Chicago, IL
The Crystal Manufacturing Co. Inc. was established by 4 partners in 1929 located in Chicago, IL. The founders that established the company were three men by the names of Joe Choen, Joe Drich, Tony Moore, and Leroy V. Johanson. The main product line for the Crystal Manufacturing Co. Inc. during the 1930s through the 1950’s was a wide variety of advertising signs for various industries and companies across the United States. The Crystal Manufacturing Co. Inc. was headquartered in Chicago, IL and also used the name Crystal Mfg. Inc. on some of their products. They were most famous for creating illuminated box signs with detailed eye-catching graphic on reverse-painted glass faces.
The Crystal Manufacturing Company Inc. made various beer signs for breweries like D. G. Yuengling, Stegmaier, Duquesne, Du Bois, Trenton, Eilert’s, Rainier, Berkshire, Schlitz, Jacob Ruppert, Buffalo, Fox Head, Olympia, Tivoli, Griesedieck Brothers, Kurth, Golden State, Northeast, and Fall City as well as many others.
During World War II, Crystal supported the war efforts by manufacture radio chassis’ for tanks and airplanes. They also partnered with another local sign and display manufacturer named Steward Warner located at 1826 Diversey Parkway Chicago, IL. Stewart Warner also produced pre-war speedometers and auto dashboard gauges. Although separate entities, there was always business connection between the two companies during and after the war with the government.
On Christmas Eve of 1957, Joe Drich passed away; and this changed Crystal’s hierarchy completely. Joe Choen, the other senior partner had already passed years prior. With the absence of Choen and Drich, all their connections to the Pentagon and NASA were gone.
In 1958, Leroy, Tony, and the inheritors of Choen’s and Drich’s portions of the company decided liquidate the company. The original building was razed a few years after and apartment buildings stand where the company once stood.
Below are a few examples of Crystal Manufacturing Company signs:
