Hoover & Strong Inc.

Description

Jay Hoover and Harry Strong founded Hoover & Strong in Buffalo, NY in 1912. The company’s original venture was the recovery of platinum from industrial light bulbs, refining the metal and selling it to the local platinumsmiths. Harry Strong stayed with the company for only three years, as business could not support both partners. Because money was already invested on the company sign and stationary the Hoover and Strong name remained. As sales expanded and the supply of industrial platinum scrap diminished, the company started purchasing platinum and eventually scrap gold jewelry. Jay’s son, Dudley Hoover, joined the firm in 1927. Over the next several years, Jay and Dudley developed various repair products such as sizing wire, half round, square and flat wire and eventually many small repair shops sprang up in the back rooms of jewelry stores across the country. As jewelry manufacturers moved away from Buffalo in the 1930’s, Hoover & Strong followed their customer base by establishing its mail order business.

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