Category: Business and Industry

TAYLOR, WILLIAM SON & CO. See WILLIAM TAYLOR SON & CO.


TECHNOLOGY AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH. Early Cleveland's household, agricultural, and industrial processes and devices were simply transfers or adaptations from elsewhere.

TELEGRAPHY AND TELEPHONES. Cleveland's connection to the rest of the U.S. by telegraph line was a communications breakthrough essential to the city's commercial and industrial development. During critical years in the formation of the U.S. telegraph industry, pivotal officials resided in Cleveland.

The TELLING-BELLE VERNON CO., the first dairy company in Cleveland to deliver milk in glass bottles, was created on 29 Jan. 1915 by the merger of the Telling Bros. Co. and the Belle Vernon Farms Dairy Co. Telling Bros. began as a 1-man milk route operated by Wm. E. Telling from 1891-93. In partnership with his brother, John C., he organized the Telling Bros. Ice Cream Co. in Dec. 1895 with a shop at 953 Willson Ave. (E.

THAYER, RICHARD N. (5 June 1907-27 March 1992), leading engineer in the development of fluorescent lighting, was born in Pittsburgh the son of Horace and Abbie Lincoln Thayer. He attended high school in Scranton, Pa. and graduated from the University of PIttsburgh in 1928. After graduation, he came to Cleveland to work for General Electric Lamp Division at NELA PARK.

The THEODOR KUNDTZ CO. was a diversified manufacturing business specializing in wood products. Founded by Hungarian immigrant THEODOR KUNDTZ, the company operated as a sole proprietorship from 1878 until it was incorporated in 1915. The White Sewing Machine Co.

The TOWER CITY CENTER is a mixed-use development consisting of adaptive reuse and new construction. It is one of the cornerstones of downtown Cleveland's rebirth in the 1990s. The complex includes what was once known as the CLEVELAND UNION TERMINAL and the associated buildings at PUBLIC SQUARE.

The TOWMOTOR CORPORATION was founded in 1919 by LESTER M. SEARS when he unveiled the prototype of the gasoline-powered industrial tractor that revolutionized materials handling. After some initial sales, F.W. Sears, Lester's father, capitalized the enterprise and, until his death in 1934, ran it with his son from Bliss Avenue in EUCLID.

TOWNSEND, AMOS (1819-17 Mar. 1895), businessman and politician, was born in Brownsville, Pa. and attended school until 15, when he became a clerk in a Pittsburgh retail establishment. At 19 he moved to Mansfield, forming the mercantile business partnership of A. Townsend & Co. with N. D. Hogg, which lasted 5 years, until the partnership dissolved and the business closed.

TRACY, JAMES JARED (3 Dec. 1819-4 Jan. 1910) banker and civic leader, was born in Lansingburg, New York and came to Cleveland in 1836 where he was employed by the COMMERCIAL BANK OF LAKE ERIE. After it collapsed in 1842, Tracy became teller of the Commercial Branch Bank, organized in 1845 and remained there for 15 years.

TRACY, JAMES JARED, JR. (27 Feb. 1884-16 May 1950), machine designer and manufacturer, held at least 28 U.S. patents, for engines, hat production machinery, and carburetors and other accessories for the AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY, among other inventions.

The TRANSOHIO FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK was originally formed as the Transohio Savings Assn. 1 May 1980 by merging the Union, United, and Akron savings associations. The oldest of the 3 constituent parts was Akron Savings, founded in 1888. Of the 2 Cleveland companies involved, Union Savings was incorporated as the Union Building & Loan Co. 22 June 1891 and changed its name to Union Savings in 1896.

TREMCO, INC., a manufacturer of sealants, protective coatings, and weatherproofing compounds, was established in 1928 by WM. C. TREUHAFT with capital of $100,000. In 1942 the company moved from its first location at 393 E. 131st St. to 8701 Kinsman Rd. and by 1958 the firm had doubled its number of products to 250.

TRI-STATE MOTION PICTURE COMPANY was an important Cleveland-based motion picture studio in the 1930s. Tri-State specialized in making SPONSORED FILMS. Theatrical films are movies made for showing in theaters to paying customers.

The TRUE TEMPER CORP., a major manufacturer of hand tools, began as the American Fork & Hoe when 17 tool-making firms merged in 1902. Although incorporated in New Jersey, the company had its general offices in the Keith Bldg. at 1623 Euclid, and in 1910 it was reincorporated in Ohio.

TRW, INC., headquartered in Cleveland, was a major international corporation recognized for its leadership in the AUTOMOTIVE, AEROSPACE, and electronics (see ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS) industries. The company was founded as the Cleveland Cap Screw Co.

TURK, F. JEROME (20 May 1923 - 6 Dec. 2011). Born in Cleveland and raised in EUCLID, Jerome “Jerry” Turk was a writer, radio and TV director, and producer.

The TW EASTON CORP. (formerly Thomas W. Easton's Sons, Inc.) was established by Thomas W. Easton in 1870 as an industrial moving concern. The firm's services included the rigging and hauling of heavy machinery and equipment, as well as steel erection, crane and equipment rental, and warehouse services.

TYLER, RALPH C. (15 Jul. 1921-17 Aug. 1998), a pioneer for black engineers, was a chief design engineer and chief project engineer for interstate construction projects throughout northeast Ohio. Tyler was also a gifted athlete. He was born in Guthrie, Oklahoma, to Katherine (Mason) and Ralph M. Tyler, a Deputy U.S. Marshall and later a hotel manager. Tyler moved to Cleveland as a child and graduated from Central High School.

The U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (Cleveland District Office) has regional responsibility to foster and promote domestic and international business. The Cleveland District office (along with Cincinnati, one of 2 in Ohio), located at 600 Superior Ave., assists and supports area firms in developing exporting capabilities by providing business leads and export control advice.

The U.S. STEEL CORP., a large producer of steel and a major manufacturer of wire and wire products, had 9 divisions of its American Steel & Wire subsidiary in Cleveland at one time. The Cleveland-based firms that eventually became part of U.S. Steel dated back to 1857 when DAVID AND JOHN JONES founded the Jones & Co.

UNION COMMERCE BLDG. See HUNTINGTON BLDG.


UNIVERSAL OIL INC., originally “Union Oil Company,” was founded by William H. Compton in 1877. First located at West 3rd and Canal Street, Universal Oil manufactured premium fuels and industrial lubricants.