The 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote was ratified, the first regular licensed radio broadcasting had begun, and Babe Ruth hit 54 home runs shattering his previous record of 29. The year was 1920 and in the midst of all these historical events, two men decided to form a partnership in Indianapolis, Indiana and go into business.

Charles Tarpenning, a respected businessman and sheet metal craftsman, operated a shop on Virginia Avenue in Indianapolis. Byron LaFollette, a 1908 Purdue University graduate was a mechanical engineer and former sales manager for an equipment manufacturing firm in Michigan. On April 3rd, 1920, LaFollette purchased a ½ interest in the business from Tarpenning for $5,000.00 and the new company was established. They began by fabricating and installing air handling products for factories and schools. By the end of their first decade, the company had grown and prospered to become a well-regarded manufacturer and sheet metal contracting firm in central Indiana with over 100 employees and a satellite shop in Muncie, Indiana.

Currently in our 85th year, the company is owned by third generation relatives of the LaFollette family and remains involved in a variety of custom sheet metal fabricated products. Recently the company has been divided into two divisions. These are the Custom Enclosure Division and the Custom Manufacturing Division. While the management of these divisions work together sharing knowledge and resources, each is housed in separate facilities maintaining their own staff and work force. This arrangement enables both operations to be able to better meet the expectations of each one’s specialized customer base.

The Custom Enclosures Division manufactures and installs classroom shelving, institutional radiation and convector cover, and pipe chase cover. The Custom Manufacturing Division manufactures and installs specialty equipment and products for industry. In addition, this division designs, produces, and installs products for the ornamental metals market.

The commitment of the owners and employees of our company continues to be integrity in our business relationships and the pursuit of quality in our products and services. We are proud of our heritage and continue in our efforts to preserve it.

Additional Facts relating to 1920, the year of our founding.

Company History
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