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Meissenburg Designs
7583 Mt Hwy 35
Bigfork, MT 59911
Telephone:
4068373005
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Website:
www.oldwoodsigns.com
Year Started:
1989
# American Employees:
33
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Loyd and Laura have been in the sign business since the 1980s. Their first signs were "pub" style signs. These were screen-printed with an attached two dimensional resin casted piece (such as ducks, figures, wildlife, etc). Resin signs (a cast sign, made to resemble wood) came next. At the time, resin signs were touted as being able to "hold up" outside. They may have endured in other climates, but they cracked in Montana. After much tinkering, Loyd came up with fillers so the resin could expand and the first genuine outdoor casted sign was created. The Meissenburgs employed a young local sculptor, Eric Thorsen (www.thorsengallery.com) and manufactured these signs until the resin- casting business was transferred to Marc and Eric Pierce at Big Sky Carvers.
Conceptualizing yet another product, Loyd started creating the "wood slat-board" signs for Laura`s gift shop, Electric Avenue Gifts. By using printing machinery crudely retrofitted to paint on wood, Loyd began producing ski signs promoting the local ski hill, Big Mountain. From his vast collection of ephemera, Loyd originated and introduced vintage-resort signs to a receptive market. These signs were not fade-resistant and there were major manufacturing headaches but they sold like crazy. Big Sky Carvers began selling this new type of sign and they were the sole distributor of Meissenburg Designs for many years.
When Big Sky Carvers changed hands, Loyd and Laura made the decision to sell the signs themselves. New updated equipment was finally available making the new signs fade- resistant. The line expanded rapidly to include tavern, western, water-skiing and many other previously unexplored categories. Advances in technology allowed Meissenburg Designs to produce clearer more beautiful images. The team grew to 33 employees including five designers. The business continues to prosper in the most beautiful place on earth, Northwest Montana. Our products are completely U.S.A. made! |
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Thoughts on America:
In order for Americans to stay competitive, American factories need the support of their fellow-Americans. We need to stay open, not only for the jobs, but in order to remain relevant in our fields. If we allow it to slip away, all the experts will be in foreign countries. |
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