FULLER BOX history

In 1892 the company acquired a Minneapolis competitor, The Minnesota Paste Company, for $200.

In late 1893 Harvey successfully produced Fuller's Cold Water Dry Wall Cleaner, intended for use on wallpaper (at that time it was customary to clean walls twice yearly, but existing cleaners tended to decompose under warm conditions), and applied for a patent.

After the war, however, Fuller's sales dropped off and Harvey, Sr., fell ill, dying late in 1921.

In 1930, following the stock market crash, Fuller acquired The Selvasize Company of St Paul, the maker of a combination plaster and wallpaper adhesive, for $2,000.

Even more devastating to the company's long-term prospects was the debilitating stroke Harvey Fuller suffered in 1939.

1958: H.B. Fuller Company (Canada) Ltd., based in Winnipeg, is launched.

Al Vigard assumed control of day-to-day operations in Andersen's absence; he later became president when Andersen extended his political career by receiving the governorship of Minnesota in 1960.

At the close of the decade, Fuller ranked fourth among United States adhesives companies, behind National Starch (later owned by Unilever, then Imperial Chemical Industries PLC), Paisley Products (acquired by Fuller in 1975), and Swift.

By 1985, however, earnings had improved dramatically, and three years later, Andersen was named executive of the year by Corporate Report Minnesota.

1992: Walter Kissling is named president of Fuller.

Kissling added the CEO position as well in 1995.