Forney Industries: History!
The family owned and operated Forney Industries, Inc. was founded in February 1932 by James Donovan (J.D.) Forney when he borrowed $50, then invented, and built "The Forney Instant Heat Soldering Iron" in the basement of his house. He sold or bartered these soldering irons from farm to farm. By 1936, Mr. Forney had also invented and produced successful 110-volt, 125 amp and 110-volt, 150 amp welders.
Mr. Forney spent most of his time on the road between 1932 to 1944 selling soldering irons. However, after the first six months of trying to build and sell alone, he started hiring salesmen. As demand for Mr. Forney's products increased, he determined a nationwide sales organization was required. Throughout the 1930s and 40s, the sales force grew to as many as 800 trained direct salesmen and managers. By 1937, Forney Industries was advertising, "There is a Forney Product in every town in the U.S.A."
After World War II ended in 1945, the Rural Electric Associations (REA) grew with leaps and bounds, giving farmers 230-volt current to run electric ranges and arc welders. However, since the Forney welders had a much lower line draw on these weak rural lines, the Forney welders were the only machines allowed on these REA lines – a huge boon to the growth of Forney Industries.
The business flourished and Forney Industries produced many other products such as the “Fornaire” (a 2-place airplane), a central vacuum system and portable vacuum cleaner, auto generators, battery chargers, and numerous electric welders and welding supplies. In 1949, Mr. Forney purchased the company's current location on LaPorte Avenue in Fort Collins CO.
