our History Book here.

Unique Beginnings
In 1899, J.L.Clark and his son, L.H.Clark, incorporated the J.L.Clark Hardware Company. John
Lewis Clark had been in the hardware business for 29 years, when his "better flue stopper" was
patented November 20, 1900. Vision and enthusiasm turned a busy basement tinshop into a
manufacturing enterprise.
429 East State Street, where J.L.Clark,
second from right, perfected the Gem Stopper.
Fred C. Truesbury, whom Clark had hired May 16, 1891, for the State-Kishwaukee stores tinshop,
was a master craftsman in tinware. Truesbury worked for Clark in all three hardware stores, a
factory on Race Street, occupied in 1904, and the 23rd Avenue plant, completed in 1911.
Truesbury’s metalworking expertise caused the tinshop business to expand steadily.
Today the 86-foot Clark tower is a lasting monument to the company founders, John Lewis Clark
and son. The tower had been an inspiration to forever reach upward, to do one’s very best in the
Clark tradition – for the firm and for the city of which it is a vital part.
714 Race Street, where the first
Lithographing operations began.
519 East State Street, above which the
Clarks lived when L.H.Clark was born.
L
Our Founders
J.L. and L.H.Clark
John Lewis Clark, son of Irish immigrants and youngest of a large family, was born in
Burlington, Vermont in 1845. In 1857 J.L.Clark’s family moved to Rockford, Illinois a town
of 3,000. Clark was an artist and his medium was tinplate, however, he earned his living as
a hardware maker and merchant for 29 years. John remained in Rockford until he died on
October 13, 1919.
Clark’s son, Harold, studied at Beloit College for two years, then transferred to Cornell
University. He elected not to earn a degree and returned home in 1898 to join his father in
the hardware business. Harold soon acquired business acumen almost unmatched in
Rockford and spearheaded the J.L.Clark Hardware Company and the manufacturing firm he
co-founded in 1904.
Leadership
J.L.Clark,
President 1904-1919
L.H.Clark,
President 1919-1952
Past Presidents
Ralph Rosecrance
1952-1964
Frank White
1964-1967
Russell Gibson
1967-1972
Roland Palmer
1972-1978
William Nelson
1978-1985
Larry Gloyd
1985-1989
Ron Moreau
1989-1998
Richard Shrode
1998-2001
Philip Baerenwald
2001-Present
Early Products
1904-1979 Innovations
J.L.Clark was the inventor of the "Gem Flue Stopper," an inventive device that was used to plug up the
hole in a wall when a stovepipe was removed. J.L.Clark opened a small manufacturing plant to produce
his product, and when he died in 1919, the company had sold more than 10 million Gem Flue Stoppers.
Gem Flue Stopper
From the scrap metal left by punching out the flue stoppers, Mr. Clark began producing small salve tins
called Gem ointment boxes, the first of many J.L.Clark consumer packaging solutions.
As business grew, new products were added and lithography became an essential part of the Clark
business. Demand for their high-quality work led them to grow, and a new plant was completed
Thanksgiving week 1911.
Near the beginning of the 20th century, two principal early J.L.Clark customers were W. T. Rawleigh
and Frank Furst, both with plants in nearby Freeport, Illinois. For years, J.L.Clark provided tin containers
for their ointments, salves and powders. The Rawleigh firm, a worldwide distributor of pharmaceutical
and household items, worked closely with J.L.Clark. Many of its products were packaged in Clark cans,
starting with small Gem Ointment Boxes and continuing through the years with containers of various
shapes and sizes. As Rawleigh broadened its product line to include cosmetics and spices, so did J.L.Clark.
Circa 1920-1930 Vintage Tins
Another early major J.L.Clark success was the leakproof battery produced for Ray-O-Vac. The "sealed
in steel" batteries partly developed by J.L.Clark in conjunction with Ray-O-Vac soon became the
industry standard.
Circa 1925-1960 Vintage Tins
PRODUCTS FROM
THE PAST AND
PRESENT
Locations
Rockford, Lancaster & Lathrop, CA
In 1953 President Rosecrance and Executive Vice President Franklin started negotiations
with Liberty Can and Sign Company owned by Adam and Seymour Batdorf. The Company
based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania was a firm producing similar high-quality containers and
metal specialties consisted of 200 employees and nearly 200,000 square feet of floor
space. Final agreements for Clark to purchase Liberty were finalized on February 2, 1955
for $2,000,000. Liberty opened a new dimension of business with east coast shipping
access for Clark’s and the firm produced larger diameter containers – 10 to 12 inches
in diameter and 10 to 14 inches in heights – for Pennsylvania pretzel and potato chip
manufacturers.
1904-1910
Gem Flue Stopper (and currently)
Gem Ointment Tins for the Rawleigh
Company (and currently)
Gem Ointment Tins for Mentholatum
Company (and currently)
Milton Bradley Paint Cans
Mexene Cans
Nature’s Remedy Boxes
Andrews Wire Works Dust Pans
1910-1930
Gem Flour Sifter
Meritol’s Theatrical Cold Cream Tins
Spring Maid Cold Cream Tins
Dr. Mansfield’s Digestive Powder Tins
Gem Repair Knobs Containers
Spools and Reels (and currently)
1930-1960
3M Scotch Tape Dispensers
Blue Blades Safety Dispenser (and currently)
Battery Shells (and currently)
Sucrets Tins (and currently)
1960-1979
923 23rd Avenue, Rockford, IL
303 North Plum Street, Lancaster, PA
McCormick Spice Cans (and currently)
Borden’s Cream Cheese Containers
Kraft Soft Parkay Margarine Containers
Chap Stick Lip Balm Containers
Rally Car Wax Containers
General Foods International Coffees
Containers (and currently)
Avon Powder Cans
The Patents
100 Years of Ingenuity
1900
John Lewis
Clark:
Gem Flue
Stopper
6/1/26
Anderson:
Metallic Spool
and Method of
Making the
Same
9/14/15
Truesbury:
Sifter Top
Closure
12/15/31
Kjellstrom:
Spool End and
Method for
Applying Same
12/3/29
Arvidson:
Sifter Top
9/14/48
Ekstrom:
Rotary Sifter
Top
9/15/42
Mills:
Slide Cover
Box
10/26/65
Foster:
Plastic Wheel
with Sheet
Metal Sidewall
4/21/64
Foster:
Closure
Construction for
Sifting Containers
5/30/67
Foster:
Sheet Metal
Container
with Plastic
Closure
5/17/66
Latawiec:
Rotary Closure
7/4/78
Foster:
Container for
Snuff or
the Like
10/3/72
Foster:
Hinged Plastic
Closure for
Sheet Metal
Cans
11/11/86
Foster:
Tamper
Evident
Container
Closure
2/6/90
VerWeyst:
Container
Closure with
Hinged Flap
10/1/91
Pherigo:
Tamper
Evident
Closure with
Improved Tear
Strip Hold
Down
6/1/93 Miller:
Informative
Card Made of
Sheet Metal
11/10/98
Baerenwald:
Informative
Card Made of
Sheet Metal
9/16/97
Radlicz:
Informative
Card Made of
Sheet Metal
8/29/00
Baerenwald:
One-Piece
Closure With
Anti-Finger
Intrusion
Lift-Tab
3/14/00
Pietruch:
Sealed Metal
Container
9/25/01
Bried:
Round lid For
a Container
12/5/00
Pietruch:
Sealed Metal
Container
10/22/02
Baerenwald:
Contoured
Rectangular
Container
10/2/01
Baerenwald:
Rectangular
Lid For a
Container
12/2/02
Baerenwald:
Contoured
Rectangular
Container
With Lid
10/29/02
Bried:
Round
Container
With Lid
5/11/04
Bried:
Container Lid
12/31/02
Baerenwald:
Contoured
Container
With Lid
6/1/04
Bried:
Container
Lid With
Flip Door
6/8/04
Solowiejko:
Lid For A
Spice
Container
6/29/04
Solowiejko:
Spice
Container With
Tear Strip
Expanding Markets
1980-89 Filters & Plastics
The eighties proved to be a time for change at J.L.Clark beginning with several plant
improvements and the acquisition of J.A. Baldwin Manufacturing Company of Kearney,
Nebraska. Baldwin, a leading manufacturer of fluid air filters was a family-owned
company founded by Jesse Baldwin. While filters might seem quite different from
containers,the Clark and Baldwin companies had much in common; quality, service and
innovation. Diversification was important as conversions by customers to other materials
or self-manufacturing led to a decline in packaging sales.
Three product groups were formed: Packaging, Filters and Paper and Plastic Tubes. In
1986 Larry Gloyd was appointed president and chief operating officer and Bill Nelson as
chairman and chief executive officer. In 1987 an all plastic container for Curad was
launched with “around the corner” lithographic printing. On October 1st, 1987 the
CLARCOR name was unveiled as the new corporate identity and J.L.Clark became a
division of CLARCOR. The CLARCOR mission: “We are a market-driven, diversified
company, committed to profitable growth through innovation and people orientation by
providing quality products and services in chosen global markets.”
Plastic Packaging:
Curad Sheer Strips
A
Metal and Plastic Packaging:
McCormick Black Pepper
Metal Packaging:
Kodak 35mm Film
Plastic Innovations
Packaging Versatility
Acquisition of G. Felsenthal and Sons, Inc., Chicago, in 1959 brought J.L.Clark into the
plastics business. This acquisition provided J.L.Clark with significantly more versatility
in packaging, and helped J.L.Clark lead the way in the packaging of spice cans with
closures that were ideal for both shaking and pouring.
Acquisition
J.L. Clark played an instrumental role in the introduction and production of several
breakthrough closures in the 1990's. The SST closure utilized a single piece design to
provide significant benefits to the dispensing closure market for various products. The
development of the combiTop closure culminated in the production and shipment of over
1.4 billion fitments for the aseptic drink market worldwide over one 12 month period.
State-of-the-art vision systems and a 24/7 production capability made this possible.
Did you know?
A Little Closure...
J.L.Clark has provided living hinge plastic components to a variety of industries for over 40 years.
Plastic hinges are a low cost option that add value and features to metal containers or create new
cover-to-cover containers. Our plastic Twin DoorTM closures are ideal for a growing list of dry
consumer products.
Decade of Decadence
1990-99 Towards the Millennium
The nineties served as a “material indifferent” time period for J.L.Clark. The emphasis
shifted from metal to plastic packaging or the combination of both. Servicing and meeting
customers needs for unique shelf appeal, high-quality and eye catching graphics was the
goal. J.L.Clark aligned their research and development department with fortune 500
companies and the result differentiated them in the marketplace. J.L.Clark was no longer
just a metal lithographer and fabricator, but a package developer and manufacturer.
J.L.Clark began transforming themselves for the future with such innovations as the plastic
hinge ring and a Dr. Scholl’s plastic package. Armed with an innovative approach, J.L.Clark
patented a unique spray technology to seal three-piece candle tins. A new technique in the
lithography area using distortion technology by printing a car can flat and then forming the
can with graphic precision. Customers began noticing the one-stop approach to package
development and manufacturing that J.L.Clark was taking and sales reflected as much.
Plastic Packaging:
Dr. Scholl’s
Metal Packaging using
Distortion Technique:
Dale Earnhardt Car Can
Metal Trading Card
Shining Moments
Intimate Creations
Drawing on patented processes, J.L.Clark brings the beauty and safety of metal forming
technology to the candles market. For the first time, this patented sealing technology
allows the ability to make a wide variety of 3-piece metal container shapes into candles.
These candles are often highly decorated, embossed and are offered as limited edition
tins. Virtually any decorated J.L.Clark tin can be made into a candle.
Expertise
The patented spray sealant process is an in-house operation and the tins are provided to
customers as ready-to-fill containers for various waxes and wicks. This creation of
safe-burning, highly-marketable decorative packaging adds to the long list of innovative
possibilities offered by J.L.Clark.
Did you know?
Play Ball!
Rockford, Illinois’ Beyer Stadium was in a league of its own. The former home of woman’s baseball’s
two time world champion Rockford Peaches, the stadium was erected in 1923 at a cost of $30,452. It
was also the home of most Rockford high school sports for more than 30 years. Sixty nine years and
millions of memories later, the tired structure has been laid to rest. While the old Beyer stadium has
seen its last hurrah, the stories will be passed on forever.
Leading Technology
2000 to Present — A New Century
J.L.Clark is a packaging leader that offers complete and total packaging services from "art to part".
These services include package development, graphic and concept design, physical samples,
prototypes, design options and decisions up front during the course of the process, and project
management from start to finish. J.L.Clark offers award-winning metal decorating and lithography
using state-of-the-art 4-color process printing, computer-to-plate pre-press equipment, metal
fabrication, and plastic injection molding. J.L.Clark’s cutting-edge pre-press services and computerto-plate technology assure that artwork is accurately maintained for the metal lithography process.
Our award-winning on-staff artists are geared to working directly with designers and design firms
designated by customers to help translate ideas into solutions. J.L.Clark also offers stand-alone art
services for those customers who wish to draw only upon the company’s expertise in packaging art
and design.
In addition, J.L.Clark offers a variety of programs to simplify customer needs. J.L.Clark offers
customers a low-volume alternative utilizing plain tin metal packaging called the Bare Essentials™
which allows for a classic look and a low volume. The company offers Add-Pak™, which is contract
packing, fulfillment, mailing and distribution of client products. The Clark Art Network (CAN),
password-protected instantaneous proofing via the Internet, allows customers to expedite the review
of artwork on-line. J.L.Clark also has received ISO 9001: 2001 Certification in the Plastics operation,
which assures its customers that it has been and continues to be committed to their satisfaction,
growth and quality.
Metal Packaging:
USPC Card Tin
Metal and Plastic Packaging:
Icebreakers
Plastic Packaging:
Dentyne Frost Bites
E
Award Winning
Metal Lithography
J.L.Clark is known for award-winning metal lithography and exact graphic reproduction. The
recent purchase of the new Crabtree Coater, LTG Oven, the Metalstar Planeta 4 color press,
and Creo Scitex computer-to-plate equipment, will carry that torch far into the future. By
combining printing and graphic capabilities with state-of-the-art equipment, J.L.Clark remains
on the cutting edge of metal decorating.
Excellence
Did you know?
Material Indifference...
When Nabisco was interested in developing a package to house their newly developed,
powerful mint, they contacted J.L.CLARK. The result is a combination metal/plastic container
featuring a drawn tin with a plastic dispensing top. The top has two openings - one large
("to share") and one smaller ("not to share").
The Road Ahead
In Closing...
With the landscape for packaging changing to meet consumer and manufacturer
demands alike, look for J.L.Clark to be on the cutting edge of ingenious solutions
for the next 100 years. It is not an overstatement to say that J.L.Clark contributed
significantly to the development of packaging during the 20th century, and it is
very likely that it will contribute to critical developments in the 21st century and
beyond as well.
Since its inception in 1904, J.L.Clark has
stringently emphasized quality, product
and performance. The company’s Code
of Ethics has guided the company in its
daily and yearly work performance for
100 years and states:
Future Projections...
— Philip M. Baerenwald
"In the conduct of our business, day by
day, our chief thoughts may well be
directed to the acceptance of our due
responsibilities and to the fulfillment of
our varied duties in the hope that their
accomplishment will have helped to
raise, in some measure, the level of
human ideals and achievement.”
"That we should so conduct our
business that we may approach a
perfect service, equal to or better than
that of any competitor, and when we are
in doubt, that we should give an added
service beyond the strictest measure or
debt or obligation".
See you next century...
www.jlclark.com