search  current discussion  categories  wheels - manufacturers 

shimpo coneart kilns

updated sat 18 apr 98

 

Janet H Walker on wed 15 apr 98

Hi everyone. I heard at NCECA that Shimpo had purchased ConeArt, the
Canadian kiln company. And the latest issue of Contact had a big
Shimpo ad announcing the fact.

I got to wondering what the implications were as far as the kilns
themselves were concerned. I mean, sometimes it is good when a
little company gets swallowed (more capital, better distribution
channels, etc etc) and sometimes it is bad (focus on the bottom line
to the detriment of R&D etc etc). So in case anyone else has been
wondering, this is what i've been told. Not first hand from Frank
Tucker but from someone who talked with him:
"all kilns are still made by the same people - at Franks
business - Tuckers Pottery Supplies. The supervision is by the same
people - so the kilns will be the same - you should order from xxx
or any Shimpo dealer"

So that seems to be the story. I hope that Frank and others who
know can add some info and/or reassurance about the directions that
future kiln development will be taking at ConeArt.

Firing minds want to know...
Jan Walker
Cambridge MA USA

Frank Tucker on thu 16 apr 98

At 08:24 AM 4/15/98 EDT, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Hi everyone. I heard at NCECA that Shimpo had purchased ConeArt, the
>Canadian kiln company. And the latest issue of Contact had a big
>Shimpo ad announcing the fact.
>
>I got to wondering what the implications were as far as the kilns
>themselves were concerned.

Hi Jan,
It is true that Shimpo America purchased Cone Art Kilns from me a couple of
months ago.
All production will continue to be done by the same people under the direct
supervision of myself and Michael Leonard in the same plant here in
Toronto.This location is shared with Tucker's Pottery Supplies.So nothing
has changed as far as production goes.
Shimpo will take over all other aspects of the company such as
marketing,sales,etc. and this will be done at the location in Itasca,Il.
outside of Chicago.
The main difference to our customers is that you can now purchase Cone Art
Kilns from any supplier that sells Shimpo products.
As always if anyone has any concerns or questions just let me know.
Thanks for your interest Jan.

Frank Tucker
Tucker's Pottery Supplies
Cone Art Kilns

Artbwolfe on thu 16 apr 98

Do you know if ConeArt makes the gas kilns that Bailey sells? I'm interested
in buying one of them. Since Bailey doesn;t have any on display, I was
wondering if it would pay for me to go to Toronto to visit the ConeArt
showroom? Do you have any information on that? TIA
artbwolfe@aol.com

Frank Tucker on fri 17 apr 98

At 07:57 AM 4/16/98 EDT, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Do you know if ConeArt makes the gas kilns that Bailey sells? I'm interested
>in buying one of them.

Hi,
ConeArt does not make the Bailey gas kilns.They are produced at the Bailey
plant in Kingston N.Y.

Frank Tucker
Tuckers Pottery Supplies
ConeArt Kilns