Armstrong Flooring history

Armstrong's original business was cutting cork stoppers, first by hand then after 1862 by machine, from the bark of cork trees which grow in Portugal, Spain, and northern Africa.

Invented in England in 1863 by Frederick Walton, linoleum was basically a mixture of cork flour, mineral fillers, and linseed oil, which was pressed under high temperature onto burlap backing and colored with pigments.

The firm was originally named for his partner in the venture, John O. Glass, but Glass's interest was purchased by Armstrong's brother in 1864 and the company's name was changed to Armstrong, Brother & Company.

Originally cork was purchased from American importers, but in 1878 Armstrong made arrangements to purchase, process, and ship corkwood and corks direct from Spain, thus beginning the foreign operations that eventually would make the company the largest cork processor in Spain.

In addition, foreign markets were expanded with sales offices opening in Montreal and Toronto in 1895.

Prentis had joined the firm in 1907 when, as a 23-year-old with an M.A. in economics, he took a job with Armstrong's insulation division in Pittsburgh in order to gain some practical experience before beginning a teaching career.

Searching for new cork-based products, the company decided to add linoleum floor covering to its line and, in 1908, the first Armstrong linoleum was produced in a new plant in Lancaster.

In 1909 he established free dental service for employees.

In 1917 he arranged for the company's first national advertisement in the mass media, to appear in the September 1917 issue of the Saturday Evening Post.

Insert 3 Letter from C. D. Armstrong regarding report for 1921.

Memorandum from John Evans regarding the Executive Committee Safety Report of 1923.

Letter from John Evans regarding the 15th Annual Report of Executive Committee of Safety dated January 1927.

Performed at the Fulton Opera House for Armstrong Wholesalers on 10 November 1928 and for the public, sponsored by the Lancaster Advertisers’ Club to raise funds for charity on 12 November 1928.

In 1934, the vice-president, Henning Webb Prentis, Jr., who was to have a great impact on the company's development, became the next president of Armstrong.

Insert 6 “To My Fellow Employees”. Letter from H.W. Prentis stating the importance of the 1936 presidential election and advising employees to vote and to follow their conscience.

Folder 90 “Semi-Annual Report of Operations to the Employees of the Armstrong Cork Company.” 30 June 1937.

He diversified by purchasing rubber- and asphalt-tile factories, and in 1938 acquired two glass companies, Whitall Tatum and Hart Glass Manufacturing.

Insert 3 “Top Management Looks at the Foreman’s Job in the Post War.” [1939].

Insert 3 Reemployment Provisions—Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, as Amended.

Insert 1 “Army-Navy Production Award”. Certificate awarded to Robert W. Snyder by President of Armstrong [H.W. Prentis]. 1942.

Insert 7 “Absenteeism and Morale.” 1943.

Insert 8 “Recommendations and Conclusions of the District Survey Committee on Survey Group “A”’s Report on Phila Navy Yard.” [1944].

Insert 3 Memorandum to H. J. Marshall from R. D. Mayhew regarding the recapitulation of munitions operations bonus earnings. [1945].

Contains an article on the history of the company, “Pioneer in Cork—Thomas M. Armstrong: An Address by H. W. Prentis, Jr., Commemorating the 90th Anniversary of the Founding of the Armstrong Cork Company.” April 1950.

To help sell products in the home-remodeling market, in 1953 Armstrong built in Lancaster an "idea house" filled with Armstrong products, to be used as a showcase for dealers and customers.

By 1960 building materials accounted for 60 percent of sales, and industrial specialties and packaging were each 20 percent of sales.

In 1962 Backstrand became chairman and Maurice J. Warnock was appointed president.

Reprint of “To Live and Die for Armstrong,” by Hubert Kay, Fortune Magazine, March 1964. “Reprint solely for the information of the Armstrong Corporation. printed by Time, Inc.

Otherwise, Warnock's tenure as president was successful with new efficiencies in organization, improvement in flooring products, and continued growth in sales to $460 million in 1967.

Write for “Color Creates the Mood”. Ran in House Beautiful June, 1968, House & Garden July, 1968, Better Homes & Gardens August, 1968, Woman’s Day August, 1968, McCall’s September, 1968, Redbook Magazine September, 1968, and Sunset, September, 1968.

In 1969 Binns sold the line of cleansers, waxes, and polishes to Chemway Corporation and the extensive packaging operations to Kerr Glass Manufacturing Company.

First convention held out of Lancaster, post WWII. 9 February 1971.

The production of linoleum was discontinued in 1974, but the company continued to develop new types of resilient flooring, among which Solarian no-wax flooring became a well-known brand name.

In 1980 the corporate name was changed to Armstrong World Industries, Inc. to reflect its growing international operations and the fact that it was no longer based on the cork business.

Insert 5 Photocopy of “Armstrong: the First 125 Years.” [1985]. Business card of C. Eugene Moore, manager, Corporate Information.

Folder 83 “Brochures for Solarian Flooring”. Entitled: Designer Solarian, Designer Solarian II, Timespan, Popular Choice, Crowne Corlon, Solarian Supreme Pearl Glaze Collection, Sundial Solarian, Prevail, and Sundial Solarian Bath Collection (2 copies). 1988.

In July 1989 Armstrong learned that the Belzberg family of Canada had acquired 9.85 percent of its stock and had announced the intention of gaining control of the company and selling its furniture and industrial products divisions.

In June 1990, Armstrong and the Belzberg affiliates resolved the remaining issues between them by withdrawing lawsuits and countersuits against each other.

In 1992 the company posted $165.5 million in restructuring charges, mainly to close four major manufacturing plants--two in the United States, one each in Canada and Belgium.

When its numbers were adjusted to reflect only these ongoing businesses, Armstrong posted record net sales of $2.16 billion in 1996, while net earnings hit $155.9 million, an increase of 26 percent over the previous year.

Insert 3 Article from Lancaster New Era by Tim Mekeel, “Armstrong Demolition Nearly Done.” 12 July 2007.