Renaissance Revival at the Centennial
1876
Berkey & Gay Furniture Co.
Berkey & Gay's carved Renaissance Revival furniture at Philadelphia's Centennial Exposition put Grand Rapids on the national furniture map.
Illustrative photo, not a Berkey & Gay workshop. Photo: Ries Bosch / Unsplash.
centennial-renaissance-revival
Julius Berkey
julius-berkey
Co-founder, Berkey & Gay
George W. Gay
george-w-gay
Co-founder, Berkey & Gay
The Bissell Carpet Sweeper
1876
Melville R. Bissell
Grand Rapids crockery dealer Melville Bissell patented a carpet sweeper in September 1876, launching one of America's best-known cleaning brands.
Melville R. Bissell, U.S. Patent 182,346, Sept. 19, 1876. Public domain.
bissell-carpet-sweeper
Melville R. Bissell
melville-bissell
Inventor
Anna Sutherland Bissell
anna-bissell
Chief executive
The Leonard Cleanable Refrigerator
1882
Grand Rapids Refrigerator Co.
Charles Leonard's icebox had removable linings and flues, so households could finally clean the inside.
leonard-cleanable-refrigerator
Charles H. Leonard
charles-h-leonard
Inventor & founder
Lily White Flour
1884
Valley City Milling Co.
Valley City Milling, founded in Grand Rapids in 1884, sold Lily White flour and Rowena feeds across Michigan for nearly a century.
Valley City Milling Co. advertising button for Lily White Flour, “The flour the best cooks use.”
lily-white-flour
William N. Rowe
william-n-rowe
Co-founder, Valley City Milling
The Grand Rapids School Desk
1886
Grand Rapids School Furniture Co.
A school-desk maker began production in 1886 and grew into American Seating, which seated classrooms, theaters and ballparks.
Desk-sizing gauge by Allen D. Linn for the Grand Rapids School Furniture Co., U.S. Patent 618,888, 1899. Public domain.
grand-rapids-school-desk
Allen D. Linn
allen-d-linn
Inventor
The Clipper Bicycle
1890
Grand Rapids Cycle Co.
The Grand Rapids Cycle Company built Clipper bicycles from 1890 and shipped them worldwide during the 1890s cycling craze.
Illustrative photo, not a Clipper. Photo: Kiwihug / Unsplash.
clipper-bicycle
Oliver Woodworking Machines
1890
Oliver Machinery Co.
Joseph Oliver's company built trimmers, jointers and saws in Grand Rapids that many still call the finest woodworking machines ever made.
oliver-woodworking-machines
Joseph W. Oliver
joseph-w-oliver
Founder, Oliver Machinery
Hekman Biscuits
1893
Hekman Biscuit Co.
Dutch baker Edsko Hekman's home-baked cookies grew into the Hekman Biscuit Company, whose Grand Rapids bakery became a Keebler plant.
Hekman Biscuit Co. metal sign.
hekman-biscuits
Edsko Hekman
edsko-hekman
Founder, Hekman Biscuit Co.
Silver Foam Beer
1893
Grand Rapids Brewing Co.
Six Grand Rapids breweries merged in 1893 into the Grand Rapids Brewing Company, whose Silver Foam became the city's beer.
Grand Rapids Brewing Co. Silver Foam bottles.
silver-foam-beer
Christoph Kusterer
christoph-kusterer
Brewer, City Brewery
Charles F. Kusterer
charles-f-kusterer
President, Grand Rapids Brewing Co.
Gordon Food Service
1897
Gordon Food Service
A $300 butter-and-egg route started in 1897 grew into North America's largest family-run foodservice distributor.
Illustrative photo. Photo: Peter Werkman / Unsplash.
gordon-food-service
Isaac Van Westenbrugge
isaac-van-westenbrugge
Founder, Gordon Food Service
Ben Gordon
ben-gordon
Co-founder, Gordon Food Service
Quaint Arts & Crafts Furniture
1902
Stickley Brothers Co.
Albert Stickley's Grand Rapids firm launched its Quaint Arts & Crafts line, putting Mission-style furniture within wide reach.
Illustrative photo, not Stickley Brothers furniture. Photo: Toa Heftiba / Unsplash.
stickley-quaint
Albert Stickley
albert-stickley
Founder, Stickley Brothers
Michigan Wheel Propellers
1903
Michigan Wheel
A Grand Rapids machine shop founded in 1903 turned to marine propellers and became one of the world's leading propeller makers.
Four-blade bronze propeller. Photo: Michigan Wheel.
michigan-wheel-propellers
Eldon L. Lorenz
eldon-l-lorenz
Inventor, Michigan Wheel
The Austin Highway King
1903–20
Austin Automobile Co.
Lumber dealer James Austin and his son Walter built big, powerful touring cars in Grand Rapids from 1903 to 1920.
Walter S. Austin, two-speed axle-gearing construction, U.S. Patent 1,689,377 (filed 1920). Public domain.
austin-highway-king
Walter S. Austin
walter-s-austin
Engineer, Austin Automobile Co.
James E. Austin
james-e-austin
Founder, Austin Automobile Co.
The Wishbone Hanger
1904
John Thomas Batts, Inc.
John Thomas Batts patented the curved wooden “wishbone” hanger in Grand Rapids in 1904; two years later Meyer May's store was the first to hang its clothes on it.
John Thomas Batts, garment hanger, U.S. Patent 765,331 (filed Dec. 24, 1903, granted July 19, 1904). Public domain.
wishbone-hanger
John Thomas Batts
john-thomas-batts
Inventor of the wishbone hanger
Meyer May
meyer-may
Clothier
The Soules Automobile
1905
Soules Motor Car Co.
From 1905 to 1908 the Soules Motor Car Company built cars and light delivery trucks in Grand Rapids.
soules-automobile
The Victor Fireproof Wastebasket
1914
Metal Office Furniture Co. (Steelcase)
Steelcase's first hit was a lightweight steel wastebasket that would not catch fire from discarded cigar ash.
Peter M. Wege for Metal Office Furniture Co., waste-basket, U.S. Patent 1,234,516 (filed 1915). Public domain.
victor-wastebasket
Peter M. Wege
peter-m-wege
Founder & inventor
Wolverine 1000 Mile Boot
1914
Wolverine Shoe & Tanning Corp.
Wolverine's horsehide work boot promised 1,000 miles of wear, and the company still makes it in the United States a century on.
Wolverine 1000 Mile Boot. Photo: Wolverine.
wolverine-1000-mile-boot
G.A. Krause
g-a-krause
Founder, Wolverine
Victor Krause
victor-krause
Tanning innovator
Ferris Coffee
1924
Ferris Coffee & Nut Co.
Ferris has roasted coffee in Grand Rapids since the late 1800s and was formally established as Ferris Coffee & Nut Co. in 1924.
Illustrative photo, not Ferris coffee. Photo: Anastasiia Chepinska / Unsplash.
ferris-coffee
Jay Floyd Ferris
jay-floyd-ferris
Coffee roaster, Ferris
Cream-Nut Peanut Butter
1925
Koeze Co.
Koeze began making peanut butter in 1925 and still grinds Cream-Nut in Grand Rapids on the original equipment.
Koeze Cream-Nut Smooth Natural Peanut Butter. Photo: Koeze Co.
cream-nut-peanut-butter
Sibbele Koeze
sibbele-koeze
Founder, Koeze Co.
Adjustable Shelf Standards
1934
Knape & Vogt
Joseph Knape patented slotted shelf standards and clip-in brackets in 1934, a system still found in stores and homes.
Joseph J. Knape for Knape & Vogt, adjustable shelf bracket, U.S. Patent 1,853,018 (filed 1928). Public domain.
knape-vogt-shelf-standards
Joseph J. Knape
joseph-j-knape
Inventor
John Knape
john-knape
Co-founder, Knape & Vogt
Englebert Vogt
englebert-vogt
Co-founder, Knape & Vogt
Frank Lloyd Wright's Johnson Wax Desk
1937
Metal Office Furniture Co. (Steelcase)
Steelcase built Frank Lloyd Wright's curved steel desks and chairs for the S.C. Johnson headquarters in Racine.
wright-johnson-wax-desk
Frank Lloyd Wright
frank-lloyd-wright
Architect & designer
Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb
1943
Widdicomb Furniture Co.
Designer T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings created clean-lined modern furniture that Widdicomb built in Grand Rapids.
T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings lounge chair for Widdicomb.
robsjohn-gibbings-widdicomb
T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings
th-robsjohn-gibbings
Designer
The Multiple 15 Desk
1949
Steelcase
Steelcase sized desks in 15-inch increments, a module the whole industry adopted and the root of modular office furniture.
multiple-15-desk
Lear F-5 Autopilot
1949
Lear, Inc.
Bill Lear's Grand Rapids company built a light autopilot for jet aircraft that could also fly an automatic approach, winning him the Collier Trophy.
William P. Lear, loop antenna construction, U.S. Patent 2,403,093 (filed 1943), assigned to Lear, Incorporated, Grand Rapids. Public domain.
lear-f5-autopilot
Bill Lear
bill-lear
Inventor
Butterball Butter Premium Balls
1956
Butterball Farms
Leo Peters bought the Butterball name in 1951, sold the turkey business but kept the trademark, and turned a Grand Rapids butter company into the maker of embossed pats, roses and Premium Balls.
Butterball Butter Premium Balls. Photo: Butterball Farms, Inc.
butterball-butter-balls
Leo Peters
leo-peters
Inventor & founder, Butterball Farms
Mark Peters
mark-peters
CEO, Butterball Farms
Hush Puppies
1958
Wolverine World Wide
Wolverine turned its pigskin tanning know-how into soft casual shoes, and the basset-hound brand became a postwar hit.
"Ventilated Hush Puppies" print ad. Wolverine World Wide.
hush-puppies
Victor Krause
victor-krause
Tanning innovator
Jim Muir
jim-muir
Named Hush Puppies
Adolph Krause
adolph-krause
President, Wolverine
X-Rite Color Instruments
1958
X-Rite
Seven Lear Siegler engineers started X-Rite in 1958; its X-ray labeling tape led to the densitometers and spectrophotometers used worldwide.
x-rite
D. Ted Thompson
d-ted-thompson
Co-founder, X-Rite
Amway L.O.C. Cleaner
1959
Amway
Amway's first product was a biodegradable liquid cleaner, first sold as Frisk and renamed L.O.C.
Amway Home L.O.C. Multi-Purpose Cleaner. Photo: Amway.
amway-loc
Rich DeVos
rich-devos
Co-founder, Amway
Jay Van Andel
jay-van-andel
Co-founder, Amway
Meijer Thrifty Acres
1962
Meijer
Hendrik and Fred Meijer put a supermarket and a discount department store under one roof, with one checkout, creating the supercenter.
A Meijer store, 1990s.
meijer-thrifty-acres
Fred Meijer
fred-meijer
Co-founder & chairman, Meijer
Hendrik Meijer
hendrik-meijer
Founder, Meijer
Pop-Tarts
1964
Hekman Biscuit Co. (Keebler) for Kellogg's
The first Pop-Tarts were developed and baked at the Hekman plant on 28th Street after a handshake deal with Kellogg's in 1964.
Frosted Pop-Tart.
pop-tarts
Bill Post
bill-post
Bakery manager who made Pop-Tarts
The NIV Bible
1978
Zondervan
Zondervan, started by two brothers in 1931, published the New International Version in 1978; by 1986 it outsold the King James.
Holy Bible, New International Version, Zondervan hardcover. Photo: Zondervan.
niv-bible
Pat Zondervan
pat-zondervan
Co-founder, Zondervan
Bernie Zondervan
bernie-zondervan
Co-founder, Zondervan
The Roll-Out Refuse Cart
1989
Cascade Engineering
Cascade Engineering, a Grand Rapids plastics molder founded in 1973, started making wheeled waste and recycling carts in 1989 and became one of the largest cart makers in North America.
Brian G. Parker, Chadwick L. Van Sweden and Robert J. Turnbull for Cascade Engineering, refuse container, U.S. Patent 5,816,591 (filed 1996, granted 1998). Public domain.
cascade-roll-out-refuse-cart
Fred P. Keller
fred-p-keller
Founder, Cascade Engineering
Christina Keller
christina-keller
CEO, Cascade Engineering
The Leap Chair
1999
Steelcase
Research into how people really sit produced the Leap, whose backrest changes shape as the sitter's spine moves.
Steelcase Leap. Photo: Steelcase.
leap-chair
Glenn A. Knoblock
glenn-a-knoblock
Inventor
Howies Hockey Tape
2002
Howies Hockey
Started in 2002 out of a one-room storage unit on Grand Rapids' north side, Howies tape is now wrapped on sticks across the NHL, AHL and college hockey.
Howies tape tin with clear, white and black rolls. Photo: Howies Hockey.
howies-hockey-tape
Max Sieplinga
max-sieplinga
Founder, Howies Hockey
The Folding Roof Truss
2006
Universal Forest Products (UFP Industries)
Universal Forest Products began in Grand Rapids in 1955 selling lumber to builders of factory-made houses. Half a century later it patented a hinged truss that lets a manufactured home's steep roof fold down for the highway.
John Sirowatka for Universal Forest Products, double-hinge plate and foldable truss, U.S. Patent 7,131,243 (filed 2003, granted 2006). Public domain.
ufp-folding-roof-truss
William F. Grant
william-f-grant
Founder, Universal Forest Products
Peter F. Secchia
peter-f-secchia
Chairman, Universal Forest Products
John Sirowatka
john-sirowatka
Inventor, Universal Forest Products
All Day IPA
2012
Founders Brewing Co.
Founders released its 4.7% session IPA year-round in 2012, and it became the brewery's flagship.
Founders All Day IPA can. Photo: Founders Brewing Co.
all-day-ipa
Jeremy Kosmicki
jeremy-kosmicki
Brewmaster, Founders
Autocam Medical Implants & Instruments
2014
Autocam Medical
Spun out of John Kennedy's Autocam in 2014, Autocam Medical machines screws, plates, drills and implants for surgical device makers from Kentwood.
Machined surgical instruments, screws and plates. Photo: Autocam Medical.
autocam-medical
John C. Kennedy
john-c-kennedy
Founder, Autocam
Nightjar Sauna
2023
Nightjar Sauna and Cold Plunge
Hand-built cedar saunas and cold plunges from a Grand Rapids workshop, delivered fully assembled anywhere in the country.
A Nightjar cedar sauna. Photo: Nightjar Sauna.
nightjar-sauna
David Stoffer
david-stoffer
Founder, Nightjar Sauna