' History of Berkeley's Pioneer Built-ln Fixture Co.

I When intervierved at Peerless

Built-In Fixture Company's office recently at Berkeley, California, Ray B. Cox, president, said: "We think time spent in the service of an industry or a business warrants unusual credit, just as The California Lumbes Merchant's 25-y ear anniversary merits the support of all lumbermen for such a fine magazine, and a special number.

Rcy B. Cox

of a century.

"And like our company feels a pride in receiving a certificate from the Berkeley Chamber .of Commerce testifying to continuous business operation for a third

"We also feel that the men who have made these things possible are justified in receiving their credit. Some old timers in this business of ours and their length of service are the following:

Alex Hejjas, factory superintendent, 30 years; Geo. p. Miller, assistant superintendent, 20 years; Roy C. Merkle, assistant sales manager, 25 years; A. J. Moran, secretary and treasurer, 16 years, and Ray B. Cox, general rnanag.er, 30 years.

"When a man comes up with a good idea, no one can tell what may be the resrrlt. For example, see rvhat has hap_ pened in the rvood working industry. In 1912, Chester R. Cox with a ne\\' labor saving invention running through his mind r'*'orked out a folding "built-in,, ironing board to use the space then wasted between the studding in the .ivall. That was some years before sedans and coupes appeared on the highu'ays. Touring cars and run-abouts \\rere con_ sidered modern if they were equipped rvith one-man folding tops. Even long before the first rvorld rvar, and before the Panama Canal jo.ined the trvo oceans. Before the radios and "flying 626[ins5"-indeed it seems a long time, and it was that year ol l9l2 that the seeds rvere sorvn for what was to become the Peerless Built-In Fixture Company, the first name chosen being the Peerless Ironing Board Company.

"Started in a small way, rvhich is said time and time again of maltv successful enterprises, this was truly the way in which Peerless Built-in Fixture Company got its start. Chester Cox had no idea rvhat rvould result when he began making built-in ironing boards in a little shop he had rentecl in a vacant Berkeley building. But r,vithin two years his idea.became so popular that he started his own plant and added folding tables and seats to his line,', Mr. Cox stated.

Then, in 1915, came the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco, and the inauguration of a real Built-in Fixture Company, as it was next called. For in that year the young company began making kitchen cabinets with cupboards. They displayed its entire line at the exposition, attracting nation-wide interest. Names of prospective ctrstomers of the young Pacific Coast company came from all over the country, and the Built-In Fixture Company of Berkeley, California was rvell on its rvay to success.

The following year the company was joined by Ray B. Cox, son of the founder, and now president of the cornpany. He stayed with the young business for 18 months and then, desiring to gain more outside experience, went to Honolulu to engage in the architectural field for a few years before returning to Berkeley and the Built-in Fixture Company, in August of. 1922.

Upon his return Ray Cox took up the active management of. the business, and added the standardized line oI kitchen units and coolers, and broom closets. Shortly thereafter he designed under-sink cabinets and hanging wall cabinets and "Peerless" became the pioneer of the modern kitchert as we know it today. This was followed by many Eastern woodworking. concerns and later by makers of metal cabinets, all using the same standard system of sizes. Sizes rvhich are standard in width, height and depth, widths beginning at 15" and progressively increasing every 3r, until they, reach 60n'-height of 88,, and 98,, and standard clepths of 21" and 21".

In 1936 the name of the company r,vas changecl to peerless Built-ln Fixture Company, incorporating in its title the trade mark name of the product, as has since been done by so many other concerns. The line has been improved and enlarged from vear to year, and now includes corner cabinets, china cabinets, breakfast nooks, upholstered seats, chrome leg tables, linoleum and plastic drainboards, mantles, book cases, wardrobes, linen closets, and other residential equipment. .

Fittingly, the latest improvement to the peerless line is on its very first prodnct, the built-in ironing board. The nerv board operates on a ne\\' type of cast iron swivel by which the board may be placed at any desired angle to the rvall ; it may be removed completely, and it is so built that the entire board can be paddpd and covered u'ith ease.

Peerless Built-in Fixture Company enjoys the advantages of a large modern and completelr. equipped factory at 26Og San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley 2, Calilornia.