1/16
/THREAD
This is a Vermont Castings Vigilant wood burning stove.
The legal battle over this stove would eventually shutter the Franklin stove company, and make Vermont Castings the dominant force in wood burning technology.
/THREAD
This is a Vermont Castings Vigilant wood burning stove.
The legal battle over this stove would eventually shutter the Franklin stove company, and make Vermont Castings the dominant force in wood burning technology.
2/16
My father came to Vermont Castings as this stove was readying to launch.
I was eight, and after school used to walk to his office in the old plant on Prince Street in Randolph, because my mom still worked at Wheaton College in MA.
My father came to Vermont Castings as this stove was readying to launch.
I was eight, and after school used to walk to his office in the old plant on Prince Street in Randolph, because my mom still worked at Wheaton College in MA.
3/16 I would draw or do homework at a drafting table in an office they called the "bomb shelter", because its low ceiling, tiny door, and three men over 6'4" working inside.
One day I went to the local Aubuchon hardware store to buy a red plastic sled so I could go "sliding"
One day I went to the local Aubuchon hardware store to buy a red plastic sled so I could go "sliding"
4/16 with my new friends, and I noticed that Aubuchon was selling Vermont Castings' new stove, the vigilant (we had one in our living room).
When I told my father about this, he told me very firmly that I was mistaken, that Aubuchon was not a dealer. I told him that I saw one.
When I told my father about this, he told me very firmly that I was mistaken, that Aubuchon was not a dealer. I told him that I saw one.
5/16 The next day when I arrived at my father's office I walked in to find a disassembled stove on the floor, and a group of men including my father and the two owners of the company, Duncan Syme and the late Murray Howell (who died from brain cancer in 84) cursing at the stove.
6/16 It turned out that the Franklin Stove Company had directly copied the Vigilant, making the most minor of cosmetic changes.
That day, a lawsuit was filed, and led to a legal battle that raged for at least eight years, culminating in a judgement that bankrupted Franklin.
That day, a lawsuit was filed, and led to a legal battle that raged for at least eight years, culminating in a judgement that bankrupted Franklin.
7/16 In the mean time, Castings, with the assistance of my father and many many amazing people had released the Resolute, the Intrepid, and defeated Reagans attempt to shutter the industry by reducing emissions allowances by an order of magnitude in a few short months.
8/16 This problem was solved by creating the first wood stove with a catalytic converter, which, run properly, emits virtually no smoke (Defiant Encore).
They had the world's first fully automated cast iron foundry (Disamatic, if I recall), right in little Randolph, VT.
They had the world's first fully automated cast iron foundry (Disamatic, if I recall), right in little Randolph, VT.
9/16 Their dedication to employee benefit and customer satisfaction was legendary, and became a model for other VT manufacturers like Ben & Jerry's, Cabot, and VT Teddy Bear.
Castings used to have yearly "Owners Outings", where customers would come from all over the world.
Castings used to have yearly "Owners Outings", where customers would come from all over the world.
10/16 They had an ice cream tent at these outings, and young ice cream makers Ben &Jerry would come make ice cream batches, and kids mobbed the tent.
I recently reminisced about these outings with Ben Cohen at the Pride day opening of the Nashua campaign office.
I recently reminisced about these outings with Ben Cohen at the Pride day opening of the Nashua campaign office.
11/16 There is so much from this time, so many details I can not include...Bernie as my mayor, Bernie as my congressman...
Seeing @BernieSanders with this stove, a stove that started a storm (because I bought a sled), very much brings things full circle for me personally.
Seeing @BernieSanders with this stove, a stove that started a storm (because I bought a sled), very much brings things full circle for me personally.
12/16 Because I bought a sled and saw a counterfeit stove, corporate malfeasance was uncovered and punished, and a company thrived.
The tendrils of that thrival are alive with is today, in the Vermont brand, and in the success of our politicians.
The tendrils of that thrival are alive with is today, in the Vermont brand, and in the success of our politicians.
13/16 I feel proprietary about #Bernie like I do about VT Castings, Ben&Jerry's, Cabot, etc.
Its personal. Everyone who cast a vote, bought a stove, some ice cream, some cheese, a teddy bear; everyone has made this moment, built it, like my father helped build those stoves.
Its personal. Everyone who cast a vote, bought a stove, some ice cream, some cheese, a teddy bear; everyone has made this moment, built it, like my father helped build those stoves.
14/16 In the end, these companies sell off, because they become more valuable as assets than entities, and we lose a little bit of our soul with them.
You know what never sold off?
Bernie goddamned Sanders never sold off.
@BernieSanders has remained true to principle.
You know what never sold off?
Bernie goddamned Sanders never sold off.
@BernieSanders has remained true to principle.
15/16 We, all of us, have made Bernie Sanders what he is, and Bernie has paid us back by not selling off to the highest bidders.
Seeing Bernie lighting that beat up little stove brought me to tears, plain and simple.
Bernie lights all the fires.
Let's win this goddamned thing.
Seeing Bernie lighting that beat up little stove brought me to tears, plain and simple.
Bernie lights all the fires.
Let's win this goddamned thing.
16/16
Here is a picture of the tshirt from the Castings 1981 softball team referencing Bernard Goetz.
Finally, all early VT Castings stoves were named for America's Cup winning sailboats.
@fshakir @briebriejoy @davidsirota @GunnelsWarren @leilacleigh @bourgeoisalien
/END
Here is a picture of the tshirt from the Castings 1981 softball team referencing Bernard Goetz.
Finally, all early VT Castings stoves were named for America's Cup winning sailboats.
@fshakir @briebriejoy @davidsirota @GunnelsWarren @leilacleigh @bourgeoisalien
/END
