Rowe © Machinery & Manufacturing

 Rowe © Machinery & Manufacturing Company was organized on June 1, 1950. Harper Rowe, owner, was named President; Tom Gray, Executive Vice President; Everett Reed, Vice President and Sales Manager; and Frank Ward, Secretary-Treasurer.       The predecessor of Rowe © Machinery was Rowe © Tool & Die Company, organized in 1939, located on Commercial Street in Dallas, which became the largest contract tool and die shop in the southern part of the United States. After a business recession in 1948 and 1949, Harper Rowe decided to expand his business to include manufacture of high production machinery for stamping operations. The business was moved from Commercial Street to 1506 N. Industrial St. Shortly thereafter, the first 'Easy Load' coil cradle was built. Two models were available: Model 810 and Model 2010. As Rowe © Machinery celebrated its twenty-ninth anniversary, the creative genius of its founder, Harper Rowe, was recognized. He was the inventor of numerous high speed production machines and holder of many patents. He was acknowledged in the machinery industry as the one man able to solve production problems. In 1950, a few months after Rowe © machinery was launched, he died. It is regrettable that he did not live to see the success the company has achieved today. Tom Gray then became the owner of Rowe After moving to a new location, Rowe © built the first reel, which sold locally. Then it decided to offer standard cut-to-length sheeting lines consisting of a reel, straightener-feeder, shear and run-out conveyor. After a short time, speed on the cut-to-length lines was increased to 160 FPM.

This provided Rowe © with four additional lines called High Speed Cut-To-Length Sheeting Lines. Also a stripped down version of the standard line was introduced. It was called the Econ-o-Cut line. Later the roller leveler was moved to the front of the sheeting line on the 3rd and 4th lines. This changed the model numbers to 3E and 4E since the first line was sold to Edgecomb Steel Company. This line is still operating in Greenville, South Carolina.Rowe  Machinery was guided through its formative years to its enviable position today by the leadership of Tom Gray. He had been associated with Rowe © Tool & Die Company for several years and was named Executive Vice President when Rowe © Machinery was organized. Upon the death of Harper Rowe, he became President of the company.  As production increased, so did the company's need for a larger building. In the late 1950's Gray purchased a five acre tract in the new Brookhollow Industrial District at 811 Regal Row. In 1959, the company was moved into a new plant consisting of 26,500 sq. ft. of manufacturing space and 4,500 sq. ft. of office space. Two major additions have been built since that time making a total of 65,000 sq. ft. In the mid-70's, Tom Gray sold the company to Mr. Harold G. Spriggs (majority owner) and Mr. C. Tom Sultzbaugh. In 1979, Tom Gray, Chairman of the Board of Rowe © Machinery & Manufacturing Co. Inc., 811 Regal Row, Dallas, Texas, announced the appointment of Harold G. Spriggs as President. Mr. Tom Sultzbaugh was named Vice-President of Sales and Chairman of the Executive Committee.