Servicemen overseas looked with pride on the legend on a porcelain sign stating, "Made by Ingram-Richardsoh Co., Beaver Falls, Pa."
Sam Frederick of Chippewa Township worked for the company for 51 years.
"We were proud of the company product" he said. Frederick, 90, resides with his 'son-in-law and daughter, Joe and Dorothy Jean Furnival, Stitt Road, Chippewa Township.
Born and raised in Beaver
Falls, he attended Beaver Falls schools and peddled newspapers,
including the Beaver
Falls Tribune and Beaver Star. His mother was society editor.
for This Tribune and also wrote police and fire news for the Beaver
Falls-New Brighton area. He took over the reporting duties when
his mother was hospitalized
In 1909, at the age of 14, he was hired by his brother Charles, in the art department of Ing-Rich. He later was supervisor of the department for 45 years. My four brothers and father all worked at Ing-Rich," Frederick said.
He started at Ing-Rich making $3 for a 5 and 5/8 day week.
Ing-Rich was organized in the basement of the Book House on 26th Street and the final meeting in a room of Whitlaw Eckles Drug Store, 24th Street, Beaver Falls, later Tress' Drug Store.
Two Englishmen, Louis Ingram and Ernest Richardson, organized the company. Among, other organizers were Fred Davidson, Eckles, Ernest Hutchinson and Dr. James Louthan.
"The company made street signs, and signs for the big national industries including oil, soap, ice cream and others, including companies from overseas," he said.
"We also made the first enamel stove in the country and specialized in table tops"
He also helped make the biggest sign in the country up to that time, a 305 by 12 foot sign for the Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp. plant In Aliquippa.
During World War II, the plant converted to making armor plate for the American tanks.
Frederick said the biggest change in the porcelain industry was conversion to the silk screen process In 1934.
After his retirement in 1961, he was called back four years later to help make signs for several oil companies.
He also became a security guard and worked for a box company, as he found it difficult to take it easy.
While working at Ing-Rich, he also was a salesman for Berkman's Clothing Store and Lisle T. Miller. At one stage he even taught dancing.