Wendell August Acquires Old Forge Metals
Vol. 810
April 26, 2011
A fire may have destroyed Wendell August Forge's (asi/37457)
former Pennsylvania headquarters
a year ago, but the maker of personalized metal gifts persevered and this week
announced an expansion. Wendell August has acquired the assets of Old Forge
Metals Inc., a pewter casting company that sells in the ad specialty
marketplace. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Starting next week, all equipment will be moved from Old
Forge's Vernon, NY,
facility to Wendell August's headquarters. Existing Wendell August Forge
craftspeople will be trained in the casting process to produce pewter giftware
under the line "Old Forge Pewter by Wendell August." "With the
purchase of Old Forge Metals, Wendell August is poised to become the premier metalcrafter in America,'"
says Will Knecht, president of Wendell August.
Hawley Scott, the previous owner of Old Forge, will join
Wendell August Forge for an indefinite period during the transition, helping to
reassemble the workshop and train the sales and marketing team. Old Forge staff
in New York, though, is being let
go, says Wendell August spokeswoman Danielle Elderkin.
In addition to equipment, Wendell August is also buying more than 4,500 molds
and dies Old Forge used during its 35 years of making lapel pins, belt buckles,
letter openers, spoons, golf tees and pewter logos that can be affixed to an
array of glass and ceramic giftware. "This will allow Wendell August to
serve the same customers that Old Forge had the privilege of serving throughout
those years," says Scott.
The fire that destroyed Wendell August Forge's former
headquarters occurred in March 2010. |