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I am going to start my first article on vacation. It will concern the early heroes of the ss trade. I will be talking to (myself), Matt, Erica-Marie, Brad Reamer, Andy and others who have come through family to this industry. I also will be researching the early salesmen from DuPont and Avonite (maybe Solidex and Quintessa if I can find some resources). Erica is Jack Hussey’s daughter, and he is a riot, as well as a goldmine of info. My Dad, Brad’s Dad, Andy’s folks, etc., all hade a front-row seat to history that should not be lost.
If any of you have any info that might be helpful to me on this I sure would appreciate it. Any thoughts or ideas. I’m talking mostly about the seventies, but the eighties probably would fit as well.
Thank you all.
Tom
Tom:
I understand that you’re searching the seventies and eighties, but no solid surface history is compete without Mike Duggan, the founder of ISSFA. Few men have had the profound influence as he has. I’ve got his email somewhere, let me know.
Joe
If you wanna go back you really need to interview Albert Waldenvick. He is to Solid Surface what the Pope is to Catholics. Mike Duggan would be good too, but no match in knowledge and history like Albert. When ISSFA builds the solid surface hall of fame in Buffalo, on the land Dupont donated, Albert should be the first inductee. Hands down.
No history of SS would be complete without Marvin Warnick and George Ross, the founders of Avonite, and, many of the early developments in SS. First color, first particulate etc etc etc. I have had the great opportunity to sit with Marvin several times over the years and just talk about how Avonite came to be. For those that don’t know, Marvin developed the Mood Ring in the 70’s. George Ross, many of you may know that name, now works for The Donald, as in Trump. He was the George on The Apprentance. Actually his brother (can’t remember his name.. dang it) was more instrumental with Marvin than George. George was the business and money guy. I have not spoken to Marvin in about two years so not sure how his health is, but I have his number and will try and give him a call.
I agree these stories need to be told. I was around in the 70’s doing SS but not in a big way, it was, in may ways, “The Wild West”. Learning by trial and error.
Tom,
Here’s a few more for your list:
The Ross brothers (George and Gil), Lon Risley, Marvin Wernick and Ted Stevens — all formerly with Avonite and on the front lines of everything innovative that jump-started the industry. As a renaissance man yourself, Tom, you would love talking with Lon Risley and Marvin Wernick. They have more ideas about anything and everything before breakfast than the rest of us combined have in a year.
Don’t forget DuPonters Don Slocum and Jim Linde.
Tom Pinske came in the early 80’s, but he has a unique perspective on the formative years of solid surface, and he is still passionate about the industry.
Lenny Elbon is one of our contemporaries, but he was in on much of the product development when things were really happening. He also knows a lot of the key players from the 70’s and 80’s.
Doug and Paul White are 2nd and 3rd generation in their business and 1st and 2nd generation in the industry.
Rick Smith — late 70’s.
Billy Shaw started working in a postform lam shop at age 16, which he and his brother eventually bought out and transitioned into solid surface, among other things.
There are plenty more faces but I can’t seem to put names to them just yet. Even the ones I remember, I forget in the process of typing this out. You know they say there are only three things really bad about old age: 1. You forget things easily, and . . . . I can’t remember the other two.
I know, it’s an old an tired joke, but I am feeling rather old an tired these days.
Tom M wrote
Andy’s folks, etc., all hade a front-row seat to history that should not be lost.
Tom,
If you are looking for information from the 70’s, Andy’s folks can’t help. We were building houses then. We “found” solid surface when a customer asked for Corian in about 1987. It looked like a great way to specialize is something that did not require a building permit. Our first “training” to become certified for Corian was a sit and watch class that lasted from 8:00am to 12:00 noon and that included a break and lunch. Avonite was manufacturing in Sylmar, CA and had found a distributor in North Hollywood called Harter’s. We started with both Corian and Avonite at the same time. Avonite had no training , so John drove up to LA to a fabricator that was working with it and bought a truck full of scrap for $200.00. He spent the next month working with the material and finding out what worked best.
We can’t call ourselves pioneers in the industry but we have certainly seen how it has grown and changed in the last 20 years. Lots of fun times.
Linda
Anyone remember when Corian had a color that looked like scrabbled eggs? Soft seams? Putting a dowel in the corner and filling with adhesive. Boy that was a winner idea! Oh the memories!!!!!!
I am typing this from a resteraunt in Cape Canaveral Florida, so forgive me for being brief (hah).Thanks so far fo everyone’s respoonses, and I will get back to you all soon.
Lot of activity here in the last few days.
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