Jasper Seating Co history

On April 15, 1890, a patent was issued by the United States patent office to Mr.

On February 23, 1904, SCHAAF&SCHNAUS is founded in Jasper, Indiana.

Amidst the economic turbulence of 1929, seven local businessmen met with hopes of forming a seating company committed to producing long-lasting, quality wood chairs.

However, because of wise investing and financial stability, the company was able to purchase the A. Robineau Furniture Company in the nearby community of Dubois in 1932.

Around the same time, Kimball was temporarily closing its oldest plant (built in 1936), where subsidiary Jasper Corp. supplied it and other furniture makers on contract.

The group took charge of managing the small television and radio cabinet manufacturer, which they renamed the Jasper Corporation on May 23, 1950.

With this in mind, the company purchased the Borden Cabinet Corporation in Borden, Indiana, in 1952.

Jasper took its first step toward vertical integration in 1953 when it formed the Jasper-American Manufacturing Co. in Henderson, Kentucky.

By 1955, the company's sales had grown to $4.6 million, and it was employing 436 people.

W.W. Kimball Acquired 1959

In 1961, it formed the Jasper Electronics Manufacturing Co. to produce Kimball electronic organs.

Jasper also expanded piano and organ production into European markets with the acquisition of the English company Herrburger Brooks P.L.C. in 1965.

Jasper also acquired an Alabama manufacturer of Victorian reproduction furniture in 1969; Jasper later renamed the company Kimball Furniture Reproductions, Inc.

1979: Kimball acquires Artec brand of office furniture.

In 1981 the Dubois plant, known as the Indiana Cabinet Company, discontinued manufacture of household furniture and merged with Indiana Desk to concentrate on the manufacture of office furniture.

The Castleton, Indiana, store had been acquired in 1982 to use as a test market.

The division, which operates a 200,000-square-foot plant in Jasper, Indiana, began producing the Cetra line of office furniture in 1988.

In the vigorous business climate of the 1990’s Indiana Desk was thriving and made many significant changes to the operations.

Merged in 1991 into Kimball Europe P.L.C., the unit makes and markets Herrburger Brooks brand piano components and office furniture for sale in the United Kingdom.

Kimball Electronics acquired Elmo Semiconductor Corp., based in Burbank, California, in early 1996, as well as Elmo Semiconducteurs, located near Paris.

The first collections, Cherry Falls and Oak Meadow, debuted in April 1997 and were designed by Ron Stilwell of North Carolina.

Kimball had record sales of $1.1 billion in fiscal 1999, with 70 percent of revenues deriving from its furniture segment.

In April 2000, a plant in Thailand opened.

By early 2003, it became apparent that a change in company focus was needed in order to remain competitive in the world market as the company entered their second century of business.