| | Manuscript Collection | Requires cookie* | | 1 | Title: | Curtis Industries, Inc. Records
| | | | Creator: | Curtis Industries, Inc. | | | | Dates: | 1944-1975 | | | | 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. Morris Abrams was president of the company, with Howard Abrams serving as vice president and chairman of the board. Following Morris's death in 1963, Howard was named president. Morris's heirs sold their portion of Curtis stock to the Ohio Forge and Machine Corporation, who then made a bid to buy all of Curtis's stock. This resulted in a months-long feud between Howard Abrams and his supporters and Ohio Forge and their supporters, some of whom were on the board at Curtis. Eventually, Howard agreed to sell his controlling shares of Curtis stock. Curtis Industries officially became a part of Ohio Forge and Machine Corp. in 1964. Curtis became known as the Curtis Noll Corporation, under the new president Sanford B. Noll. Howard Abrams was retained in a consulting capacity for five years. The collection consists of advertisements, press releases, pamphlets, newspaper clippings, correspondence, blueprints, and product sheets. | | | | Call #: | MS 5120 | | | | Extent: | 0.81 linear feet (2 containers and 1 oversize folder) | | | | Subjects: | Curtis Industries, Inc. (Cleveland, Ohio) | Manufacturing industries -- Ohio -- Cleveland. | Manufacturing industries -- Ohio -- Eastlake. | Locks and keys -- Ohio -- Cleveland. | Locks and keys -- Ohio -- Eastlake. | Factories -- Ohio -- Cleveland. | Factories -- Ohio -- Eastlake. | Automobile supplies industry -- Ohio -- Cleveland. | Automobile supplies industry -- Ohio -- Eastlake. | Automobiles -- Parts -- Ohio -- Cleveland. | Automobiles -- Parts -- Ohio -- Eastlake. | Farm equipment -- Ohio -- Cleveland. | Farm equipment -- Ohio -- Eastlake. | Jewish businesspeople -- Ohio -- Cleveland. | Jewish businesspeople -- Ohio -- Eastlake. | World War, 1939-1945 -- War work -- Ohio -- Cleveland.
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| Manuscript Collection | Requires cookie* | | 2 | Title: | Frederick C. Crawford Family Papers
| | | | Creator: | Crawford, Frederick C. Family | | | | Dates: | 1727-1996 | | | | Abstract: | Frederick C. Crawford (1891-1994) was a Cleveland, Ohio, industrialist and philanthropist. Crawford headed Thompson Products, Inc. (later TRW Inc.) as it moved from an automotive and aircraft parts manufacturer into the aviation and aerospace industries. A leader of Cleveland's philanthropic community, Crawford served on the boards of many cultural institutions. He was appointed to the Western Reserve Historical Society Board of Trustees in 1944 and later served as it's president. He was instrumental in the transfer of the Thompson Auto Album and Aviation Museum collection to WRHS in the 1960s, which became the nucleus of the Frederick C. Crawford Auto-Aviation Collection of WRHS. Crawford was married twice; to Audrey Cecelia Bowles in 1932, and to Kathleen M. Saxon in 1975. The collection consists of genealogies, biographical sketches, correspondence, appointment diaries and calendars, ledgers, annual financial summaries, bank statements, trust deeds, tax assessments, returns and other financial documents, stock certificates, wills, real estate inventories, diplomas, award certificates, military discharge papers, corporate annual reports, speeches and broadcast transcripts, newspaper and magazine clippings, articles of incorporation, minutes, and scrapbooks. | | | | Call #: | MS 4856 | | | | Extent: | 76.84 linear feet (77 containers and 4 oversize folders) | | | | Subjects: | Crawford, Frederick C., 1891-1994 | Crawford family. | Thompson, Charles E. 1870-1933. | Thompson, Edwin deGroot. | Thompson family. | TRW Inc. | Steel Products Co. | Thompson Products, inc. | Western Reserve Historical Society | Frederick C. Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum. | Case Institute of Technology. | Florida Institute of Technology. | American School of Classical Studies at Athens. | International Aeronautic Federation | Businessmen -- Ohio -- Cleveland. | Philanthropists -- Ohio -- Cleveland. | Automobile supplies industry -- Ohio -- Cleveland. | Aircraft supplies industry -- Ohio -- Cleveland. | Aerospace industries -- Ohio -- Cleveland. | Industries -- Ohio -- Cleveland. | Automobile supplies industry -- United States. | Aircraft supplies industry -- United States. | Vietnamese Conflict, 1961-1975 -- Personal narratives. | Reconstruction (1939-1951) -- Europe. | International relations. | Aeronautics -- History. | Industrial relations -- United States. | Nonprofit organizations -- Ohio -- Cleveland. | Aerospace industries -- United States. | United States -- History -- 1933-1945. | United States -- History -- 1945-1953.
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