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Testrite Inventions Endure for Over a Century - Rich 100 + Year History includes the birth of the Aluminum Easel

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Of the many products Testrite has innovated and perfected over the last 100 years, one of the proudest is our heritage as the inventors of the aluminum easel.  

 

In the 1950s Testrite was an American manufacturer of photographic enlargers and camera tripods for the likes of Montgomery Ward, Sears, and S and H Green Stamps.  But in the 1960s, our company founder Herman Neuwirth —an innovator whose imagination, ingenuity, and attention to detail remain at the heart of Testrite today -- developed a new design concept for the everyday easel, a design that would make it lighter and more durable.

 

In truth, it  was his love for oil painting that first inspired him to redesign the traditional wooden easel.  Much like tennis rackets, easels heretofore had all been made out of wood.  Herman sensed that aluminum would work better for portable stands and worked with the Aluminum Company of America to configure their initial constructions.  Herm was rite - aluminum doesn ’t warp and crack like wood.  

 

The original Stanrite line of portable Plein Aire Aluminum Easels were born, and was quickly followed by several other patented models.  They featured strength and portability advantages that wooden artist easels did not have.  

 

Aluminum has strength, weight, and dimensional reliability advantages that wooden easels did not have.  Since then, for 50 + years, artists have been relying on Stanrite easels.  In the Art Material industry Testrite was also known for manufacturing Opaque Projectors Light and Tracing boxes, Brayers, Studio Light kits as well as the Plein Aire, Tabletop, Watercolor and Studio easels.

 

For generations, artists have relied on our aluminum easels, light boxes, and opaque projectors. Aluminum easels turned out to be a product that not only benefits artists, but also event planners, business owners, and teachers, too.

 

 

 

In the 1970s Testrite developed telescopic aluminum school and flipchart easels.  Flipchart aluminum easels became a huge hit in the growing office products and direct sales markets.  With Testrite selling upwards of 10,000 units per week for many years, the Company still took time to develop other educational and visual presentation products which were to become very important in succeeding years.

 

Over a six decades later, Testrite remains an industry leader. Our expertly-crafted, American-made easels in aluminum, steel, and other strong, reliable materials are truly products that stand the test of time.

Custom Easels by Testrite Stand the Test of Time

Why Choose Aluminum Easels?

 

While Testrite produces high quality easels in steel as well, there was a reason our founder invented the aluminum easel —and a reason why we continue making aluminum easels today.

 

Aluminum easels are preferred over wooden easels for dozens of reasons, ranging from ease of handling to longevity.

 

Here are a few key reasons customers choose aluminum easels —and especially Testrite custom easels —over any other brand:

 

Better handling

Aluminum easels are lightweight, making them extremely portable, easy, and convenient for anyone who needs to carry them regularly from location to location. Testrite ’s custom easels are unique, however, in their stability. Where competitors ’and imports ’wobble or bend, Testrite easels hold steady wherever you need them. Better yet, they are easy to store in small spaces.

 

Strength and longevity

Aluminum lasts. Wood, however,  is easily subject to rot, wear, and tear, especially when exposed to the elements. Testrite only sources the most reliable, highest quality  materials, and aluminum is no exception. With a Testrite custom tripod easel, retail easel, or vestibule sign holder, you can feel comfortable using your easel wherever necessary. You don ’t need to worry about the impact on its stability or longevity.

 

Eco-friendliness

Eco-conscious customers choose aluminum easels by Testrite. Why? Testrite products are made in the USA, which drastically reduces the carbon footprint compared to imported products. The aluminum in our easels is fully recyclable. Additionally,  it takes less energy to recycle aluminum than it does to make it in the first place  and 75% of all the aluminum ever manufactured is still in circulation.  Meeting your needs and your expectations is yet another reason Testrite continues to lead the way in custom easels.

The Best Easels for Conventions, Presentations, and Tables

 

Easels today still serve an important signing function –and Testrite still makes the best ones.  They are portable and are designed with the user in mind.

 

Whether using an easel to deliver a lecture, a portable presentation, displaying directional signage in a facility or an office, or as Herman loved –painting - please know you can still count on our continuing mission to provide quality and value.

 

With more than 10 custom easel categories  featuring dozens of styles and colors, customers looking for the best easels for conventions, presentations, and tables always choose Testrite.

 

Choice

Testrite custom easels aren ’t limited to their function alone. Customers can choose easels based on both style and function, from table easels that are simple yet adjustable, to multi-leveled easels that make it easy to display entire categories of graphics, as well as floor easels that look great in even the most elegant hotels. Customers aren ’t limited to aluminum either: Testrite ’s collection of steel easels are equally reliable and easy to use.

 

Here are just a few of the convention and presentation easels you ’ll find at Testrite:

 

• Elegant baroque easels
• Easels specifically for hotels and conventions
• Gallery exhibit and wall stands
• Print racks
• Adjustable table easels
• Flip chart easels
• Steel easels

 

Like all of Testrite ’s easels, our convention and presentation easels also come in a variety of colors, including black, gold, brass, and in quantity custom colors are available.

 

Simplicity

Testrite custom easels are remarkably simple to maintain, store, and use. High-quality American craftsmanship means customers should expect a product that lasts, without wobbling and catching, or being too bulky and heavy to transport.

Custom Easels for Business and Retail

 

Testrite wins customers by making products you can count on. We make sure our products will stand the test of time: because you ’re in it for the long haul, and you need tools that are, too.

 

Retail business owners use our convention and presentation easels again and again for retail easels and vestibule sign holders that won ’t just guide their shoppers ’journeys, but that are strong enough to hold everything from stacks of fliers to merchandise, and that are both long-lasting and great looking. Every easel is lightweight and convenient to transport without being cheap or fragile, and most come in colors that can match your branding or design.

 

The greatest testament to the quality of Testrite easels is seeing them in use for years at retail establishments, looking nearly as good as they did the day they arrived.

 

Testrite: Building Relationships that Last

 

One the strongest legacies Herman left behind is that he believed people should be able to expect more from the businesses they trusted to serve them. This meant creating products that stood the test of time.

 

The Company knows that there is great demand for its core competencies; telescopic tubes in satin aluminum finishes, for the visual merchandise display and related industries.  

 

To take advantage of these opportunities, Testrite has developed a full range of visual display products from integrated exhibit systems, to banner stands, pop-ups, sign frames, hanging sign and poster holders –that can be efficiently customized and synthesized in a program for Brands, Retailers and those companies helping to empower them.  Testrite offers full logistical rollout support.

 

Many Testrite customers have stuck with us for decades, for much more than just our easels: Every product we make is backed by a team of professionals that enjoys working with people, exceeding expectations, and making everyday products better than they were the day before.

 

The next time you need a high-quality aluminum custom easel for your convention, presentation, your business, a special display, or another important event, choose Testrite first. Click here  to contact us today!