The History of Franklin Art Glass Studios

Franklin Art Glass Studios, Inc. was founded in 1924 with three principals, Wilhelm Kielblock, Wilhelm Kielmeier, and Henry 'Elmore' Helf. Originally located at 135 Due east Spring Street the company's creation was during the low. As the depression deepened and commissions for stained glass declined, Wilhelm Kielmeier pulled out of the company. This left Wilhelm Kielblock, a noted German stained glass designer and painter, and Elmore Helf, a concern man, to reorganize the visitor. Elmore Helf was not the first member of the Helf family unit to run a stained drinking glass studio, his father, Henry Helf, was store foreman for Von Gerichten Art Drinking glass Visitor in Columbus, Ohio. Henry worked there equally a shop foreman until the company closed in 1931, all the while passing his love and the stained glass trade onto Elmore.

Ohio Trade Studios

To proceed Franklin Art Glass alive during those difficult times the determination was made that Kielblock would relinquish his ownership of Franklin Art Glass, which was actually his portion of the debt, to Helf. Kielblock would then operate as an contained contractor under the proper name, Ohio Trade Studios, all the while operating in the same building and same phone number as Franklin Art Drinking glass. Through this arrangement Helf would sell the 'Munich Style' commissions designed and painted by Kielblock's Ohio Trade Studio forth with other original designs created past Franklin Fine art Glass. This system continued successfully until Wilhelm Kielblock'due south expiry in 1987. After successfully riding out the depression Franklin Art Glass became a financially stable stained glass studio working on residential, commercial, and liturgical commissions.

Franklin Art Glass Studios, Inc.

Approached by Wendy's

In 1945 Elmore's son, James Helf causeless command of the company after returning domicile from serving in WWII. Information technology was business organisation as usual until Franklin Art Glass was approached by Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers who were edifice their starting time restaurant simply a few blocks from Franklin's old Oak Street location. Wendy's interior decorator wanted to use stained glass lamps in the restaurants, and with the help of Franklin Fine art Glass, designed a serial of hanging lamps which would eventually go synonymous with Wendy's restaurants. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s Franklin produced over 45,000 lampshades, hiring 40 employees to keep upwards with the demand.

Franklin Art Glass Studios, Inc.

The Stained Glass Association of America

The Stained Glass Clan of America is a professional person trade clan whose membership consists of the finest architectural stained and decorative art glass artists and studios in the U.s. and around the world.  Franklin Art Drinking glass has been a proud member of the SGAA since 1909. When Elmore Helf passed away on September xvi, 1968 in Columbus, Ohio at the age of 76, his obituary published in 'Stained Drinking glass Quarterly' remembered him equally "i of the oldest active members of the Stained Glass Association of America, his firm the Franklin Art Glass Studios having been members for over forty years."

Columbus' Historic German Hamlet

During this time of company growth information technology was necessary to take more than room to adapt the new business so Franklin Art Glass Studios was moved from its 2d location on 214 Oak Street to its new and current location at 222 E Sycamore Street. The new facility located in Columbus's historic German Village is a 23,000-square-foot plant with a 12,000-square-human foot warehouse.

Franklin Art Glass Studios, Inc.

Stained Glass Classes

In 1971 after graduating with a degree in Business Administration from Eastern Kentucky Academy, Gary Helf began working at Franklin Fine art Drinking glass. Up until this signal the business had been only stained glass commissions, but with the increasing popularity of hobbies in the late 1960s, Franklin Art Glass decided to capitalize on the trend and began to offer stained glass classes. This eventually led to the retail and wholesale business through which customers can purchase supplies. Franklin Art Glass still offers their Fundamentals of Stained Glass classes today.

Franklin Art Glass Studios, Inc.

Four Generations

In 2003, the fourth generation of the Helf family unit joined Franklin Art Glass'south legacy. Andrea (Helf) Reid started work presently after graduating from Wittenberg University with a BA. She has been a driving force in moving the company forrad into the digital age through diverse social media sites and helping to create a strong on-line presence. Rooted in four generations of family ownership and leadership, Franklin Art Glass Studios volition exist hither to serve all of your art glass needs for decades to come up.

Franklin Art Drinking glass Studios, Inc.

Franklin Art Glass owes its successful reputation to the completion of thousands of only the finest projects of enduring beauty and highest quality. Equally one of the largest studios of its kind in the country, nosotros succeed in maintaining creative integrity & one-on-ane relationships with our clients. Whether working with a unmarried residence, commercial visitor or national contractor, Franklin Art Glass' quality & focus on client satisfaction remains the same.

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