Strand was founded in Chicago in 1905 by brothers Nels A. Strand (1877-1940) and Oscar V. Strand (1873-1941), immigrants from Jönköping, Sweden. A 1950 article in "Steel" vol. 126, pg. 170 said, "Balmar Corp. of Baltimore, purchaser of N. A. Strand Co., Chicago, last year, says the plant will remain in Chicago and will be known as the N. A. Strand Division of Balmar Corp." In 1953 Balmar's name changed to Franklin Balmar Corp., and in 1954 they moved the Strand Division from Chicago to Baltimore, MD. We have a report from a welding forum of a N. A. Strand machine with a brochure or manual dated 1974.
Information Sources