Masonry Magazine September 1962 Page. 8
AMC Participates in ARA Convention
Manning the AMC exhibit were Al Ruben, Treasurer of the group, and Jee Szabo, Vice President-AMC. To the left is the bridge of brick mortared with high bond which the architects tested by trampling across. Solar screen block was used for background wall.
Chicago The Associated Masonry Contractors of Metropolitan Chicago were on hand to capture the imagination of the architects who crowded into the Edgewater Beach Hotel here for the annual Society of American Registered Architects convention. The AMC put on a "live" show featuring a bricklayer wielding the trowel to weave various patterns of masonry. At day's end, the brick demonstration was torn down. Started anew in the morning, the "live" act was a constant attraction during the four-day convention. Also featured at the AMC exhibit were such originals as: A bridge of brick mortared with high bond which the architects tested by trampling across to adjacent booths. A wall of solar screen block highlighted by a flood of light from three spotlights. The AMC's President is Harold Peterson. Joe Szabo of Des Plaines is the group's Vice-President.
"Live" show was put on by the Associated Masonry Contractors of Metropolitan Chicago, a Chapter of the Mason Contractors of America. Here bricklayer Don Peterson mans the mortar board and weaves various masonry patterns. The "live" act found good acceptance from the ARAers attending their annual convention. The wedge-shape brick used here were supplied by Holman Brick Company of Des Plaines, III.
Detroit Chapter Presents Outstanding Individual Awards
The Detroit chapter of the MCAA recently presented two awards for outstanding contributions to the Association and the masonry industry. Both awards were presented by Jock Hackett of the Labadie Concrete Products, Wyandotte, Michigan. Robert Ebeling of Ebeling and Hicks, Inc., Rome, Michigan, accepts award, a chrome plated trowel. The second photo shows Robert Bonus of Hay-Con Tile Company, Detroit, Michigan accepting his award. Jack Hackett was chairman of the 1962 outing, where the presentations were mode.
Clipper Story
Clipper is one of those companies that build solid relations, capitalize on an original idea and pace with the demands of the time. One of the company's chief characteristics is leadership and crack management.
It all started, roughly, in 1936 when Neligh Coates, founder and president of Clipper, was distributing clay products to the building trade in the Middle West. To shape and cut masonry materials, masons were using hammers and chisels. The process was time consuming, costly and labor intensive.
Seeing the need for a masonry saw, Mr. Coates started experimenting to cut time and masonry. From this period of trial and error emerged the Clipper masonry saw, the Model B.
This gave rise to acquistion of the firm's first manufacturing "factory," a garage at 501 South Valley, Kansas City, purchased in 1937.
During the firm's formative years, the sales force was Mr. Coates, augmented by one other salesman on commission. During a sales trip he logged some 14,000 miles (towing a trailer) and was away from home 22 days. The result: He averaged selling one Clipper saw a day for every day he was away.
During this period Clipper introduced a bit of promotional bait to attract customers. They bit, and the 10-Day Free Trial offer, an approach never before deemed advisable in selling machinery, paid off and has been tied to Clipper's promotional package.
In 1947 Clipper started greater market penetration with the opening of its first District Office, in Cleveland. Offices in Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Chicago and Austin were soon opened.
In 1950 the firm became a multi-national business with a plant in England. Soon after, plants were established in France, Germany, Italy, Australia, Brazil, South Africa.
Thus, from a basement operation involving one product, Clipper has spurted into a complex, world-wide multimillion dollar manufacturing, serving and direct selling organization. All in a quarter of a century.
A climax to the firm's growth comes early next year when the Clipper people will move into their new $2 million dollar facility in Grandview, Mo. It'll be just in time for the next quarter century of service to the masonry industry.