Flexlume Sign Co.
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Location
1462 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14209
Also known as 1464 Main
SBL: 100.39-2-3
Ellicott Council District
Google Bird's Eye View
Erie County Property Info
County Tax Map (loads GIS page)
City of Buffalo Parcel Viewer
Next to: 1468 Main Street
Owner
ALFRED P & SHIRLEY J, ROWELL SR TRUST per City of Buffalo Property Information
Physical Description
Two story brick commercial building
Current Condition
In longtime use by well-known Buffalo sign making company Flexlume.
First floor storefront facade windows are covered up and second story window openings partially replaced with glass block.
History
- 1904 - Roy and Wallace Wiley, and W.S. Hough, joined forces to produce white opal glass molded letters to push through a sign face and illuminate from the rear. This was a process that would create flexible-illumination. Hence the name: “Flexlume” was born.
- 1911 Company moved from Canada to 1453 Niagara Street in Buffalo, N.Y.
- 1920 - Moved to 74 Kail
- 1924 - Constructed a 125,000 foot plant at 1100 Military Road
- Late 1930's - The Wiley Bros. had left the company
- 1942 - Flexlume struggled in the late 30's and closed during WWII
- F.A. (Al) Rowell, owner of “White Electric Signs” since 1928, purchased the company and the bulk of its assets, moving to 999 Main.
- 1946 - The company moved to its current location, 1464 Main St., where a more streamlined company has been producing some of Western New Yorks greatest signs since.
Recent Events and Actions Taken
- F.A.’s Rowell's son, Paddy Rowell Sr., and his sons and grandsons continue to produce signs in Buffalo
Other Pertinent Facts
- The company continued to grow as high as 500 employees even through the depression with its solid customer base of financial institutes, automotive dealers and movie theatres. Many of Western New York’s classic marquees remaining today were built by Flexlume.
Links
Newest Pages
■ 545 East Ferry Street
■ 878 Elmwood Avenue
■ 863 East Ferry Street
■ 340 Baynes Street
■ 1185 Broadway
■ 1179 Broadway
■ 1175 Broadway
■ 1171 Broadway
■ 377 Maryland Street
■ 42 Cottage Street
■ 40 Cottage Street
■ 2 St. Louis Place
■ 180 West Utica Street
■ Dan Montgomery's
■ Ernest Franks House
■ M&T Bank at 2197 Seneca Street
■ The Charter Place
■ 102 Johnson Park
■ 323 Ganson Street
■ 399 Amherst Street
■ 301 Dearborn Street
■ 839 Seneca Street
■ 858 Jefferson Avenue
■ M&T Bank at 1877 Main Street
■ 2079 Niagara Street
■ Purity Candy Co. / Bresnahan Inc. Plumbing
■ Newsboys Benevolent and Athletic Association
■ Niagara Post Theater
■ 277 West Delavan Avenue
■ 1028 Elmwood Avenue
Added 2014-03-10 • Last changed 2014-03-10