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American Twisting Co.

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American Twisting Company letterhead and #10 size envelope Two rope tags one blank and one with rope size (185.3 Ply Jute 5500ft.) Commercial Record newspaper article 27 March 1980 “Tom Phelps New Owner of American Twisting Co.”
Standing near one of the machines which twists paper into cord are Tom Phelps, right, the new owner of the American Twisting Co., and the three men who had owned it since 1967, Ray Biller, left, Bill Wilson and Norm Phelps. The owners and officers of the American Twisting Co., 720 Butler St., have sold the company to Themas Phelps, effective March 20. The sellers are Tom's father, Norman E. Phelps, president; William J. Wilson, vice president; and Raymond Biller, treasurer. Norman Phelps will continue as a consultant to the company. American Twisting Co. slits big rolls of paper into narrow strips and then twists the strips into paper cord. The reels of paper are used in the upholstery of autos, furniture and caskets, as filler in electrical cable and for tying bundles of wool fleece. It employs about 20 persons. The plant at the north end of downtown Saugatuck, built in 1928, has been expanded three times, in 1956, 1960 and 1968. It now covers 25, 000 square feet, with another 17, 000 square feet of outside storage. The company was started in Grand Rapids in 1923 by Archie I. Vis, Edwin V. Forsberg and Albert A. Radke. It moved to Saugatuck in 1925 and was purchased by Capt. William Wilson, and his son William J. (Dode) Wilson, the grandfather and father of Bill Wilson, Dode Wilson sold the company in 1955 to Central Fiber Products of Chelsea. Central Fiber sold it to Avis Industrial Products in 1964 and Norman Phelps, Wilson and Biller Bought it in 1967. Norman Phelps worked also under the previous owners and in February marked 25 years with the American Twisting Co. Tom Phelps, 38, started working at the American Twisting Co. when he was 14 and has worked there full-time since 1970. He has been general manager and secretary and will become president under a new structure to be established in April.

2021.18.96

American Twisting Company was located at 720 Butler Street in Saugatuck. The company was one of the few manufacturers in town. The factory was built in 1928 and after 1980 it was demolished and replaced by a condominium building on the 700 block between Butler and Water Streets.

Industry and manufacturing

Winthers, Sally

025 Saugatuck Douglas Commercial History

American Twisting Company 1923-1998Biller, Raymond "Ray" John 1927-2003Wilson, William J. "Bill" 1915-1992

05/10/2025

05/10/2025