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Manufacturing Plant on Rt. 83 in Grayslake. It is still standing and looks the same !
Motorola?
BVI
Burgess Vibrocrafters Inc. (BVI) in Grayslake manufactured retail electric knife sharpeners, can openers, small wood working machines, sanders, scroll saws, three wheel band saw, electric clippers, etc. BVI factory in Lake Zurich spun off from Burgess Battery in Chicago. Busy factory in the 1950s through early 1980s. Similar to Sunbeam in nearby Racine, WI.
Burnt down In one of grayslake’s infamous New Year’s Eve fires of the late 60’s??? Wilbur Lumber Co.
Wilbur lumber co also burnt on New Year’s Eve
Actually, BVI started as "Burgess Handicraft Store", division of Burgess Battery of Freeport, IL My father was advertising manager until 1963. The Grayslake plant was purchased in 1952 or 53, we lived in Chicago and Dad and a couple other employees carpooled out MILWAUKEE AVE to Grayslake back then. When we bought a home and moved to Mundelein, and Dad had a 15 minute drive to work, repeat 15 mins compared to today.. I thought it was "Hook's Lumber" as I recall. There were strange New Year's Eve fires back in 57, 58, 59, and all were weird but all accidental. Print-O-Tape in Libertyville, on IL176, close to Roundout, Hook's Lumber, and BVI. I had been babysitting for neighbor and when I got home in morning, and was told BVI had burned down, Dad said his paycheck had been on his desk because he was in Chicago helping with the filming of a commercial. We had received a Ham as a Christmas gift from BVI, and my remark was, "At least we have the ham to eat" Mom and Dad laughed and said he check would be replaced and Dad said we would be okay. A lot of memories. RS, just a correction, "Jig Saw Jr" was my dad's idea as was the original battery powered grass clipper, They made jig saw with sander on side, the Can opener. Also, a man came to BVI and had modified a paint sprayer (operated on vibrating principle so it didn't need compressor, and had patents on it) with a modification to turn it into an Insect Fogger. Which is still around today.