In late 1917 or early 1918, James F. Strnad and John Blazek established the Lake Erie Metal Products Co., to produce war materials. After the war ended the two men manufactured replacement axle shafts for automobiles. This business rapidly expanded and led them to expand their product line. They began using their company's acronym, LEMPCO, as a trade name. In about 1920 they apparently incorporated a shell company, Lempco Products, Inc., though the Lake Erie Metal Products Company name continued to be used. Shortly after Lempco Products was formed, the who business moved to larger premises and moved again in 1923. During the 1920s they continued to expand their line of more auto parts, and they also began making brake lathes and other machine tools plus dies and related supplies. During World War II they produced a large number of shells, and their efficient mass production led them to eventually produce 38% of the monthly national output of shells, using a workforce of only 500.

During the war Lempco developed their Hypermatic Press, a hydraulic stamping press capable of producing 7200 pieces per minute. It required innovative new dies capable of handling such a large number of cycles each day, and Lempco developed and patented a ball bearing die set that could provide the necessary precision and long die life.

In 1943 Lempco acquired the Evans Flexible Reamer Co. of Chicago and renamed it to the Evans Reamer & Machine Co. In 1944 they acquired the Cleveland Pressed Steel Co., and in 1948 the Cleveland Products Co. After the war and for a couple of decades after they continued to produce various kinds of munitions. In 1968 Lempco Industries, Inc. was created with the merger of Lempco Products, Inc., with most of its subsidiaries, including Evans Reamer & Machine Co.

By 1988 Lempco's major product lines were die sets and supplies, automatic transmissions, and engine repair parts. By 1995, they had relocated their Cleveland manufacturing operations to Lexington, OH, although their headquarters remained in the Cleveland area.

Lempco is now part of Dayton Lamina and make die sets and components for tool and die makers.

Information Sources

• The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History's article on Lempco describes it as the umbrella corporation for five companies.
• 1943-06-11 Detroit Free Press. "Lempco Products Co., Inc., a war plant at suburban Bedford, announced today the purchase for an undisclosed sum of the Evans Flexible Reamer Co."
• 1943-06-11 Philadelphia Inquirer.

  Lempco Products Buys Reamer Plant
  CLEVELAND, June 10 (A. P.). Lempco Products Co., a war plant at suburban Bedford, announced today purchase for undisclosed sum of Evans Flexible Reamer Co., Chicago, producer of devices for drilling metals. James P. Strnad, president of Lempco and of the newly acquired concern, said William Evans, former head of the Chicago company, will continue experimental work and serve as consultant to the new company's engineering staff. The Evans factory will remain at its Chicago location, and no change in personnel is planned, Strnad said.

• 1943-06-14 Steel.

  James F. Strnad, president, lempco Products, Inc., Bedford, O., has been made president of the Evans Reamer & Machine Co., Chicago, former known as the Evans Flexible Reamer Co. and recently purchased by Lempco. O. T. Hillshafer, former Lempco assistant salees manager, has been promoted to executive vice president in charge of sales of Evans Reamer & Machine Co., while eJohn Y. Blazek, general manager of Lempco has been named treasurer and Hrebert A. Spring has been made secretary.

  Elsewhere in the same issue, "Lempco Products, Inc., Bedford, O., has purchased the Evans Flexible Reamer Co., Chicago, James F. Strnad, president of Lempco, announces. The name of the company will be changed to Evans Reamer & Machine Co."
• 1968 issue of Metalworking Manufacturing.

  Lempco Products, Inc., Cleveland, has merged with subsidiaries and affiliated to form Lempco Industries, Inc. Included in the merger were Lempco Industrial, Inc., Fountainhead Industries Inc, Lempco Automotive Inc, and Evans Reamer and Machine Co. Lempco International Inc., and Lempco Canada, Ltd., will retain separate identities.