Dave Lennox
Encyclopedia
David Lennox was an American inventor and businessman. A furnace manufacturing business he founded in 1895 in Marshalltown, Iowa
evolved into what is today known as Lennox International
, a global corporation specializing in air conditioning, heating, and commercial refrigeration. Lennox helped to develop what has been described as the first riveted-steel furnace
in 1895. His contributions to furnace design have been described as significant steps forward in durability and efficiency from the cast iron furnaces commonly in use near the end of the 19th century.
, where Lennox’ father enlisted in the Union Army. His father was killed in 1863 at the battle of Champion Hills, east of Vicksburg, Mississippi. The surviving Lennox family moved to Chicago
in 1865, where Lennox’ mother ran a grocery store while he worked in various machine shops.
David Lennox moved to Marshalltown, Iowa
in July, 1881, where he initially was hired by the Iowa Steel Wire Company to make barbs for their barbed wire fencing. He fabricated a custom machine to cut the steel barbs and soon afterwards started his own blacksmith and machine shop. Lennox designed a staple-cutting machine for Ed Sears, a local businessman, and also developed new designs for trowels, heavy-duty shears, and other tools.
, shared with Lennox their plans for a furnace using riveted steel for the heating surface. The furnaces used to heat homes at that time were made entirely of cast iron, which had a tendency to warp and crack after extended use and could cause smoke and coal gases to seep into houses. Bryant, Smith, and Lennox entered into an agreement in which Lennox made the iron castings used for the grates, fronts, and other parts of their steel furnaces. When Bryant and Smith were unable to pay Lennox for the iron castings after losing their financial backing, Lennox took over their patents and reworked their original design. Marketing the furnaces under his own Torrid Zone brand name, Lennox' furnace business grew and became a success.
Lennox sold his furnace business in 1904 to a group of local Marshalltown businessmen, led by David Windsor (D.W.) Norris, a local business and civic leader and owner of the local newspaper. According to company records, the sales price was $57,789.14. Norris began operating the company under the name Lennox Furnace Company. The company grew across the United States throughout the first half of the 20th century, expanded into the air conditioning industry in the early 1950s, and was renamed Lennox Industries. Expanding further into commercial refrigeration and international markets, Lennox Industries became Lennox International Inc. in 1984. After 95 years of private ownership by the Norris family, the company now known as Lennox International made its initial public offering in 1999 and is currently traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "LII."
Lennox died at his home in Marshalltown on February 15, 1947, at the age of 91. Since 1972, two actors have portrayed Dave Lennox in advertising campaigns for Lennox-branded air conditioners, furnaces, and indoor air quality
products. From 1972 until his death in 1986, Lennox was portrayed by hollywood actor Bill Tracy, whose photo still appears on many Lennox dealer trucks and advertising. Tracy was originally hired because he had hands that looked worn like a real working man. Lennox is currently portrayed by Bob Tibbets, a St. Louis-based actor and radio personality.
References:
Text of interviews with Dave Lennox family members ca. 1962, Lennox International company archives
A Century of Comfort: Lennox: The First Hundred Years 1895-1995, centennial publication printed by Lennox International Inc.
Various newspaper feature articles, Marshalltown, Iowa Times-Republican, 1960-1995
Marshalltown, Iowa
Marshalltown is a city in and the county seat of Marshall County, Iowa, United States. The population was 27,552 in the 2010 census, an increase from the 26,009 population in the 2000 census. -History:...
evolved into what is today known as Lennox International
Lennox International
Lennox International Inc. is an American company. Through its subsidiaries, it is a provider of climate control products for the heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration markets around the world...
, a global corporation specializing in air conditioning, heating, and commercial refrigeration. Lennox helped to develop what has been described as the first riveted-steel furnace
Furnace
A furnace is a device used for heating. The name derives from Latin fornax, oven.In American English and Canadian English, the term furnace on its own is generally used to describe household heating systems based on a central furnace , and sometimes as a synonym for kiln, a device used in the...
in 1895. His contributions to furnace design have been described as significant steps forward in durability and efficiency from the cast iron furnaces commonly in use near the end of the 19th century.
Early life
Born in Detroit, Michigan on April 15, 1855, Lennox was the son of a railroad mechanic. His family moved to Aurora, Illinois shortly before the American Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, where Lennox’ father enlisted in the Union Army. His father was killed in 1863 at the battle of Champion Hills, east of Vicksburg, Mississippi. The surviving Lennox family moved to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
in 1865, where Lennox’ mother ran a grocery store while he worked in various machine shops.
David Lennox moved to Marshalltown, Iowa
Marshalltown, Iowa
Marshalltown is a city in and the county seat of Marshall County, Iowa, United States. The population was 27,552 in the 2010 census, an increase from the 26,009 population in the 2000 census. -History:...
in July, 1881, where he initially was hired by the Iowa Steel Wire Company to make barbs for their barbed wire fencing. He fabricated a custom machine to cut the steel barbs and soon afterwards started his own blacksmith and machine shop. Lennox designed a staple-cutting machine for Ed Sears, a local businessman, and also developed new designs for trowels, heavy-duty shears, and other tools.
Furnace business
In 1895, Ernest Bryant and Ezra Smith, two businessmen from Oskaloosa, IowaOskaloosa, Iowa
Oskaloosa is the county seat of Mahaska County, Iowa, United States. The population was 11,463 in the 2010 census, an increase from 10,938 in the 2000 census. -History:...
, shared with Lennox their plans for a furnace using riveted steel for the heating surface. The furnaces used to heat homes at that time were made entirely of cast iron, which had a tendency to warp and crack after extended use and could cause smoke and coal gases to seep into houses. Bryant, Smith, and Lennox entered into an agreement in which Lennox made the iron castings used for the grates, fronts, and other parts of their steel furnaces. When Bryant and Smith were unable to pay Lennox for the iron castings after losing their financial backing, Lennox took over their patents and reworked their original design. Marketing the furnaces under his own Torrid Zone brand name, Lennox' furnace business grew and became a success.
Lennox sold his furnace business in 1904 to a group of local Marshalltown businessmen, led by David Windsor (D.W.) Norris, a local business and civic leader and owner of the local newspaper. According to company records, the sales price was $57,789.14. Norris began operating the company under the name Lennox Furnace Company. The company grew across the United States throughout the first half of the 20th century, expanded into the air conditioning industry in the early 1950s, and was renamed Lennox Industries. Expanding further into commercial refrigeration and international markets, Lennox Industries became Lennox International Inc. in 1984. After 95 years of private ownership by the Norris family, the company now known as Lennox International made its initial public offering in 1999 and is currently traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "LII."
Later enterprises
Following the sale of his furnace business, Dave Lennox continued to manage the Lennox Machine Company in Marshalltown, employing more than 100 people locally in the manufacture of portable gasoline engines, boilermarkers' tools, wagon scales and pressured pipe taps. Lennox sold the Lennox Machine Shop in 1912 to the Ryerson Brothers of Chicago for $110,000, but continued to work in a small machine shop behind his Marshalltown home during his subsequent retirement.Lennox died at his home in Marshalltown on February 15, 1947, at the age of 91. Since 1972, two actors have portrayed Dave Lennox in advertising campaigns for Lennox-branded air conditioners, furnaces, and indoor air quality
Indoor air quality
Indoor air quality is a term referring to the air quality within and around buildings and structures, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants....
products. From 1972 until his death in 1986, Lennox was portrayed by hollywood actor Bill Tracy, whose photo still appears on many Lennox dealer trucks and advertising. Tracy was originally hired because he had hands that looked worn like a real working man. Lennox is currently portrayed by Bob Tibbets, a St. Louis-based actor and radio personality.
References:
Text of interviews with Dave Lennox family members ca. 1962, Lennox International company archives
A Century of Comfort: Lennox: The First Hundred Years 1895-1995, centennial publication printed by Lennox International Inc.
Various newspaper feature articles, Marshalltown, Iowa Times-Republican, 1960-1995