Adolf Schoepe
Encyclopedia
Adolf Schoepe was a German-American inventor and businessman.
Schoepe, a master metalworker with no formal education, immigrated to the United States in 1927. At the time he did not speak English, and had only about $25. As a young man he worked for Curtis Aviation in Saint Louis, Missouri then Spartan Aircraft Company
in Tulsa, Oklahoma
. He later worked at Goodyear Rubber Company in Akron, Ohio
, installing power systems in dirigibles for the United States Navy
, and at Boeing
in Seattle, Washington
, building B-17 bombers. He was a foreman at the San Diego Naval Air Station
metals shop, and during World War II
taught welding
to women who were entering the work force.
In 1946 Schoepe and a friend, Karl Rhinehar, founded Gateway Manufacturing Co, bought out a small defunct lock company in South Gate, California
, and began manufacturing the Kwikset
, a line of doorlocks. Schoepe obtained patents on a number of important technical innovations on lock designs, some of which were the subject of patent litigation. Kwikset, which sold to American Hardware Corporation and ultimately to Black and Decker, became the most common brand of locks in the United States.
In 1957 Schoepe founded Fluidmaster, Inc., an aftermarket
toilet tank repair kit, based on a patent design Schoepe had found while working at Kwikset. He bought the patent, improved it, then spent ten years building the company until it was profitable. Sold directly to consumers, Fluidmaster kits worked more smoothly and were more durable than the original equipment
and eventually became the most common toilet valves in the United States. Schoepe ran the company until 2000, when he was 96. As of Schoepe's death in 2001 the company had an 80% market share
of toilet tank kits.
Schoepe lived for most of his life in Orange County, California
. He was an aficionado of exotic cars, frequent donor and volunteer for conservative causes and the Republican Party
party, and for the Boy Scouts of America
and other charities. In his later life he owned a 300 acres (121.4 ha) citrus ranch in Pauma Valley, California
. He was married for 53 years to wife, Virginia Sherrill Schoepe. As of 2009 his son, Robert Schoepe, remains as Chief Executive Officer
of Fluidmaster.
Schoepe, a master metalworker with no formal education, immigrated to the United States in 1927. At the time he did not speak English, and had only about $25. As a young man he worked for Curtis Aviation in Saint Louis, Missouri then Spartan Aircraft Company
Spartan Aircraft Company
The Spartan Aircraft Company was an American aircraft manufacturing company formerly known as Mid-Continent Aircraft Company and reorganized under the Spartan name in 1928 by oil baron William G. Skelly in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The manufacturing plant was on Sheridan Avenue near the Tulsa Municipal...
in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
. He later worked at Goodyear Rubber Company in Akron, Ohio
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
, installing power systems in dirigibles for the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, and at Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, building B-17 bombers. He was a foreman at the San Diego Naval Air Station
Naval Air Station North Island
Naval Air Station North Island or NAS North Island is located at the north end of the Coronado peninsula on San Diego Bay and is the home port of several aircraft carriers of the United States Navy...
metals shop, and during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
taught welding
Welding
Welding is a fabrication or sculptural process that joins materials, usually metals or thermoplastics, by causing coalescence. This is often done by melting the workpieces and adding a filler material to form a pool of molten material that cools to become a strong joint, with pressure sometimes...
to women who were entering the work force.
In 1946 Schoepe and a friend, Karl Rhinehar, founded Gateway Manufacturing Co, bought out a small defunct lock company in South Gate, California
South Gate, California
South Gate is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The sixteenth largest city in Los Angeles County, it encompasses . South Gate is located just southeast of downtown Los Angeles It is part of the Gateway Cities region of southeastern Los Angeles County...
, and began manufacturing the Kwikset
Kwikset
Kwikset is a lock and lockset manufacturer owned by Black and Decker Hardware and Home Improvement Group , a Division of Black and Decker. Kwikset was founded in 1946 by Adolf Schoepe and Karl Rhinehart. The name was derived from the company's first locks, which pioneered the then-revolutionary...
, a line of doorlocks. Schoepe obtained patents on a number of important technical innovations on lock designs, some of which were the subject of patent litigation. Kwikset, which sold to American Hardware Corporation and ultimately to Black and Decker, became the most common brand of locks in the United States.
In 1957 Schoepe founded Fluidmaster, Inc., an aftermarket
After-market (general)
After-market refers to any market where the customers who purchase one product or service are likely to purchase a related, follow-on product....
toilet tank repair kit, based on a patent design Schoepe had found while working at Kwikset. He bought the patent, improved it, then spent ten years building the company until it was profitable. Sold directly to consumers, Fluidmaster kits worked more smoothly and were more durable than the original equipment
Original Equipment Manufacturer
An original equipment manufacturer, or OEM, manufactures products or components that are purchased by a company and retailed under that purchasing company's brand name. OEM refers to the company that originally manufactured the product. When referring to automotive parts, OEM designates a...
and eventually became the most common toilet valves in the United States. Schoepe ran the company until 2000, when he was 96. As of Schoepe's death in 2001 the company had an 80% market share
Market share
Market share is the percentage of a market accounted for by a specific entity. In a survey of nearly 200 senior marketing managers, 67 percent responded that they found the "dollar market share" metric very useful, while 61% found "unit market share" very useful.Marketers need to be able to...
of toilet tank kits.
Schoepe lived for most of his life in Orange County, California
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
. He was an aficionado of exotic cars, frequent donor and volunteer for conservative causes and the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
party, and for the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
and other charities. In his later life he owned a 300 acres (121.4 ha) citrus ranch in Pauma Valley, California
Pauma Valley, California
Pauma Valley is an unincorporated community between Valley Center and Palomar Mountain in San Diego County, California. The name also refers to an agricultural region comprising citrus and avocado groves, several Indian Reservations, casinos, and a country club.The headquarters of the La Jolla...
. He was married for 53 years to wife, Virginia Sherrill Schoepe. As of 2009 his son, Robert Schoepe, remains as Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of Fluidmaster.