L.J. SMITH’S HERITAGE OF AMERICAN CRAFTSMANSHIP REACHES FAR BACK IN TIME
We are honored to have this opportunity to share with you a little bit of our history, as well as some information about the quality and craftsmanship we build into our products every day. L.J. Smith’s heritage of American craftsmanship reaches far back in time. It all began in 1885, when a gentleman, by the name of L.J. Smith, began making stair parts and staircases in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1911, he moved his family to Conotton, Ohio, to continue the stairway business as “L.J. Smith and Son.” L.J. Smith and his son, along with seven other craftsmen, were very busy keeping up with the demand for their meticulously crafted circular stairways that were going into large homes throughout the south.
Following the death of L.J. Smith, in 1942, the company continued to thrive under the leadership of his son until, in 1977, the Smith family sold the business. The following decade offered tremendous growth opportunities for the company. The rising demand for our circular stairways and stair parts lead to the construction of a new and much larger manufacturing facility located near Bowerston, Ohio, in 1989.
The new facility was utilized for the manufacturing of stair parts, while the original structure was renovated to accommodate the custom stair division of L.J. Smith, Inc. Since 1991, L.J. Smith has made many strategic acquisitions and currently has 6 locations, four of which are complete manufacturing facilities, throughout the country in order to meet the needs of their valued customers.
Today, L.J. Smith is the largest stair parts manufacturing company in the country. Our continued growth over the past several decades is clearly a result of our leadership role in developing and taking to market new and innovative products & techniques. We have patents or patents pending on nearly two dozen products and processes.
Our Innovations
The timeline below illustrates the many unique ideas that we’ve developed into products or marketing tools. Many of these creations were designed to provide stair installers with alternative methods for building stronger stairways. Others were developed to broaden our product offering, providing unlimited design possibilities for any stairway.
1983
L.J. Smith literature features the “systems” concept that makes selecting compatible stair parts easy.
1988
Pre-primed wood balusters were first offered to the market by L.J. Smith.
1990
RailPro preassembled, adjustable railing system was introduced. Also, our full line of stair parts were offered in cherry.
1991
Published a comprehensive and systematic step-by-step stairway installation guide designed to be specific to the user’s stair design, unlike others that just contain general information.
1992
Introduction of a complete line of stairway installation tools and hardware designed specifically for stair installers.
1993
AccuStair design and takeoff software was made available to provide efficient and accurate stairway information.
1994
This was a big year for us. We introduced our Patented line of Conect-A-Kit Handrail Fittings and completely reengineered our entire stair parts offering for improved stairway installations.
1996
Introduced Climbing Volutes to create a sweeping and elegant beginning to over the post stairways.
1998
Added Ornamental Iron Balusters to our product offering.
2001
Began offering a new line of box newels consisting of fluted, raised and recessed panels—designed to match the millwork theme in many homes.
2002-2006
Several more tools designed to make stair installations much quicker.
2012
Introduced a patented iron baluster fastener kit called IronPro for easily remodeling stairs from wood balusters to iron balusters. Also great for new construction.
2014
Patented Half Wall Box Newels to easily upgrade plain half wall stairways.
2015
New modern Linear Collection featuring stainless steel cable and tube infills with predrilled and precut newels.
2017
Added the modern Contempo Collection to our offering of iron balusters.
2018
Introduced easy to install panel systems to complement modern and urban decors.
2021
Launched several new products to include carved balusters and newels, stair brackets, iron balusters, a new iron baluster fastener and reversible risers.