Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 8, 1993 TAG: 9308060166
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-8 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: New River Valley bureau
DATELINE: WYTHEVILLE LENGTH: Medium
Amsco is one of 11 manufacturing divisions of Camcar-Textron, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
The company was founded in 1838 in Providence, R.I., as the Eagle Screw Co. It later became American Screw Co., one of the largest manufacturers of fasteners in the country until it went out of business shortly after 1960.
Textron Inc. bought the name, inventory and some of the machinery and started American Screw Co., Division of Textron Industries Inc., in Wytheville in 1962. It was one of Wytheville's first major manufacturing plants.
American Screw changed its name to Amsco Products, Camcar Division of Textron Inc., in 1982.
The man most responsible for moving the company to Wytheville was Vern E. Lentz, who then worked for Camcar Screw & Manufacturing Co. of Rockford, Ill. He was general manager from late 1964 until his retirement in August 1980.
Norman L. Hall was division manager until 1982, when William P. Carpenter succeeded him.
The management team, in addition to Carpenter, includes Fred H. Sutherland, assistant division manager; Richard W. Martel, materials manager; Sidney L. Kitts, quality assurance manager; David P. Carpenter, manufacturing manager; Jon L. Sisti, engineering manager; Richard W. Wood, profitability manager; Elizabeth J. Trevillian, sales and sales service manager; and Linda M. Batchelor, personnel manager.
Amsco has about 270 employees. Twenty-one of them have been with the company since it started in Wytheville.
by CNB