Thompson Products, inc.

Manufacturer of automotive and air transportation equipment based in Cleveland, Ohio. Incorporated in 1916. Frederick C. Crawford became president in 1933 and espoused a philosophy of industrial relations which came to be called "Crawfordism". It was antagonistic to outside labor unions and sought to promote internal harmony through management-led education of employees. In 1958 the firm's name was changed to Thompson Ramo Wooldridge, inc. and in 1965 to TRW Inc.

From the description of Labor relations material, 1933-1964 (inclusive) [microform]. (Harvard Business School). WorldCat record id: 269600555

TRW Inc. was established in 1900 in Cleveland, Ohio, as the Cleveland Cap Screw Company. Initially involved in the production of machine screws, the company joined the growing automotive parts industry by developing an improved method for the production of automobile engine valves in 1904. Because of the changing nature of the company's business and ownership, it underwent several reorganizations during its first three decades - becoming the Electric Welding Products Company in 1908, the Steel Products Company in 1915, and Thompson Products Incorporated in 1926.

By the end of World War I, the company was well established as the leading manufacturer of automotive and aircraft engine valves. Its initial growth was directed in large part by charles E. Thompson. Thompson began his career with Cleveland Cap Screw as a welder. His expertise was responsible for the technology that made possible the company's preeminence in the automotive parts industry and Thompson became general manager of the company in 1905, and its president in 1915.

At the time of Thompson's death in 1933, the company had markedly expanded its operations, having added its original plant on Clarkwood Avenue in Cleveland, acquired a plant in Detroit, Michigan, in 1916, and one in St. Catherine, Ontario, in 1931.

Thompson was succeeded as president by Frederick C. Crawford, who was first employed by the company as a millwright's helper in 1916. Crawford quickly advanced to various supervisory positions, eventually serving as manager of the company's Detroit plant prior to his election to the president's office.

As president of Thompson Products, Crawford continued to stress many of the sales and promotional fields first opened by Charles Thompson. In particular, he strove to make Thompson Products a leading parts supplier to the growing aviation industry, and to this end, strengthened the company's role in the sponsorship of various aeronautical events, including, most importantly, the annual Thompson Trophy Air Race.

Crawford, moreover, was primarily responsible for Thompson Products' innovative program of labor relations, fostering the establishment of a company union (the Aircraft Workers Alliance and the Automotive and Aircraft Workers Alliance), a company newspaper (the Friendly Forum), and frequent meetings with and reports to the employees. Crawford's personal involvement in these programs, particularly in meeting with employees, engendered a high degree of worker loyalty to the company and to him personally.

Thompson Products' activities in the aviation field placed it in an excellent position for growth during World War II. Prior to the involvement of the Untied States in the conflict, the company received a large number of orders for the British and French air forces. In anticipation of American entry into the conflict, the company joined with the United States Defense Plant Corporation in the construction of a new 1,100,000 square foot manufacturing plant in Euclid, Ohio. Completed in December 1941 and expanded in 1942, the Tapco (Thompson Aircraft Products Company) facility enabled the company to expand production of a product value of $135,000,000 by 1944. After the war, the company purchased the plant facilities from the federal government.

The war years not only saw the remarkable growth of Thompson Products, but tested the strength of its labor relations policies. In particular, the CIO tried to organize Thompson Products' employees a number of times during the war. Each attempt, however, failed as the workers voted in favor of their company union at a number of elections which were supervised by the National Labor Relations Board. Union attempts to broach the paternalistic policies of the company continued after the war but failed to unseat the company unions at TRW's Cleveland plants.

Following the war, Thompson Products became involved in manufacturing parts for the jet engine industry. In keeping abreast of aeronautical progress, it also became involved in the government's growing rocket and space program. To this end it merged, in 1958, with teh Ramo Wooldridge Corporation of California, a prime developmental contractor for the missile program. After the merger, the company extended its involvement in the space program and entered the electronics field, all the while maintaining its original production programs for basic automotive parts. TRW Inc. was purchased by Northup Grumman in 2002, and its aeronautical systems division was sold to Goodrich Corporation that same year. In 2003, Northrup Grumman separated the TRW automotive business as a separate entity.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for TRW Inc.

From the guide to the Thompson Products Aviation Photographs, 1804-1963, (Western Reserve Historical Society)

TRW Inc. was established in 1900 in Cleveland, Ohio, as the Cleveland Cap Screw Company. Initially involved in the production of machine screws, the company joined the growing automotive parts industry by developing an improved method for the production of automobile engine valves in 1904. Because of the changing nature of the company's business and ownership, it underwent several reorganizations during its first three decades - becoming the Electric Welding Products Company in 1908, the Steel Products Company in 1915, and Thompson Products Incorporated in 1926.

By the end of World War I, the company was well established as the leading manufacturer of automotive and aircraft engine valves. Its initial growth was directed in large part by charles E. Thompson. Thompson began his career with Cleveland Cap Screw as a welder. His expertise was responsible for the technology that made possible the company's preeminence in the automotive parts industry and Thompson became general manager of the company in 1905, and its president in 1915.

At the time of Thompson's death in 1933, the company had markedly expanded its operations, having added its original plant on Clarkwood Avenue in Cleveland, acquired a plant in Detroit, Michigan, in 1916, and one in St. Catherine, Ontario, in 1931.

Thompson was succeeded as president by Frederick C. Crawford, who was first employed by the company as a millwright's helper in 1916. Crawford quickly advanced to various supervisory positions, eventually serving as manager of the company's Detroit plant prior to his election to the president's office.

As president of Thompson Products, Crawford continued to stress many of the sales and promotional fields first opened by Charles Thompson. In particular, he strove to make Thompson Products a leading parts supplier to the growing aviation industry, and to this end, strengthened the company's role in the sponsorship of various aeronautical events, including, most importantly, the annual Thompson Trophy Air Race.

Crawford, moreover, was primarily responsible for Thompson Products' innovative program of labor relations, fostering the establishment of a company union (the Aircraft Workers Alliance and the Automotive and Aircraft Workers Alliance), a company newspaper (the Friendly Forum), and frequent meetings with and reports to the employees. Crawford's personal involvement in these programs, particularly in meeting with employees, engendered a high degree of worker loyalty to the company and to him personally.

Thompson Products' activities in the aviation field placed it in an excellent position for growth during World War II. Prior to the involvement of the Untied States in the conflict, the company received a large number of orders for the British and French air forces. In anticipation of American entry into the conflict, the company joined with the United States Defense Plant Corporation in the construction of a new 1,100,000 square foot manufacturing plant in Euclid, Ohio. Completed in December 1941 and expanded in 1942, the Tapco (Thompson Aircraft Products Company) facility enabled the company to expand production of a product value of $135,000,000 by 1944. After the war, the company purchased the plant facilities from the federal government.

The war years not only saw the remarkable growth of Thompson Products, but tested the strength of its labor relations policies. In particular, the CIO tried to organize Thompson Products' employees a number of times during the war. Each attempt, however, failed as the workers voted in favor of their company union at a number of elections which were supervised by the National Labor Relations Board. Union attempts to broach the paternalistic policies of the company continued after the war but failed to unseat the company unions at TRW's Cleveland plants.

Following the war, Thompson Products became involved in manufacturing parts for the jet engine industry. In keeping abreast of aeronautical progress, it also became involved in the government's growing rocket and space program. To this end it merged, in 1958, with the Ramo Wooldridge Corporation of California, a prime developmental contractor for the missile program. After the merger, the company extended its involvement in the space program and entered the electronics field, all the while maintaining its original production programs for basic automotive parts. TRW Inc. was purchased by Northup Grumman in 2002, and its aeronautical systems division was sold to Goodrich Corporation that same year. In 2003, Northrup Grumman separated the TRW automotive business as a separate entity.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for TRW Inc.

From the guide to the Thompson Products Aviation Photographs, Series III, 1930-1972, (Western Reserve Historical Society)

TRW Inc. was established in 1900 in Cleveland, Ohio, as the Cleveland Cap Screw Company. Initially involved in the production of machine screws, the company joined the growing automotive parts industry by developing an improved method for the production of automobile engine valves in 1904. Because of the changing nature of the company's business and ownership, it underwent several reorganizations during its first three decades - becoming the Electric Welding Products Company in 1908, the Steel Products Company in 1915, and Thompson Products Incorporated in 1926.

By the end of World War I, the company was well established as the leading manufacturer of automotive and aircraft engine valves. Its initial growth was directed in large part by charles E. Thompson. Thompson began his career with Cleveland Cap Screw as a welder. His expertise was responsible for the technology that made possible the company's preeminence in the automotive parts industry and Thompson became general manager of the company in 1905, and its president in 1915.

At the time of Thompson's death in 1933, the company had markedly expanded its operations, having added its original plant on Clarkwood Avenue in Cleveland, acquired a plant in Detroit, Michigan, in 1916, and one in St. Catherine, Ontario, in 1931.

Thompson was succeeded as president by Frederick C. Crawford, who was first employed by the company as a millwright's helper in 1916. Crawford quickly advanced to various supervisory positions, eventually serving as manager of the company's Detroit plant prior to his election to the president's office.

As president of Thompson Products, Crawford continued to stress many of the sales and promotional fields first opened by Charles Thompson. In particular, he strove to make Thompson Products a leading parts supplier to the growing aviation industry, and to this end, strengthened the company's role in the sponsorship of various aeronautical events, including, most importantly, the annual Thompson Trophy Air Race.

Crawford, moreover, was primarily responsible for Thompson Products' innovative program of labor relations, fostering the establishment of a company union (the Aircraft Workers Alliance and the Automotive and Aircraft Workers Alliance), a company newspaper (the Friendly Forum), and frequent meetings with and reports to the employees. Crawford's personal involvement in these programs, particularly in meeting with employees, engendered a high degree of worker loyalty to the company and to him personally.

Thompson Products' activities in the aviation field placed it in an excellent position for growth during World War II. Prior to the involvement of the Untied States in the conflict, the company received a large number of orders for the British and French air forces. In anticipation of American entry into the conflict, the company joined with the United States Defense Plant Corporation in the construction of a new 1,100,000 square foot manufacturing plant in Euclid, Ohio. Completed in December 1941 and expanded in 1942, the Tapco (Thompson Aircraft Products Company) facility enabled the company to expand production of a product value of $135,000,000 by 1944. After the war, the company purchased the plant facilities from the federal government.

The war years not only saw the remarkable growth of Thompson Products, but tested the strength of its labor relations policies. In particular, the CIO tried to organize Thompson Products' employees a number of times during the war. Each attempt, however, failed as the workers voted in favor of their company union at a number of elections which were supervised by the National Labor Relations Board. Union attempts to broach the paternalistic policies of the company continued after the war but failed to unseat the company unions at TRW's Cleveland plants.

Following the war, Thompson Products became involved in manufacturing parts for the jet engine industry. In keeping abreast of aeronautical progress, it also became involved in the government's growing rocket and space program. To this end it merged, in 1958, with teh Ramo Wooldridge Corporation of California, a prime developmental contractor for the missile program. After the merger, the company extended its involvement in the space program and entered the electronics field, all the while maintaining its original production programs for basic automotive parts. TRW Inc. was purchased by Northup Grumman in 2002, and its aeronautical systems division was sold to Goodrich Corporation that same year. In 2003, Northrup Grumman separated the TRW automotive business as a separate entity.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for TRW, Inc.

From the guide to the Thompson Products Aviation Photographs, Series II, 1903-1947, (Western Reserve Historical Society)