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Aluminum Home Products (Louisville, Kentucky), Sales Books, 1958-1960
Title
Aluminum Home Products (Louisville, Kentucky), Sales Books
Date
1958-1960
Repository
University Archives and Records CenterLouisville, Kentucky 40292
Conditions Governing Access note
Open to researchers
Preferred Citation Note
[Identification of item], Aluminum Home Products (Louisville, Kentucky), Sales Books, 1958-1960, University Archives and Records Center, University of Louisville, Louisville.
Extent
1.0 linear feet
Biography/History
Toward the end of World War II, managers at the Reynolds Metals Company, then headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, developed a post-war strategy to expand into a new market area of home improvement with the manufacture of windows, screen doors, storm doors, awnings, gutters, and siding. William E. Edwards Jr., then a clerk at Reynolds Metals, was one of several young entrepreneurs who determined to go into the "aluminum" business. He formed a distributorship, ALSCO, in 1946-1947 working at 1817 South Third Street. That company specialized in aluminum doors and windows. By 1949, ALSCO had moved to 339 E. Bloom and had added T. R. Federle as sales manager who was replaced by Chris B. Gruber two years later.
In 1952 Edwards added Roy Bruner as vice president and a second ALSCO Windows of Kentucky opened on Mellwood Avenue, with Nick Zentler as manager. The next year William E. Edwards, Roy Bruner, Chris B. Gruber and LeRoy W. Schultz formed the management team for a new manufacturing plant, the Aluminum Home Products Corp., located at 339 E. Bloom. Also listed as a vice president was Harold H. "Pee Wee" Reese, the famous Brooklyn Dodger baseball player. The first products marketed as Alhom were Triple Track Aluminum Combination Windows, Screens, and Aluminum Doors. Over the next few years, the product line expanded to include awnings, porch enclosures, and aluminum siding. In 1955 the manufacturing plant moved into an expanded facility at 5230 Preston Highway. The aluminum home improvement business grew by leaps and bounds. From a single listing in the 1946-1947 Caron's Directory of Louisville, the 1955 Caron's Directory of Louisville recognized ten companies specializing in aluminum windows and doors.
Scope and Content
John Ward worked as a salesman for the Aluminum Home Products Corporation, manufacturer of aluminum windows, doors, awnings and aluminum siding under the trade name Alhom, from 1958 to 1960. This one linear foot collection contains his sales records, price lists and sample books and provides a portrait of the early history of the aluminum home products business. Also included are forms used for home improvement loans from several banks in the Louisville area.
Collection Inventory
I. Salesman's Price Sheets, Product Specifications and Customer Orders, (1958-1959)
Scope and Contents note:0.5 linear feet
These materials include Alhom's pricing sheets and product specifications for aluminum storm windows, storm doors, porch enclosures and breezeways, awnings, carports, ornamental posts and railings, and aluminum siding. Also included are salesman's notes and calculations for customer jobs, copies of customer orders, photographs of completed installations.
1. Price Sheets and Specifications, Complete Product Line
[box: 1]2. Photographs of Completed Installations of awnings, porch and breezeway
[box: 1]3. Physical and Color Samples
[box: 1]4. Price Lists and Specifications for Aluminum windows, doors and screens, (February 1958 and June 1959)
[box: 1]5. Sales Brochures and Sample Kits
[box: 1]6. Copies of Customer Orders, (November 1958 to October 1960)
[box: 1]7. Lifetime Certificate for Aluminum Siding, Specifications and Sales Brochure for Siding
[box: 1]II. Photographs of Manufacturing Processes at Alhom's Factory
Scope and Contents note:These photographs show several manufacturing processes at the Alhom plant on Preston Highway. There is one photograph showing an installation of an aluminum awning.
8. Photographs Taken at Alhom's Factory on Preston Highway, Louisville, Kentucky
[box: 1]III. Sales Contract Forms and Bank Loan Forms
Scope and Contents note:0.5 linear feet
The collection includes several different forms used by the salesman for customer contracts, bank loan requests, and orders to installers. Among the bank forms used: Lincoln Bank and Trust, Greater Louisville First Federal Savings & Loan, and First National Bank.
1. Alhom's Sales Contract Form, Home Improvement Loan Form (Lincoln Bank & Trust), Credit Application for Property Improvement Loan (Greater Louisville First Federal Saving & Loan), Property Improvement Loan Form (First National Bank)
[box: 2]2. Art Church's Sales Agreement Form Book
[box: 2]3. Sales Order Forms for Installation, Awnings, Windows and Doors, and Belvedere Aluminum Awnings
[box: 2]
- Provided by University of Louisville
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