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It was February 1948 when Tyke Lehmann, his father Chester, and John Jennings established Electrical Distributors Company. Shortly thereafter, John Jennings sold his interest in the company to Tyke. Since that time, four generations of Lehmanns have been involved in the business. In 1983, Tyke turned over the day-to-day operations to his son, Chet. Chet is President of Electrical Distributors and his son, Scott, is Vice President. Both Chet and Scott started with the company the same way - helping in the warehouse and making deliveries after school and during summer school breaks. Helping out when they were young was the best way to learn about the business, the products, the customers and how it all goes together. Tyke was a fourth generation Californian who lived on a portion of the land in Santa Clara Valley that his family settled in 1856. He got his start in the electrical business in 1941 as a timekeeper in the electrical department for Permanente Cement. Tyke remembered the job was quite a financial boost for him. He had been making $12 a week working for his father, but this job paid $35 a week. It was there that he met many people associated with the industry, as he was also a part of the purchasing department. After service in the Army in World War II, Tyke went to work for a local distributor in San José. A year later, Tyke saw his opportunity to service the burgeoning construction industry in the area, so he formed Electrical Distributors Company. The suppliers who backed Tyke in the early days have also been rewarded extremely well. Square D, Bowers, Thomas & Betts, Arrow-Hart and Sylvania are among the vendors who have remained with Electrical Distributors since the '40s. Anaconda, Efcor, Kaiser Aluminum, National Products, Republic Steel, J.R. Robeling, Simplex Wire & Cable, and Walker Conduit & Wire would still be on the shelves If they were in business today. Loyalty rewarded with loyalty. With Tyke's four great-grandchildren, Electrical Distributors is headed toward becoming a fifth generation company. Electrical Distributors has thrived by providing customers with outstanding service for over 50 years. Electrical Distributors Co. located in San José, California started with 3 employees. Today, the company has 4 branches and over 100 employees. The company prides itself on an ability to maintain a wide range of capabilities in a time when many organizations specialize in certain areas. "We perform services in many areas of the electrical industry," said Tyke Lehmann, cofounder of the company. "We fill in the gaps, serving electrical contractors, industrial plants and commercial organizations. We offer superb diversity by doing everything." The philosophy forming the backbone of the company's success is simple: Provide good inventory, knowledgeable employees, and above all, good service. "All three components must be working together. You cannot have one without the others," explained Tyke, who also stated that the company offers consistent, dependable delivery to all of its customers. Electrical Distributors Co., will continue to hold on to the belief that good service, versatility and a commitment to excellence have gotten them where they are today and will lead them into the future. |
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