Marshalltown Company

Marshalltown Company

Type	Private
Founder(s)	J. C. Williams
Headquarters	Marshalltown, Iowa, United States
Key people	Dave Lennox
Products	construction tools
Website	http://www.marshalltown.com

The Marshalltown Company, based in Marshalltown, Iowa, is an American manufacturer of construction tools for various uses such as masonry, concrete, drywall, plastering, flooring, exterior insulation, and many others. The Marshalltown Company has been in business for over 100 years and is one of the top producers of construction tools in the world.^{[citation needed]} The Marshalltown trowel is a favoured tool among American archaeologists.^{[1] [2]}

Company history

The origins of the Marshalltown Company can be traced back to the American inventor and entrepreneur Dave Lennox. While working in his machine shop in Marshalltown, Iowa, Mr. Lennox received a visit in 1893 from a local stonemason interested in making a better trowel for the masons working on the Marshall County courthouse.

Main article: Marshalltown trowel

According to the mason’s criteria, Mr. Lennox forged the trowels and delivered them to the workers. The trowels were a vast improvement and the masons around the area requested that more be made. Mr. Lennox, having other interests, decided to forgo the opportunity and instead gave his friend, J. C. Williams, the charge of making the trowels. During this period, business for J. C. was initially steady but slowgoing. With the help of his brother, E. L. Williams, things began to pick up and before the brothers joined in a partnership and began producing the trowels together.

Twelve years later, their business began to boom and they decided to move the company to South 8th Aavenue in Marshalltown, Iowa, the site where the current plant is today. During this time the brothers acquired the services of master salesman and promoter Al Higgin. With Mr. Higgin’s help, the Marshalltown trowels became renowned across the country.

Business today

Marshalltown Company location in Marshalltown, Iowa.

Today, the Marshalltown Company operates in Iowa and Arkansas with most production processes occurring in Fayetteville. The Iowa location does serve some production processes, but is mostly used for administrative purposes. The company has also expanded its product lines since first introducing its trowels in 1893. In addition to the original Marshalltown premier line of tools, the Q.L.T. line was introduced for the everyday handyman.

In addition to expanding product lines, Marshalltown Company has gone global. Today the tools are shipped globally and are used in such countries as Canada, Mexico, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, the Netherlands, and Saudi Arabia.

Marshalltown reports that due to its outstanding export sales, the company has twice received the Presidential E-Star Award, a citation recognizing companies that sell 15% of sales abroad.

References

1. ^ Thomas, David Hurst (1998). Archaeology. Harcourt Brace College Publishers. p. 171. ISBN 9780155013698. 
2. ^ "WHS Trowel bites the dust?". The Digger. January 2006. http://www.bajr.org/diggermagazine/Digger39/4.html. Retrieved 2007-12-23. 

External links

• Marshalltown Commerce.
• Our History. Marshalltown Company.
• Spec Mix Bicklayer 500