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| Clipping from the front page of the Blanchester (Ohio) Star-Republican, Monday, January 28, 1980 |
"TOYS"
by ROSE COOPER
Thirty years ago one of the most treasured possessions of a little girl was her set of Jacks. She and her little friends spent hours playing first the 'ones', then 'twos', and going right on down the line through the 'sixes'.
Next came the paddle ball which took a special kanck to do well. In many households the paddle ball proved two purposes. First it was a game which was good for the child's coordination. And secondly, after the rubber which attached the ball to the paddle had broken several times and couldn't be tied back together anymore, the 'paddle' became just that -- a source of education by many mothers for the 'seat' of learning.
Today, both remain popular items, but have taken a back seat to more expensive toys in this day of plenty.
For at least one toy factory both remain a popular item and have not taken a back seat to the fancier and more expensive toys.
Both are produced by the millions by the Wells Manufacturing Company in nearby New Vienna, and are sold wholesale to dealers throughout the United States and are exported to other countries.
Numerous games have been set up to play Jacks, and Harold Uible, vice-president of the company, offers the rules to his customers. He receives many replies both here and abroad. By mailing the Wells Jack ball card back to the company, along with 20¢, a youngster will receive an instruciton sheet for 20 different games.
Through the years the company has added numerous other toys to its line, including jump ropes, yo yos, soap bubbles, mini footballs, plastic balls and bats, several types of sponge balls and pinwheels to name a few.
Uible took over the operaton from his father, Cecil Uible, who operated a grocery store in Westboro from 1912 to the 30's. Cecil Uible then went to work in the construction trade until he retired. A stockholder in the Wells Manufacturing Company, Cecil purchased the remainder of the stock when the owners went broke. He came out of retirement and took over the operation of the toy factory in 1945.
At that time the toy factory occupied one large building. Today the factory has expanded to several buildings and 100,000 square feet of floor space and has 60 factory employees.
Daily the company produces over one quarter million of its 1¼" rubber balls which are used in Jack sets and for paddle balls. "Many of these we sell to our competitors," Uible explained
In order to turn out that many of the small balls, the company operates two eight-hour shifts. One piece of equipment turns out 720 balls every 20 minutes. "A total of 16,000 balls are produced in an hour," Uible said.
Inflation has taken its toll at the toy factory as well as with everyone else. But Harold Uible believes the only way his factory can operate is by remaining competitive. Jacks and balls which the company sold for 5¢ in 1945, now sell for 39¢. Soap bubbles which formerly sold for 10¢ a bottle now sell for 29¢.
"Our selling price has not kept up with inflation, but we have to remain competitive. Our top retail price is $1.98. Retailers want to make a dollar, they don't want to sell an item for a dollar."
The company vice president feels his greatest problem is the imports, where "they pay low wages and have low overhead."
Speaking highly of his employees, Uible pointed out they are "good, dependable area people."
Smiling, the factory head stated proudly: "Several of our people, along with myself, ride our bikes to work."
How far does he ride to work? "Only about a half a mile," he replies. "It keeps my waistline down."
For many of its products, the company buys raw rubber in 75 pound pieces. The chemicals and water are mixed in to make a compound. "Raw rubber is a tacky, solid mass, sort of like hard bubble gum," he explained.
Wells Manufacturing makes three different size sponge balls. Some are imprinted with a religious phrase, such as 'be kind to one another'.
For the three different size jump ropes the company sells, the rope is braided together at the New Vienna plant. For its chalk boards, the company purchases the boards, then decorates and paints them.
Though many area residents are surprised to learn Wells Manufacturing is a toy factory, it is no surprise to many New Vienna youngsters. "Sometimes when we throw sponge balls in the trash the kids will come along and get them out, or the garbage men will drop them out of the trash and the kids will pick them up. We don't encourage this, but we don't stop them.
Harold Uible is a very unique person. Especially so since he combines another busy job with his already busy schedule and makes it work. He is a practicing attorney.
Before graduating from law school at Cleveland Western Reserve, the busy man had no plans to come back to New Vienna to his father's toy factory. Nevertheless, this is what he did. For the last 31 years, his business office has also served as his law office.
His reply when questioned about being busy? "It keeps me out of mischief."
In addition to his law practice and overseeing the production of toys, the company head has 20 factory representatives or salesmen across the country and has 800 accounts or wholesale buyers. "I try to keep up with New York and Dallas by way of a computer in the office," Uible said.
Plans for the future don't include an expansion or any added toy lines. Nor does the company head have any plans to retire. "I feel younger now than I did 20 years ago," the busy man laughs. "I enjoy life."
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