Our Reputation is Tops - Electron Top

��� Childhood Memories ���
Rick
I remember watching the old German men spitting
tacks and hand making all the tops and interior
upholstery. Later I remember Dad making patterns out
of oak tag for the quarters of tops that would later be
the beginning of our basic pattern source today. I recall
being in Dad and Grandpas upholstery shop picking up
hog rings with a rolling magnet type of thing so they
would not puncture the tires of the cars, constructing
shipping boxes using an old hand cranked stapler and
also sweeping the fl oors. I also remember the
Christmas parties in the shop; Dad always made sure
everyone received a ham, a bottle of spirits and the
children of all the employees received gifts.
Skip
Working with Dad as a young boy I also remember he
had started Rick and I doing odd jobs like sweeping the
fl oors and picking up hog rings. I was infatuated with all
the different tools that were used by the trimmers to
fabricate new tops, seats and interior items. I was
especially interested in the pneumatic staple gun that
Rick and I used to shoot at each other until we got
reprimanded. I remember Grandpa kept pennies in his
drawer that we were always privileged to use in his
gumball machine. As I got older I was given jobs that
were appropriate for my age; like backing cars out of
the shop for Grandpa. One car I backed into the
opening for the garage door ... oops, I was 12.
Our Dad took great joy and responsibility in
the perpetuation of his knowledge, skills and life
lessons. I am grateful for the person he was. I will
always be intrigued by the abilities he had, his kind
mannerism and his ability to communicate to others
his vast knowledge in so many fi elds.
Kimmy
To this day the smell of vinyl convertible top material
still reminds me of being a little girl going into work with
Dad and him calling me his "little shaver." It was
diffi cult waking up at 5:00 am but it was all worth it
when we stopped at the Greek diner to pick up the
biggest blueberry muffi ns I had ever had. My fi rst job
on those early mornings was to walk over to
Richmond Hill Auto Top (for a long time Electron
occupied the same building) and give Grandpa and
Uncle Hank (Moms brother) a kiss hello. Grandpa
would give me quarters to buy candy or a soda from
the machines. The soda came in little glass bottles and
there was a bottle opener attached to the machine. I
remember rolling wire-on for .05 cents a piece, .01
cent per bag to pack end-tips with screws (a good day
could bring up to $15) and playing with all the offi ce
machines. I remember Dads rules were strict but
loving, and the lessons were endless and sometimes
tough: “If you want our employees to respect you, you
have to work twice as hard and as well as them”, “Our
fi rst product is not convertible tops but people so be
respectful" and “Don’t ever contradict me.” Most of all
I remember Dads smile - it was often and it made his
eyes twinkle.
PAGE 12
WE have been working together since 1988.
Working with family can be trying at times but the
rewards are in abundance.
Strauss Grandkids
Jenna, Caitlyn, Courtney,
Lauren, Lindsey,
Christopher, Chrissi,
Jillian (JillyBean),
Tabitha, Lori, Lisa
(pregnant with Addison)
(L to R).
"We are not the
beginning nor the end."
Electron Top Facts
** Dad made the suggestion to Haartz Auto Fabric to
extrude vinyl on a preshrunk lining to avoid excessive
shrinkage that was a problem with vinyls made in the 50's.
** We used to be called Electron Sales.
** Our logo used to be red not blue.
** Rick, Skip & Kimmy all worked for Electron Top more
than once.
** We used to make vinyl sheds for snowmobiles.
** The name Electron Top came from the use of electronic
heat-seal equipment and referred to the electrons that
made up the radio frequency (R.F.) waves that create the
heat used for sealing the vinyl.
** The average length of time for an employee to work
with Electron Top is 17 years.