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IP Founder,
Sam Elson. |
It
was 1951...
“An American in Paris” was the best picture.
Humphrey Bogart and Vivien Leigh won best actor and actress
Oscars. The Yankees beat the Giants in the World Series
and Joe DiMaggio retired. The United States was deeply
involved in the Korean War and the Cold War with Russia
was intensifying. Many housewives were saving S&H
green stamps and making Spam for dinner. Dads were buying
a set of golf irons for about $30 and a new car for only
$1500. You could buy a nice 6-room stone home in the suburbs
for about $15,000.
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| The original Industrial Plywood
location at Front and Spruce, Reading, Pa. |
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 |
And
in May 1951, Sam Elson founded Industrial Plywood
at Front and Spruce streets in Reading, Pennsylvania.
Today, under the direction of Sid Bratt and Andy Wernick
and with a staff approaching 20, Industrial Plywood — from
its Reading corporate headquarters, and Lewistown, Pa.,
store — serves thousands of builders, cabinetmakers, remodelers,
signmakers and craftsmen throughout Pennsylvania. It is
one of the East Coast’s largest distributors of the
best quality plywood, hardwoods, veneers, selective lumber
products and Freud woodworking tools.
 Industrial
Plywood has grown from a facility with about
500 sq. ft. of space in the 1950s to its present Reading
location at 550 South Fifth Street with more than 67,000
sq. ft. The firm’s success in an increasingly competitive
marketplace is attributed to its excellent customer service
and high quality products with competitive pricing. Industrial
Plywood carries a diverse inventory that matches
its broad customer base.
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| Groundbreaking for the present
67,000 sq. ft. Reading location, Sid Bratt (holding
shovel) and Andy Wernick. |
Among its top-notch suppliers*
are Mt. Baker and Columbia
Forest Products, North America’s largest manufacturer
of hardwood veneer, hardwood plywood and laminated products.
Due to the tremendous growth in business at our Lewistown
store, Industrial Plywood has moved (only three blocks!)
into a much larger location. The new showroom and warehouse
have much more merchandise to better service our customers.
The new address is 85 West Charles Street.
*(click here for a list of our suppliers) |
