Category: Technology

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 BANK. See HUNTINGTON NATIONAL BANK.

UNION COMMERCE BLDG. See HUNTINGTON BLDG.

The UNIVERSITY IMPROVEMENT CO., established in 1918, began as a subcommittee of the influential CHAMBER OF COMMERCE'S CITY PLAN COMMISSION, a planning organization. The City Plan Commission had, for several years prior to 1918, been promoting the UNIV.

VAN DORN CO. See VAN DORN DEMAG CORP.

The VAN DORN DEMAG CORP., formerly the Van Dorn Co., is a producer of plastic injection molding machines. The Van Dorn Co., once an innovator and expert in the forming of metals and plastic, began in 1872 when Jas. H. Van Dorn established a small fence business in Akron. Six years later he moved to Cleveland and named his firm the Cleveland Wrought Iron Fence Co. The plant at E. 79th St.

The VIDARO CORPORATION, also known as Euclid-Vidaro Manufacturing Company, was founded in 1870 by Simon and David Rosenblatt. The original name of the company was Rosenblatt Brothers, and it was known for manufacturing men’s shirts and overalls. The company was located at 59 ½ Bank (West 6^th) Street.

The VITA-MIX CORPORATION, based in Olmsted Township, Ohio, since 1948, has been a privately-owned company operated by the Barnard family since 1921. The company manufactures high-performance blending equipment for consumer use as well as for the restaurant and hospitality industries. 

The VLCHEK TOOL CO., a leader in the hand-tool and plastic fields, was started in 1895 as a blacksmith shop by FRANK VLCHEK, a Czech immigrant. A few years later he opened the Vlchek Tool Co. on E. 83rd and Central Ave., making and sharpening tools for stonecutters and masons. By 1909 the firm was shipping hammers, wrenches, and stone cutters' tools throughout the country.

The W. BINGHAM CO., one of the Midwest's largest hardware concerns, was founded by WILLIAM BINGHAM and HENRY C. BLOSSOM when they purchased the hardware stock of Clark & Murfey on 1 Apr. 1841 and opened their own store. Located at Superior and Water (W.

WADE, JEPTHA HOMER II (15 Oct. 1857-6 Mar.

WAGON AND CARRIAGE INDUSTRY.Though Cleveland was never home to the massive wagon and carriage factories found in some midwestern cities, it nevertheless possessed large numbers of smaller firms producing virtually every type of horse-drawn vehicle for local and regional markets. More significantly it was home to some of the largest manufacturers and wholesalers of wagon and carriage parts in the U.S.

Walter Daniel Sayle (10 September, 1860-5 September 1941) was a prominent industrialist affiliated with several successful businesses, including the Cleveland Punch and Shear Works. A native Clevelander, Sayle was one of six children born to Thomas Henry Sayle and Jane Clark. Sayle graduated from Central High School in 1880.

WARE, WILLIAM J. (31 Aug 1901 - 23 April 1997), master plumber, was one of Cleveland's first black union plumbers and a mentor to other minority plumbers wishing to join the profession. He was born in Demopolis, Alabama, to Mary Jane (Fenderson), a housewife, and Willie Ware, a farmer.

The WARNER & SWASEY CO. was once a leading manufacturer of machine tools, with a world-wide reputation for its telescopes and precision instruments. New England machinists WORCESTER P. WARNER and AMBROSE SWASEY formed a partnership in Chicago in 1880 but moved to Cleveland, opening a machine tool shop on Carnegie Ave.

WATERWORKS AMERICA, INC. was established ca. 1984 by Bruce Wirtanen. Wirtanen, a chemist, formed Waterworks after developing a technique to manufacture acyclic copolymer crystals that helped to reduce water usage. Initially marketed for use with home gardeners,the product was soon utilized internationally by farms and nurseries.

The WEATHERHEAD DIVISION OF THE DANA CORP., an important parts supplier for the automobile industry, was established in 1919 by Albert J. Weatherhead, Jr., who set up a shop at 706 Frankfort St. to make radiator drain cocks and priming cups for automobiles. By 1926 the plant supplied these products to much of the auto industry and had established a research department to keep pace with industry changes. Weatherhead Co.

The WEBB C. BALL CO. was one of Cleveland's major jewelry retailers. It was established by WEBB C. BALL, who bought an interest in Whitcomb and Metten Jewelers upon his arrival in Cleveland in 1879. By 1881 he had become the sole owner of the Webb C. Ball Co., which consisted originally of 2 showcases and a workbench at Superior Ave. and Seneca (W. 3rd) St.

WEBER'S RESTAURANT, a popular Cleveland eatery, served downtown diners under several names for 75 years. Owned by Leonard Schlathler, the restaurant opened in 1899 as the Casino Restaurant and Cafe.