The obverse bears bust of company founder Charles P. Dahlstrom. At top, TWENTY FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE / 1904 - IN FIRE CONTROL - 1929; at bottom, CHARLES P. DAHLSTROM / FOUNDER / DAHLSTROM METALLIC DOOR COMPANY / JAMESTOWN, N.Y.; signed on right, KILENYI
The reverse show classic industry commemorative motif with modern factory in center and small startup building in clouds above. Old building dated 1904, new factory dated 1929;
Charles Peter Dahlstrom was born September 4, 1872 on the Island of Gotland, Sweden. He was educated in Sweden and at the age of 12 attended a school of technology in Stockholm. He had an inventive mechanical mind and was a skillful mechanic. A natural inventor he was noted for his genius in devising improvements on machinery from a very young age. In 1891, after learning the trade of tool and die making, Dahlstrom came to the United States.
Dahlstrom found work at his trade in Buffalo where he worked for several years. He also spent time in Chicago and Milwaukee before eventually finding employment with the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company. Here he formed a personal acquaintance with George Westinghouse and the two became friends.
Dahlstrom eventually made his way to Jamestown and entered the employ of the Art Metal Construction Company. It was during his time with Art metal that he invented a metallic door. After obtaining the patent to the door, Dahlstrom severed his connection with Art Metal and organized the Dahlstrom Metallic Door Company in 1904.
The door was immediately met with public favor, with its special adaptation to high buildings and hotels being quickly recognized. The door was adopted almost universally by all construction companies, and the company was soon compelled to erect a four-story brick plant on Buffalo street. From there the construction industry demanded other materials, and roll forming began for all types of construction material for high-rise buildings throughout the county.
During its heyday, the Dahlstrom plant was considered the largest and most important in Jamestown. By 1920, the company comprised ten buildings and employed 500 men. But Charles Dahlstrom did not live to see the full fruits of his labor. He died in Jamestown, April 10, 1909 at the age of 36.
As Harry Waterson, the Kilenyi specialist, pointed out when he commented on my documentation for this plaquette:
"The reverse has a thick wire rim with the devices all recessed below the plane of the rim. This means it would lay flat as a paperweight. This seems to me to be a carefully thought out use for this plaquette as it would actually be useful in an architectural design office to keep rolled plans lying flat. And a constant reminder to the architect what doors he should specify for the plan he was working on. A nice marriage of art and commerce."
The plaque measures 101mm by 75.8mm and was struck in bronze by the Whitehead-Hoag Company of Newark, New Jersey. The reported mintage is 5,000 pieces.