Note: The following is a republished excerpt from the Lockwood Hardware Manufacturing Company’s Lockwood – The story of its past, the basis for its future. Published in 1953, and based almost entirely off of literature produced for Lockwood’s 1952 sales convention, it recounts the history of the Lockwood Hardware Manufacturing Company from 1834 until 1952.
By 1953, the Lockwood Hardware Manufacturing Company, then a division of the Independent Lock Company with both being headquartered in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, fielded branch offices in New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Chicago, and Selma, Alabama along with five manufacturing plants in Fitchburg and one in Selma.
We have made no changes to this excerpt and what you see is exactly how it was printed in 1953, albeit in a different medium.
Chapter Eight, The Lockwood Hardware Manufacturing Company 1950 to 1952
AS THE YEARS roll by, Lockwood continues to witness the truth of the old adage, “Mighty oaks from little acorns grow.” It’s contract sales distribution system, extremely weak in 1940, has blossomed out into a great Lockwood tree from the little acorn planted in 1941. Lockwood’s strategically selected contract accounts are really hitting the ball for Lockwood all across the country. The brand name Lockwood, has constantly increased in acceptance and demand. There is much to take real pride in. The most widely publicized of outstanding buildings equipped with the Lockwood hardware in this period has been, of course, the United Nations group of buildings New York City. It was the highest possible endorsement that the hardware used was Lockwood throughout this most important group of buildings in the world. it was particularly gratifying to receive the commission to equip State Center at Los Angeles, Statler’s most ambitious and costly group of buildings. The greatest lift, from a company standpoint, was that the fine Lockwood hardware used on nine previous Lockwood installations for Statler proved so satisfactory that Lockwood was again selected against the most severe competition.
It is a matter of established fact that the huge new Atomic Energy Plant at Paducah, Kentucky was, up to the time of award, the biggest single contract ever awarded by the government and it was equipped with Lockwood hardware.
Los Angeles Statler Hotel, Los Angeles, California. Largest hostelry west of the Mississippi; $21,000,000 investment in the future of the west coast.
During these three years, the increased preference for Lockwood was not only evident on those mentioned above, but also the following important buildings, to mention but a few:
TISHMAN OFFICE BUILDINGS, Los Angeles, California
SCHOOL BUILDINGS, Denver, Colorado
GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE BUILDING FOR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, Washington, D. C.
FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY BUILDINGS, Tallahassee, Florida
VETERANS’ ADMINISTRATION RESEARCH HOSPITAL, Chicago, Illinois
MT. SINAI HOSPITAL, Evanston, Illinois
NOTRE DAME UNIVERSITY BUILDINGS, South Bend, Indiana
HUMBLE OIL BUILDING, New Orleans, Louisiana
BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY BUILDINGS, Waltham, Massachusetts
MT. CARMEL MERCY HOSPITAL, Detroit, Michigan
DANTE PLACE HOUSING, Buffalo, New York
STATE HOMEOPATHIC HOSPITAL, Middletown, New York
STATE INFIRMARY BUILDINGS, Newark, New York
WAR MEMORIAL, Syracuse, New York
BROWN UNIVERSITY – PEMBROKE DORMITORIES, Providence Rhode Island
SCHOOL BUILDINGS, Dallas, Texas
FIRST METHODIST CHURCH, Houston, Texas
U.S. EMBASSY BUILDING, Havana, Cuba
Perhaps of even more importance to the overall picture has been the product development program which has continued to keep Lockwood ahead of competition as a complete line manufacturer. The progress achieved achieved in the Door Closer field, the addition of Panic Bolt Devices and the introduction of Heavy Duty Key ‘n Knob cylindrical lock sets, which have increasingly replaced the conventional line of mortise locks, have greatly promoted Lockwood’s contract growth and are a part of its continuing long range planning for the future. They bring confidence and challenge to the entire organization.
Clinical Research Building, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, Maryland. Largest combination laboratory-hospital building of its kind in the United States.
3340 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, California. This modern, efficient office building is a monument to progress and development on the west coast.
Manhattan House, New York, N.Y. A.I.A. award winner in apartment house field.
And so, this story is presented so that the reader may see the continued growth of Lockwood in design, manufacture and service of its products. The authors trust that this history has frankly set forth these fundamental facts.
Despite many discouragements and mistakes, which are part of the growing pains of a coming organization, it has gone far.
That the organization is made up of people with “know how.”
There are no untried theorists on this team.
That the soundest proof of Lockwood’s future is the story of its past.
As this goes to press, additional proof of Lockwood leadership is the announcement of the award to Lockwood of the Wake Forest College contract at Winston-Salem, NC. This contract was awarded solely on the basis of merit of product from samples submitted in competition with samples of other manufacturers. Here, indeed, is proof of product superiority! While it is estimated that all of the buildings illustrated will not be completed for about five years, Lockwood protection and the security of all will be insured by a Lockwood cylinder grand master key system of locks throughout.
The company looks forward confident to a future, built solidly on a firm foundation, as has been recorded here. It pledges that steadily, intelligently and with determination, Lockwood Hardware Manufacturing Company will continue its growth to ever increasing importance in the builders’ hardware industry.
Southwest Tuberculosis Sanitorium, Tampa, Florida. Modern 540 bed hospital with complete operating suite.