So I'm cleaning out my file cabinets in prep for leaving. I came across too many out of business suppliers to name. Seems like everyone was a wholesaler/distributor. From Peter Nervo to Bienenfeld. Geez at one point there were 4 companies making only framing stock. Several selling brass parts for SG boxes. Seems like dozens of folks selling tools, bevels, lamp parts and bases, etc. Invoices for glass at 1.50 sqft..... solder for $2 /lb. It really puts into perspective how the industry has changed in a relatively short time. We used to spend a great deal of our shop time making Worden lamps for sale. Classes were $25 and we supplied the scrap glass and the use of our tools! (We were dumb). Our mailing list was on 3 x
5 index cards, and we'd do regular bulk mailings to get them in. On a Saturday morning there would be a line of folks standing at our door waiting for us to open! When I moved from my garage to a tiny storefront in 1984 the rent was $275/mo. There were 5 other SG stores within 10 miles. Now there are none within 30. I didn't mean this to be a downer or a rant from an oldtimer.... just sharing what I found in my old file cabinet.