Sawyer’s Story

This booklet was published by Sawyer’s in the early 50s and gives a glimpse into how the factory operated.

From an obscure and simple beginning in 1914, Sawyer’s Inc. has developed into a complex, internationally famous industry. The original firm, which was started by Carleton Sawyer and two associates, handled photo finishing for the Owl Drug Company.

In 1919 the business, which then employed only three persons, was bought by Edwin Mayer, Fred Mayer, Al Mayer and Ray F. Kelly. They expanded the photo finishing service to over 350 drug stores in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Eventually, property was purchased and a two-story, 60×100 ft. building constructed. In 1926 Harold Graves, now president of Sawyer’s, joined the company. A year later Sawyer’s facilities were thrown into the tourist novelty field and the company quickly became the country’s largest producers of scenic photo post cards and packet sets.

View-Master patented

The year 1938 was a momentous turning point in Sawyer’s history. With W. B. Gruber, who had applied for patents on the Stereoscope, Sawyer’s started the manufacture of the now famous View-Master Stereoscope and Reels. The mass manufacture of today’s modern adaptation of the stereoscope necessitated the building of new type machines and the formulating of new manufacturing procedures.

By 1941 another building was purchased, adjoining the rear of the old building at 725 S. W. 20th Place. The “Scenic” department was steadily producing quality pictures for distribution all over the country and View-Master products were quickly gaining approval of children and adults.

During the war years, Sawyer’s was recognized as the producer of a valuable educational tool. The plant ran at full production levels to supply the army and navy with View-Master Stereoscopes and Training Reels.

Facilities expanded

In 1945 construction was begun on another new building. This building was later taken over by Stereocraft Engineering Company, an associated company engaged in manufacturing precision equipment and metal parts for our products.

By 1947, with the addition of yet another building, Sawyer’s personnel jumped to 150 persons. But even this new expansion soon became inadequate to supply the constant and ever-increasing demand for View-Master products.

In 1949, a supply office and warehouse was opened at 3543 N. Kenton in Chicago, to service the eastern United States. At Progress, Oregon, approximately nine miles southwest of Portland’s city center, a 14-acre site was procured. Plans were drawn and work on a mammoth new plant was begun. Actual occupancy took place in June, 1951.

Pioneer Stereo Company

In 1951, Sawyer’s purchased from the Rock Island Bridge Company, the interests of its subsidiary, the Tru-Vue Company, which since 1931, had been producing equipment developed on the stereo principle. The physical assets of this company and three of its key personnel were moved to Portland from Rock Island, Illinois.

New Product–New Market

Today, Tru-Vue is an entirely new product. A new black and red viewer was designed to take rectangular film cards containing seven stereo pairs in a beautiful new negative-positive color film. Engineered for a market that had hardly been touched by View-Master, Tru-Vue sells for less than View-Master Reels and Stereoscopes and in different market outlets. Where View-Master is sold in camera stores and photo departments, Tru-Vue is sold in toy departments.

Separate Division

The Tru-Vue division has its own independent sales organization, advertising staff and photographic department working entirely independent of the View-Master division.

Chicago Plant Expanded

In 1952, the Chicago operation, now greatly enlarged, moved to its new building at 3500 N. Kostner. The Portland factory ships finished goods in bulk to this distribution center. This fine new plant uses the most modern and efficient methods to serve over two-thirds of the Sawyer outlets -roughly all the states east of the Rocky mountains.

Product Research & Development

In October, 1953, a new department for product research and development was set up, which is an important factor to the success and continued growth of any company.

The aim of this department is improved products through the best in engineering methods, economy without sacrificing the high standard of quality which the company has always tried to maintain and the perpetuation of new and better products.

In January 1956, the building formerly occupied by Stereocraft was acquired and remodeled extensively. Our Research Department, sadly in need of larger quarters, was moved to this building which provided them with about three times the work area they had previously occupied. This move will have a decided effect in the efficiency of the department, in that product research, development, and drafting are now brought together into one department, and, in addition, will be more closely associated with the engineering department.

Export Department

The export department was started in 1946 and now operates on a worldwide basis, distributing Sawyer products in Canada, most countries in the Western Hemisphere and nearly all European countries that are in the “free market” not served by Sawyer’s Europe.

Sawyer’s Chicago Branch

During 1948 it became increasingly apparent that a branch office was needed in the east, to provide cheaper and faster delivery and greater efficiency in the whole operation of billing and shipping orders to our eastern customers.

On January 1, 1949, this branch, including warehouse, billing and shipping departments, was opened, in part of the Three Dimension Co. building at 4555 W. Addison St., Chicago, Illinois. Robert V. Brost was brought into the organization as Chicago Branch Manager.

Within a few months this space became inadequate and larger quarters were leased nearby, at 3543 N. Kenton Ave. During the next two and one-half years, this building also was outgrown; the Chicago branch was having growing pains similar to those experienced in the Portland plant. Larger and larger quantities of our steadily increasing family of products had to be stocked to meet the demand; business soon outgrew the limited shipping and billing space and it became essential to seek new quarters

A new and modern building was built and occupied in 1952, to meet these demands. The spacious new building is located at 3500 N. Kostner Ave., Chicago, Illinois, and has approximately 15,000 square feet of floor space. It features modern offices and adequate warehouse and shipping facilities; is more efficient in every way and can handle approximately 50 per cent more volume than in the previous location, with the same manpower.

The original planning and designing of the building was such that a second floor could be added when needed. In the latter part of 1953 further expansion for additional warehouse, shipping and office space for the new Tru-Vue products became essential. In March of 1954, construction of the second floor was begun to provide the branch with an additional 15,000 square feet of floor space.

Sawyer’s Europe

In 1952, Sawyer’s Europe, an affiliated organization, was established at 294 Rue Royale, Belgium. The factory location was a rented area of 75,000 square feet in the industrial section of the city.

Early in 1956, a new site was rented at St. Niklaas, a city of 43,000 population. In the Flemish section of the country, twenty-seven miles from Brussels and twelve miles from Antwerp, this nearly new, modern building increases the floor space to 20,000 square feet. The need for additional space had become imperative due to the increased production activity and the new lines continually being added for distribution through Sawyer’s Europe.

Sawyer’s Europe was established to serve many parts of the globe where monetary or trade restrictions made trade with Sawyer’s Inc., U.S.A., difficult or impossible. Through distributors in each of the major markets, this associate company serves all Europe, as well as temporary rights to supply Asia, New Zealand, British East Africa and other minor areas outside the European sphere.

The European firm, managed by two men, Mr. Franz P. Van Dope, vice-president, and Mr. Charles Beatse, managing director, has its own sales de-partment, advertising department and develops its own photographic program.

Sawyer’s Europe is in constant liaison with Sawyer’s Inc. so they may benefit by product information and improvements in operation developed in the home plant.

Sawyer’s Inc. assist in policy direction of the European affiliate through the two positions held by them on the Board of Directors.

Departments at Sawyer’s

MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT

General building upkeep, including all utilities, carpentry work, cabinet making for the Portland and Chicago plants, constructing export crates which must be waterproof, and the manufacture and maintenance of specialty items of metal or wood such as carts, tables, and mechanical display equipment are some of the major items handled in Sawyer’s own maintenance department.

PRINT SHOP

Advertising material, office forms, Stereo Atlases, Personal Reel al-bums, box covers for Sawyer products and many other printed items are run through the large presses in the Print shop daily, as well as View-Master Reel lists and Tru-Vue film lists by the millions.

RESEARCH DEPARTMENT

All of Sawyer’s new products are first developed and tested in this department. Starting with preliminary models, the products are continually revised and improved until eventually, extremely accurate engineering drawings and final working models of each part and assembly are completed, ready for ordering of parts and production.

ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

Thousands of metal parts which are used in nearly all Sawyer products are produced in this department every day. Skilled operators form these parts in powerful punch presses which cut and shape the metal. This is a vital unit of Sawyer’s organization.

CAFETERIA

This up – to – the – minute cafeteria serves appetizing and inexpensive meals to Sawyer employees, refreshments are also available for the morning and afternoon rest periods.

BOX FACTORY

The boxes for Sawyer products are made on this complex piece of machinery. Chip board is first scored and cut to size before going into machine to be taped in shape and covered.

The Plant

The Sawyer plant at Progress is housed in ten buildings dispersed over fourteen acres. These ten units total approximately four acres of floor space and provide 170,000 square feet of working area.

The basic units are 1– Office, 2– Color Film Service and Optics, 3– Color Film Processing, 4– Service and Maintenance, 5– Research and engineering, 6– Paint Shop and Finishing Building, 7– Box Manufacturing, 8– Production Units, including Printing and Advertising Departments, 9– Warehouse and 10– Warehouse.

Construction is all reinforced concrete. Covered walkways connect the units. An excellent intercommunication system keeps the departments in touch with each other at all times.

Sawyer’s management has provided on the plant grounds various recreational facilities, such as horseshoe pits, volley ball courts, etc.

Other features which add to the pleasant working conditions are the plant cafeteria and the men’s and women’s recreation rooms, housed in the Service Building.

There are now over four hundred employees, including fifty in the Sawyer’s Chicago Branch and the salesmen for View-Master and Tru-Vue, serving a dealer organization of over eleven thousand outlets.