| | Abstract: | Curtis Industries, Inc. was founded in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1932 by William Abrams and two of his sons, Morris and Howard, as Clipper Key and Lock Co. The company initially sold several brands of key cutting machines throughout the Cleveland area and the Midwest. In 1934, the Abrams worked together with inventor William Curtis to invent a new key cutting machine that they could manufacture and distribute themselves. The machine was patented, and the company changed its name to Curtis Key Co. The company's focus was on key cutting machines and key blanks, which they both manufactured and sold. However, during World War II, the company concentrated solely on defense work and ceased to manufacture of keys and key machines. Following the war, the company changed its name to Curtis Industries, Inc. and resumed its work on key machines and key blanks. The company also began manufacturing and selling automotive and farm equipment replacement parts. In 1961, Curtis Industries built a large facility in Eastlake, Ohio. Previously, Curtis had operated sites on Carnegie Avenue, Prospect Avenue, and East 222nd Street in Cleveland. The new building in Eastlake consolidated all of Curtis's branches and various operations. The new site was considered state-of-the-art and garnered much publicity. In 1961, the Cleveland Chapter of the American Materials Handling Society recognized Curtis with is award for the best materials handling system in Northeast Ohio. The collection consists of approximately 150 black and white photographs depicting employees, machinery, and buildings at various Curtis Industries sites. | |
