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THE CLARKSON STORY
Brothers
Everett and Howard Clarkson started the company with about $1000 cash in 1947.
The brothers worked as machinery erectors and maintained machinery in textile
plants after high school. With this experience under their belt, they had the
idea to move heavy machinery intact rather than to dismantle it. So they left
Fall River, Massachusetts and launched a new enterprise on the corner of
Howard’s property in Cowpens, South Carolina.
They started out in a 20 by 15 foot area with a desk, a telephone, some
rigging equipment, and a second hand
tractor trailer. Before long they were growing and taking over the chicken house
that also sat on the property. The trailer they had purchased was also small for
what they wanted to do so they inventively took a hack saw & cut across the
middle of the 18’ trailer. Once in two pieces they added an extension to reach
34 feet! One truck, then two, then another and eventually another.
A large ‘mess
up’ by a competitor gave the Clarkson brothers the opportunity to prove their
magnificent work. Once people starting hearing about their great
accomplishments, their business grew and grew. Howard & Everett’s business,
‘Clarkson Brothers’, became one of the top machinery movers in the country.
Later Howard retired and Everett bought his brother’s half of the company. Three
of Everett’s children came on board
to help run the operation. Unexpectedly Everett died leaving the three siblings
to carry on the business.
At
this time there were approximately 200 employees. The family had to work
together. E. Clifford Clarkson Jr., who had been working at the business since
he was 16 years old, became president of sales and safety. His sister Sheelah
Clarkson developed a position as director of properties and warehousing and
eventually executive vice president. Howard E. Clarkson also did sales and
became vice president of operations.
David Rinz purchased ‘Clarkson Brothers’ in 1988. Now named ‘Clarkson
Industrial’, we have continued a tradition of “one smooth move after
another.” Clarkson is an international leader in the
installation of industrial machinery and single source relocation. Dave has
ensured efficiency, precision, integrity, and experience to customers for 19
years now. With continued growth and development, four divisions have been
established to provide ‘turn key’ operations to any potential customer.
From
local jobs here in Spartanburg to working as far away as China, Clarkson today
continues those same relationships which have been built on a solid foundation.
Clarkson continues to foster new customers’ relationships and grow to where we
are today.
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