Category: Technology

The 100 YEAR CLUB OF THE WESTERN RESERVE (formerly 100 Year Club of Cleveland), which held its first meeting in 1953, is a voluntary organization that honors businesses and organizations in Northeastern Ohio that have existed for a century or more.

ORBAN'S FRUIT AND FLOWERS was founded in 1914 by Martin and Mary Orban. The first greenhouse was located near the intersection of Union and East 72^nd Streets. During this time, the couple sold flowers both at the greenhouse and at Mary Orban’s candy shop at East 90^th Street and Buckeye Road.

OSBORN ENGINEERING CO., Cleveland's oldest engineering firm, was founded on 1 July 1892 by Frank C. Osborn, formerly chief engineer for Cleveland's King Bridge Co. Osborn's diversified company offered a wide range of civil and structural engineering services, including the design, plans, estimates, and construction supervision for roofs, buildings, bridges, railways, and highways.

OSBORN INTERNATIONAL, INC., a division of Jason, Inc., evolved from the Osborn Manufacturing Corp. Osborn Manufacturing had grown into the world's largest manufacturer of industrial brushes and foundry machines by the 1940s. The firm was organized in 1887 a group of investors headed by John Osborn.

OSBORN MANUFACTURING CORP., see OSBORN INTERNATIONAL INC..

The OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY can trace its origins to 1853, when Elisha Graves Otis introduced the first safety passenger elevator at the Crystal Palace Convention in New York City. His invention impressed spectators at the convention, and the first passenger elevator was installed in New York City in 1856.

OTIS IRON & STEEL CO. See JONES & LAUGHLIN STEEL CORP. (CLEVELAND WORKS).

OUTCALT AND GUENTHER, an architectural firm, was founded by Richard Franklin Outcalt and Carl F. Guenther in 1942. Outcalt, born in Wauseon, Oh, had practiced architecture in Cleveland since 1928, while Guenther, a Cleveland native and WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY alumnus, began almost a decade later.

PACE, EUGENE LEONARD (17 Oct. 1915 - 7 April 1997) was professor of chemistry at CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY and a co-founder of the EAST CLEVELAND THEATER. He was born in Potsdam, New York, to Laura Graziani and Vincent Pace. He earned his B.S.

PARAMOUNT DISTILLERS, INC., Cleveland's only distillery, produces cocoa and coffee essences for cordials, vodka, gin, and a number of blends. Privately held, the company was established in 1934 soon after the repeal of Prohibition by Jacob F. Moessmer. Moessmer, who also established Federal Fruit Prods. (now Federal Flavors, Inc.), a manufacturer of flavoring extracts, in 1919, opened Paramount's first distillery on W.

PARK-OHIO INDUSTRIES, INC., a diversified manufacturer engaged in energy development and the production of forged and machined products, induction heating systems, containers, industrial rubber products, and metal abrasives, was formed in 1967 by the merger of Park Drop Forge Co. and the Ohio Crankshaft Co.

PARKER HANNIFIN CORP., the global leader in motion and control technologies, was originally established as the Parker Appliance Co. by Arthur LaRue Parker on March 13, 1917. Before launching his company, Parker completed his Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering at Case Institute of Technology.

The PEERLESS MOTOR CAR CO., noted for its luxury automobiles, was established in Cleveland in 1889 as the Peerless Wringer & Mfg. Co., located on the city's east side at the junction of the Cleveland & Pittsburgh and the New York, Chicago & St. Louis railroads. By 1892 it had become the Peerless Mfg. Co. Originally a producer of washing-machine wringers, Peerless moved to 2654 Lisbon St.

The PENN CENTRAL TRANSPORTATION CO. was created in 1968 by merging the NEW YORK CENTRAL and PENNSYLVANIA RAILROADS, the nation's 2 largest trunklines, extending from the Atlantic to Chicago and St. Louis.

The PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD was one of the 3 major components of the CONRAIL network, which included the ERIE-LACKAWANNA RAILROAD and the NEW YORK CENTRAL RAILROAD.

PENTON MEDIA, a publisher of business and professional magazines, directories, and handbooks, is descended from 2 old-line Cleveland firms, the Penton Publishing Co. and the Industrial Publishing Co. John A.

PENTON, INC., See PENTON MEDIA.

PETTIBONE OHIO CORP., A DIVISION OF THE PETTIBONE CORP., existed for many years as the Cleveland Frog & Crossing Co. Geo. C. Lucas and N. P. Bowler organized the Cleveland Frog & Crossing Co. in 1884 to produce their patented railroad frog which permitted a train traveling on one track to pass over an intersecting track.

PICK-N-PAY. See FIRST NATIONAL SUPERMARKETS.

PICKANDS MATHER & CO., a chief supplier of raw materials to the steel industry and one of 4 major ore houses in the U.S. at one time, had its headquarters in Cleveland. The company started in 1883 when SAMUEL MATHER joined Jay Morse and Col.