98:, shared with Lennox their plans for a furnace using riveted steel for the heating surface. The furnaces used to heat homes at that time were made entirely of cast iron, which had a tendency to warp and crack after extended use and could cause smoke and coal gases to seep into houses. Bryant, Smith, and Lennox entered into an agreement in which Lennox made the iron castings used for the grates, fronts, and other parts of their steel furnaces. When Bryant and Smith were unable to pay Lennox for the iron castings after losing their financial backing, Lennox took over their
117:. The company grew across the United States throughout the first half of the 20th century, expanded into the air conditioning industry in the early 1950s, and was renamed Lennox Industries. Expanding further into commercial refrigeration and international markets, Lennox Industries became Lennox International Inc. in 1984. After 95 years of private ownership by the Norris family, the company now known as Lennox International made its initial public offering in 1999 and is currently traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "LII."
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fencing. He fabricated a custom machine to cut the steel barbs and soon afterwards started his own blacksmith and machine shop. Lennox designed a staple-cutting machine for Ed Sears, a local businessman, well drills that were used to penetrate deeper into the ground, also developed new designs for
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Following the sale of his furnace business, Dave Lennox continued to manage the Lennox
Machine Company in Marshalltown, employing more than 100 people locally in the manufacture of portable gasoline engines, boilermakers' tools, wagon scales and pressured pipe taps. Lennox sold the Lennox Machine
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From 1972 until his death in 1986, Lennox was portrayed by
Hollywood actor Bill Tracy, whose photo still appears on many Lennox dealer trucks and advertising. Tracy was originally hired because he had hands that looked worn like a real working man.
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Lennox was then portrayed by Bob
Tibbets St. Louis-based actor and radio personality, who portrayed Lennox on TV and radio, as well as home shows and dealer events. until his retirement in December 2016, after 30 years.
113:, a local business and civic leader and owner of the local newspaper, the Marshalltown Times Republican. According to company records, the sales price was $ 57,789.14. Norris began operating the company under the name
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Lennox died at his home in
Marshalltown on February 15, 1947, at the age of 91. Since 1972, two actors have portrayed Dave Lennox in advertising campaigns for Lennox-branded air conditioners, furnaces, and
30:, a global corporation specializing in air conditioning, heating, and commercial refrigeration. Lennox helped to develop what has been described as the first riveted-steel
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Shop in 1912 to the
Ryerson Brothers of Chicago for $ 110,000, but continued to work in a small machine shop behind his Marshalltown home during his subsequent retirement.
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22:(April 15, 1855 – February 15, 1947) was an American inventor and businessman. A furnace manufacturing business he founded in 1895 in
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in 1895. His contributions to furnace design have been described as significant steps forward in durability and efficiency from the
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in July, 1881, where he initially was hired by the Iowa Steel Wire
Company to make barbs for their
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Text of interviews with Dave Lennox family members ca. 1962, Lennox
International company archives
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Lennox sold his furnace business in 1904 to a group of local
Marshalltown businessmen, led by
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in 1865, where
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and reworked their original design. Marketing the furnaces under his own
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A Century of
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brand name, Lennox' furnace business grew and became a success.
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In 1895, Ernest Bryant and Ezra Smith, two businessmen from
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furnaces commonly in use near the end of the 19th century.
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Various newspaper feature articles, Marshalltown, Iowa
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159:Battin, William; Moscrip, Frank A. (1912).
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162:Past and Present of Marshall County Iowa
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84:Marshalltown Company
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16:American businessman
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42:Early life
270:DW Norris
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100:patents
68:Chicago
48:Detroit
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