The Frantz Manufacturing Company
Encyclopedia
The Frantz Manufacturing Company located in Sterling, Illinois, is a manufacturer and marketer of conveyor system components and steel ball products used in a variety of applications.
Frantz was established in Sterling, Illinois
which was once known as "The Hardware Capital of the World". It is cited by the Sterling-Rock Falls Historical Society as one of four major manufacturing facilities that showed strong growth in the mid to late 20th Century. Other firms cited are Northwestern Steel and Wire
Co., Lawrence Brothers, Inc. and National Manufacturing Co.
Peter Frantz was the Company's inventor. An adjustable lighting product called the "Lightning Lamp Adjuster" was patented and was among its first production products. The Company soon expanded its line to hardware products ranging from hinge
s to barn door track and hangers to garage door
hardware for the new automobiles that began to appear. It distributed its products widely throughout the country using a captive sales force.
offerings included "Swinging Door", "Folding Door", "Pivot Door", and "Around the Corner Door" hardware sets along with glide hangers many of which were patented. In 1930, development began on an "OVER-THE-TOP" garage door hardware set which gained popularity. A patent was issued in September 1933. Following World War II, hardware for sectional doors was developed and in 1950, Frantz introduced its Model 200 Garage Door Series. Along with the hardware sets, wooden sectional panels were offered and gained popularity. In 1958, Frantz bought a controlling interest in Sterling Electronic Door Control Corporation which had earlier patented a new concept in garage door openers. Frantz then began marketing the openers with the doors. In 1959, Frantz introduced the first successful lightweight fiberglass garage door to the marketplace under the brand name "Filuma". By 1993, Building Products were being sold through six distribution centers in the United States and three distribution centers in Canada. On May 25, 1994, Frantz sold its Building Products Division to Wayne-Dalton Corporation, a privately held manufacturer of garage doors and related products.
in New York and Marshall Field's
in Chicago. Toys were produced until 1934 when declining sales due to the depression years of the 20's and 30's caused Frantz to discontinue those operations.
In 1934, Frantz acquired the Koehler Die Company, a subsidiary of the L.W. Browne Manufacturing Company of DeKalb, Illinois. Koehler manufactured roller skates. Frantz invested in its skate production and soon became one of the top producers of roller skates in the United States. The skates were marketed under the name "Hustler Speed King Roller Skates" and the line was carried by jobbers, catalog premium houses, hardware and variety stores, and large chain stores throughout the country including Sears, Macy's
, Montgomery Ward
, Gimbels, and Marshall Field's
. By the early 70's, roller skate sales were in decline and production was discontinued. The last roller skate came off the production line on November 27, 1973.
business leveraging its experience producing roller skate wheels. During World War II, millions of conveyor wheels and bearings were produced to supply conveyor manufacturers with component products to support the war effort and this established Frantz as a major supplier of these products. An 84000 square feet (7,803.9 m²) facility was built in 1971 to house the Frantz Bearing Division.
) for its Bearing Division and for other customers in various business verticals such as automotive, beauty, paint, toys, casters, and drawer slides. Today, Frantz Sterling Steel Ball Division is an ISO/TS16949 certified expert at producing drilled balls and other high quality balls for the automotive industry and owns a patented process for producing corrosion resistant balls called Sterling Armor. Sterling Steel Ball Division manufactures its products in a 79000 square feet (7,339.3 m²) facility located near its Bearing Division.
History
The Frantz Specialty Manufacturing Company was chartered in the State of Illinois on September 16, 1909 with purpose listed as "A general manufacturing business for the purpose of manufacturing and selling various kinds of inventions and specialties constructed of metal, wood or other materials." The original incorporators were Peter Frantz (1868–1949), Clarence Lahman (1862–1947), John Lahman, and William Lahman. On January 12, 1911, the Company re-organized and changed its name to The Frantz Manufacturing Company.Frantz was established in Sterling, Illinois
Sterling, Illinois
Sterling is a city in Whiteside County, Illinois, United States. The population was 15,370 at the 2010 census, down from 15,451 at the 2000 census. Formerly nicknamed "The Hardware Capital of the World", Sterling has long been associated with manufacturing and the steel...
which was once known as "The Hardware Capital of the World". It is cited by the Sterling-Rock Falls Historical Society as one of four major manufacturing facilities that showed strong growth in the mid to late 20th Century. Other firms cited are Northwestern Steel and Wire
Northwestern Steel and Wire
Northwestern Steel and Wire was a steel mill and wire factory located in Sterling, Illinois. It began producing steel in 1936 and ceased production in 2001.-Early history:...
Co., Lawrence Brothers, Inc. and National Manufacturing Co.
Peter Frantz was the Company's inventor. An adjustable lighting product called the "Lightning Lamp Adjuster" was patented and was among its first production products. The Company soon expanded its line to hardware products ranging from hinge
Hinge
A hinge is a type of bearing that connects two solid objects, typically allowing only a limited angle of rotation between them. Two objects connected by an ideal hinge rotate relative to each other about a fixed axis of rotation. Hinges may be made of flexible material or of moving components...
s to barn door track and hangers to garage door
Garage door
A garage door is a large door on a garage that can either be opened manually or by a garage door opener. Garage doors are necessarily large to allow passage of automobiles and/or trucks.-Description:...
hardware for the new automobiles that began to appear. It distributed its products widely throughout the country using a captive sales force.
Frantz Building Products Division
By 1925, Frantz garage doorGarage door
A garage door is a large door on a garage that can either be opened manually or by a garage door opener. Garage doors are necessarily large to allow passage of automobiles and/or trucks.-Description:...
offerings included "Swinging Door", "Folding Door", "Pivot Door", and "Around the Corner Door" hardware sets along with glide hangers many of which were patented. In 1930, development began on an "OVER-THE-TOP" garage door hardware set which gained popularity. A patent was issued in September 1933. Following World War II, hardware for sectional doors was developed and in 1950, Frantz introduced its Model 200 Garage Door Series. Along with the hardware sets, wooden sectional panels were offered and gained popularity. In 1958, Frantz bought a controlling interest in Sterling Electronic Door Control Corporation which had earlier patented a new concept in garage door openers. Frantz then began marketing the openers with the doors. In 1959, Frantz introduced the first successful lightweight fiberglass garage door to the marketplace under the brand name "Filuma". By 1993, Building Products were being sold through six distribution centers in the United States and three distribution centers in Canada. On May 25, 1994, Frantz sold its Building Products Division to Wayne-Dalton Corporation, a privately held manufacturer of garage doors and related products.
Hustler Toy Corporation
Frantz chartered the Hustler Toy Corporation in the State of Illinois on December 6, 1924 and produced a line of wooden toys that were sold to major toy and department stores from coast to coast including Macy'sMacy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
in New York and Marshall Field's
Marshall Field's
Marshall Field & Company was a department store in Chicago, Illinois that grew to become a major chain before being acquired by Macy's Inc...
in Chicago. Toys were produced until 1934 when declining sales due to the depression years of the 20's and 30's caused Frantz to discontinue those operations.
In 1934, Frantz acquired the Koehler Die Company, a subsidiary of the L.W. Browne Manufacturing Company of DeKalb, Illinois. Koehler manufactured roller skates. Frantz invested in its skate production and soon became one of the top producers of roller skates in the United States. The skates were marketed under the name "Hustler Speed King Roller Skates" and the line was carried by jobbers, catalog premium houses, hardware and variety stores, and large chain stores throughout the country including Sears, Macy's
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
, Montgomery Ward
Montgomery Ward
Montgomery Ward is an online retailer that carries the same name as the former American department store chain, founded as the world's #1 mail order business in 1872 by Aaron Montgomery Ward, and which went out of business in 2001...
, Gimbels, and Marshall Field's
Marshall Field's
Marshall Field & Company was a department store in Chicago, Illinois that grew to become a major chain before being acquired by Macy's Inc...
. By the early 70's, roller skate sales were in decline and production was discontinued. The last roller skate came off the production line on November 27, 1973.
Frantz Bearing Division
In 1937, Frantz entered the conveyor wheel and semi-precision ball bearingBall bearing
A ball bearing is a type of rolling-element bearing that uses balls to maintain the separation between the bearing races.The purpose of a ball bearing is to reduce rotational friction and support radial and axial loads. It achieves this by using at least two races to contain the balls and transmit...
business leveraging its experience producing roller skate wheels. During World War II, millions of conveyor wheels and bearings were produced to supply conveyor manufacturers with component products to support the war effort and this established Frantz as a major supplier of these products. An 84000 square feet (7,803.9 m²) facility was built in 1971 to house the Frantz Bearing Division.
Sterling Steel Ball Company
In 1947, Frantz established the Sterling Steel Ball Company to manufacture carbon steel balls (ball (bearing)Ball (bearing)
Bearing balls are special highly spherical and smooth balls, most commonly used in ball bearings. The balls come in many different grades, as defined by the American Bearing Manufacturers Association , which defines the precision of the balls...
) for its Bearing Division and for other customers in various business verticals such as automotive, beauty, paint, toys, casters, and drawer slides. Today, Frantz Sterling Steel Ball Division is an ISO/TS16949 certified expert at producing drilled balls and other high quality balls for the automotive industry and owns a patented process for producing corrosion resistant balls called Sterling Armor. Sterling Steel Ball Division manufactures its products in a 79000 square feet (7,339.3 m²) facility located near its Bearing Division.