELT]], including a welding screen that protected eyes from welding sparks and prevented the sparks from spreading, led to the development in 1950 of the Frommelt Safety Division located along Kerper Blvd. (3) | ||
[[Image:frommelt56.jpg|left|thumb|250px|1956 advertisement. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding]] | [[Image:frommelt56.jpg|left|thumb|250px|1956 advertisement. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding]] | ||
Business growth during the 1950s and 1960s reached as high as thirty percent annually. Dubuque Awning developed and patented the first loading dock shelter for use by the [[DUBUQUE PACKING COMPANY]] | Business growth during the 1950s and 1960s reached as high as thirty percent annually. Beginning as a manufacturing and distributorship organization, the company's major products were a canvas portable welding shield known as SPA-FLA by trade name and a foil-laminated cloth known as RAY-FOIL, used as a curtain to wall off high radiant heat sources. (4) Dubuque Awning developed and patented the first loading dock shelter for use by the [[DUBUQUE PACKING COMPANY]]. | ||
The | The introduction of foam pads and seals led to the company to establishing their own foam manufacturing plant. Central Foam Corporation of Chicago representatives announced in 1972 that a Dubuque plant would be constructed and leased by Frommelt Industries. One acre of land north of the Safety Division, sold by the Dubuque City Council at twenty cents a square foot, cost $8,712. (5) | ||
The | The Awning Division was sold in 1979, and a Traffic Door Division was unveiled. The company expanded and moved to Huff Street in 1975. (6) | ||
In 1981 company representatives announced it would become the first industry to begin construction at the Radford Road Industrial Park. (7) In 1984 the three divisions of the company were brought together in one new building. An addition to the building was constructed in 1986 for the Power Door Division. | |||
On July 17, 1991, the sale of Frommelt Industries to | On July 17, 1991, the sale of Frommelt Industries to the [[RITE-HITE CORPORATION]] of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was announced. (8) | ||
The 1974 through 1983 '''Dubuque City Directory''' listed 465 Huff for Frommelt Industries and 460 Huff for Frommelt's Dubuque Awning and Tent Company. | |||
The 1985 through 1989 '''Dubuque City Directory''' listed Frommelt Industries at 4343 Chavenelle Road. | |||
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Source: | |||
1. Goessl, Joan. "Frommelt To Bring Plants Together," ''Telegraph Herald'', June 26 1983, p. 30 | |||
2. "Tents and Awnings Made Here Also," ''Telegraph-Herald and Times-Journal'', March 31, 1929, p. 59 | |||
3. Goessl | |||
4. "Dubuque Awning and Tent Company," ''Telegraph-Herald,'' June 17, 1951, p. 8 | |||
5. "New Industry for Dubuque," ''Telegraph Herald'', March 7, 1972, p. 21 | |||
6. Mozinski, Eileen. "Frommelt, Rite-Hite Became Good Match," Telegraph Herald, September 15, 2008, p. 66 | |||
7. Ibid. | |||
8. Ibid. | |||
[[Category: Tent/Awning]] | [[Category: Tent/Awning]] | ||
Latest revision as of 20:40, 4 May 2024
FROMMELT INDUSTRIES INC. Frommelt Industries was a manufacturer of doors, screens, safety shields, fire resistant clothing, and industrial safety equipment. In 1909 Ludwig Frommelt, a former employee of the A. A. COOPER WAGON AND BUGGY COMPANY, bought the awning and tent company once owned by Augustin A. COOPER. Frommelt named his business the DUBUQUE AWNING & TENT COMPANY. (1) It was renamed Frommelt Industries, Inc. in 1950.
The company, operating within a fifty-mile radius of Dubuque, included Ludwig who personally made the measurements of each item ordered, his wife Mary, and five employees who worked in manufacturing. Fire destroyed the company in 1925, but Meyer's Grocery (a satisfied customer) offered Frommelt the back of their store until a new location could be found.
Frommelts worked in the grocery until 1928 when the company was moved to a building at Third and Main STREETS. A major part of the business during the 1920s was the manufacture of home awnings. Commercial awnings were also manufactured with complete installations of the company's products within 100 miles of Dubuque. (2) Growth, slow during the GREAT DEPRESSION, turned to boom years after WORLD WAR II. Inventions by Cyril P. FROMMELT, including a welding screen that protected eyes from welding sparks and prevented the sparks from spreading, led to the development in 1950 of the Frommelt Safety Division located along Kerper Blvd. (3)
Business growth during the 1950s and 1960s reached as high as thirty percent annually. Beginning as a manufacturing and distributorship organization, the company's major products were a canvas portable welding shield known as SPA-FLA by trade name and a foil-laminated cloth known as RAY-FOIL, used as a curtain to wall off high radiant heat sources. (4) Dubuque Awning developed and patented the first loading dock shelter for use by the DUBUQUE PACKING COMPANY.
The introduction of foam pads and seals led to the company to establishing their own foam manufacturing plant. Central Foam Corporation of Chicago representatives announced in 1972 that a Dubuque plant would be constructed and leased by Frommelt Industries. One acre of land north of the Safety Division, sold by the Dubuque City Council at twenty cents a square foot, cost $8,712. (5)
The Awning Division was sold in 1979, and a Traffic Door Division was unveiled. The company expanded and moved to Huff Street in 1975. (6)
In 1981 company representatives announced it would become the first industry to begin construction at the Radford Road Industrial Park. (7) In 1984 the three divisions of the company were brought together in one new building. An addition to the building was constructed in 1986 for the Power Door Division.
On July 17, 1991, the sale of Frommelt Industries to the RITE-HITE CORPORATION of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was announced. (8)
The 1974 through 1983 Dubuque City Directory listed 465 Huff for Frommelt Industries and 460 Huff for Frommelt's Dubuque Awning and Tent Company.
The 1985 through 1989 Dubuque City Directory listed Frommelt Industries at 4343 Chavenelle Road.
---
Source:
1. Goessl, Joan. "Frommelt To Bring Plants Together," Telegraph Herald, June 26 1983, p. 30
2. "Tents and Awnings Made Here Also," Telegraph-Herald and Times-Journal, March 31, 1929, p. 59
3. Goessl
4. "Dubuque Awning and Tent Company," Telegraph-Herald, June 17, 1951, p. 8
5. "New Industry for Dubuque," Telegraph Herald, March 7, 1972, p. 21
6. Mozinski, Eileen. "Frommelt, Rite-Hite Became Good Match," Telegraph Herald, September 15, 2008, p. 66
7. Ibid.
8. Ibid.