Harry’s Innovation: Pioneering Oil Filter Refurbishment in the 1940s (Part 2)

Posted on September 10, 2023 by Mike Clemmons

In the 1940s, my grandfather Harry played a significant role in the oil filter refurbishment industry through his company, Kleen-Pak Manufacturing Company. After getting our of World War II in 1946, he took a job a Cheffords (now Airtex) in southern Illinois. Him and his dad were rebuilding fuel pumps and that gave him the idea of what else could be rebuilt. One of the first ideas was cleaning and resell spark plugs, but he finally landed on his ideal product, the oil filter. His commitment to recycling and reusing oil filters was truly remarkable, especially during a time when most considered these filters to be disposable.

Harry was an innovative and determined individual who believed that used oil filters could be given a second life with the right tools and techniques. He envisioned a future where he could save customers money on maintaining their cars. One of the by products is that it would also help save the environment but that wasn’t something that people at the time really thought about.

One of the most formidable challenges Harry encountered was figuring out how to efficiently disassemble used oil filters. He often fondly recalled, “It almost ate my lunch on how to make that machine to do that!” This task required precision and care to avoid damaging the filter housing while ensuring that the filter could be refurbished effectively.

In response to this challenge, my grandfather dedicated himself to developing a specialized tool. He spent countless hours tinkering, experimenting, and collaborating with skilled engineers until he finally crafted a machine that could delicately and effectively disassemble the filters. It was a testament to his unwavering determination and commitment to his vision.

With the new disassembly tool in place, Kleen-Pak Manufacturing Company streamlined its oil filter refurbishment process. They would carefully disassemble the used oil filters, remove the old filter media, clean and repaint the housing, and install fresh filter media. The refurbished filters not only looked and performed like new but also reflected Harry’s dedication to sustainability.

My grandfather’s success in refurbishing oil filters not only extended the life of these components but also inspired others to consider the value of reusing and recycling in the automotive industry. Harry and his company became a symbol of innovation and sustainability in an era when such practices were not as commonplace as they are today. His ideas and engineering know how is what turned this little company into Champion Laboratories of today.

Link to our first blog post on From Humble Beginnings to Industry Giant: The Inspiring Journey of Champion Laboratories (Part 1)

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From Humble Beginnings to Industry Giant: The Inspiring Journey of Champion Laboratories (Part 1)

Posted on August 27, 2023 by Mike Clemmons

In the annals of history, there are tales that remind us of the incredible power of determination, innovation, and hard work. One such story is that of Harry Clemmons, a World War II veteran who defied the odds and transformed a mere $14 into a multi-million dollar enterprise known as Champion Laboratories. This is the story of how a man with an eighth-grade education and a dream went on to revolutionize the oil filter business.

The garage of Earl Clemmons where Kleen Pak Manufacturing Company started.
This photo is of the garage where Kleen Pak started. Note the railroad car & a box of material for making filters.

It all began in the small village of Barnhill, Illinois (about 15 minutes south of Fairfield) in September 1949. Harry Clemmons, along with his brother Howard Clemmons, ventured into the oil filter business. Harry once said, “If there ever was a business that started on the ground floor, it was this one.” Armed with nothing but determination and a meager $14, they embarked on a journey that would change their lives forever.

The duo’s first headquarters was none other than Harry’s father’s garage, situated on the west side of Barnhill near the railroad tracks. Here, amidst humble surroundings, they set to work. With a vision to repurpose discarded filter shells, they began repacking filters by hand. Their workforce comprised solely of Harry and his brother – a testament to their unyielding commitment.

In those early days, every task was a challenge. The filters of that era were what Harry described as “metal cans packed with cotton waste,” resembling something akin to peach cans. Herein lay the first hurdle: Harry needed to invent a machine that could disassemble and reassemble these filters without altering their dimensions. It was a daunting task, one that consumed his time and energy. But as he often said, “I had to invent and rebuild the machine to do the job as we went along.”

By the year 1949, bypass filters were the norm. Harry’s innovation was pivotal; it marked a turning point in the industry. His invention not only streamlined the filter repacking process but also set the foundation for a business model that would lead to monumental success.

After meticulously rebuilding the filters, Harry and his brother packaged them in paper bags bearing the name “Kleen Pak.” This was more than just a name; it was a promise of quality and excellence. It signified their dedication to delivering a superior product to their customers, a principle that would remain at the core of their enterprise.

Fast forward to the present day, and the Kleen Pak Manufacturing Company has evolved into Champion Laboratories, a company that boasts revenues of $350 million. The journey from a garage in Barnhill to an industry giant is a testament to Harry Clemmons’ indomitable spirit, his willingness to embrace challenges, and his ability to innovate against all odds.

Harry Clemmons’ story is a reminder that success knows no boundaries. It is born from determination, nurtured by innovation, and driven by unwavering perseverance. As we look back on the remarkable journey of Champion Laboratories, let it serve as an inspiration to us all – a beacon of hope that even the smallest beginnings can lead to the grandest triumphs.

Although Harry’s part in this story lasted only 6 years, if it were not for Harry, the Champion Laboratories that we see today would never have happened.

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Photograph Showcase: June Powless & Family

Posted on January 19, 2020 by Mike Clemmons

Back: June Powless
Middle l-r: John Clemmons, Melba Clemmons, Dave Powless, Joyce Powless, Sharon Powless, Darrell Powless
Front l-r: Wade Clemmons, John Clemmons II, Cindy Powless, Troy Powless, Vonday Powless, Kevin Powless

There were not too many pictures taken of the whole family on my Grandma (June) Powless’ side.

This picture was taken in the summer of 1967 in East Gary Park near State Road 51. What is a bit funny is that East Gary used to be called Lake Station but in 1908, they changed the name to East Gary in  the hopes of luring executives from the near by steel plants into creating a suburban community. Then, in 1977, they changed the name back because they didn’t want to be associated with the decay that was happening in Gary.

The car (partially seen) in the back of the photo was owned by Darrell Powless, it was  1966 Dodge.

Grandma would have came up from Cisne to visit everyone. Uncle Darrell and Aunt Sharon were living in Rockford, Illinois. My mom and dad (along with Uncle Dave and Aunt Joyce) were living in East Gary.

Each of the women in the picture (except my Grandma) have passed away. My mom in 1984, Joyce in 2009 and Sharon in 2019.

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Happy Birthday To My Little Brother!

Posted on January 18, 2020 by Mike Clemmons

Happy birthday to my little brother Joey. He turns 43 today. We have always had a special bond together. As kids we would play a lot together. Both of my older brothers had went into the Navy by the time he was 7 years old and a year later our mom died anJoey and Miked I think that forced us to be even closer.  He has turned into such a great adult. The picture of me and him (to the right) was taken on my 12th birthday in 1981. I loved picking him up, can’t do that any more.  Ha! The pictures were taken at our house on Wilson Street in Hobart.

The picture below is of Joey on his 4th birthday in 1981. He had such a great smile. Mom made the best Angel Food cakes and the one she made for Joey’s birthday appears to be huge! But I think it was more due to the fact that Joey is little.  🙂  Again, happy birthday to my little brother.

Joey

 

 

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It only took 20 years to find, my grandparents marriage license

Posted on June 30, 2019 by Mike Clemmons

Have you ever looked for something for so long? Looked almost everywhere you could think of? Talked to everyone you could think of that might know something about it? And then finally (well, almost) give up on trying to find it?

Marriage Certificate-Harry Clemmons Edith Carter

Marriage License for Harry Clemmons and Edith Carter. 12/22/1940

Marriage License for Harry Clemmons and Edith Carter. 12/22/194  eryone you could think of that might know something about it? And then finally (well, almost) give up on trying to find it?That was me trying to find the marriage certificate for my grandfather Harry Clemmons and grandmother Edith Carter. I was told, even seen it in writing from my grandfather, that they were married in Elizabethtown. Thought that would be easy enough to find. I had even stopped by Elizabethtown, Ky to see if I could get a copy. I drive by there often enough. No luck. Then I find out that there are three Elizabethtown’s in the tri-state area. I called each of them to try and find the records, they couldn’t find them. Online databases were not any help.

Now, after about 20 years of looking for it, I stumbled upon it when I went to findmypast.com for the first time to start searching. It came up on the first search. They were not married in Elizabethtown at all. They were married in Morganfield, Kentucky on  December 22nd, 1940. There was nothing earth shattering in the license, other than where they where they were married. But I am so happy to have finally have found it!

 

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Harry Clemmons – World War II Draft Card

Posted on May 26, 2019 by Mike Clemmons

Over this Memorial Day weekend, Fold3 is allowing people to search military records for free! This was the perfect time for me to search for my grandfather’s (Harry Clemmons) draft card. Searching for the record was really easy, I just went to the web site and from the main page did a search on his name. I did add one filter, I put in his year of birth – 1918. Within seconds, I was greeted with his search results:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I could tell that the card was filled out by my grandfather. He only made it through the 8th grade in school, he never attended high school. It shows his date of birth and where he was born (Morehouse, Missouri). He listed his father as Mr. Earl Green Clemmons as the name of the person who will always know his address (I will come back to this in a bit). It shows that he is living in Barnhill, Illinois. On the backside, it shows his height as 5′-11″ and weighing 155 pounds. His serial number is 2035 and his order number is 1703.

Lisa Louis Cooke, on her blog, has a great description of how the serial numbers and the order numbers work.

The first number drawn of the 7,836 serial numbers that were printed on paper and placed in individual capsules was No. 158. This number belonged to Harry Robert Bell, a 21-year-old from Washington D.C.. The hundreds of men across the United States pulled in this first drawing were all given an order number of 1.

On the back of the card, Harry didn’t put the date he filled out the card so I am going to have to make some assumptions.  He is listed as 22 years old, which would put the date that he filled out the card between June 17, 1940 and June 16, 1941. I also noticed that he listed his father as the person who will always know where he is. Harry got married to Edith Carter on December 22, 1940. I am assuming that he would have listed Edith if they would have been married already. This at least narrows down the time frame that he could have filled out the card to somewhere between June 17, 1940 and December 21, 1940.

One thing that I do not know about, is who Olney R Ryan is. Harry listed that as his current employer that was located in Fairfield, Illinois. I am going to have to take a look a bit further. I am wondering if this is one of the gas stations that he worked at when he was young.

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What Dick Eastman Got Wrong About Chromeboxes

Posted on May 25, 2019 by Mike Clemmons

I have been following Dick Eastman for a fairly long time (over 15 years or so) and I saw his post on Using a Chromebox as My Primary Day-to-day Computer on his Privacy Blog. It was a very good article with one exception and here is what Dick Eastman got wrong. In his post, he made the following comment:

“Next, Chromebooks and Chromeboxes never get viruses. They are safe and very secure for use anywhere online.”

When I read that, I was very surprised. It is true that Chromeboxes cannot get Windows viruses, its absolutely not true that they are very secure for anywhere on the internet. Malwarebytes Labs has a great, easy to read, article about this on their site Yes, Chromebooks can and do get infected.

One of the newer types of malware for computers (over the past couple of years) is Fileless Malware. This type of malware doesn’t install itself anywhere, there are no exe’s to install. It runs within the browser environment. Chromebooks/boxes are susceptible to this type of an attack.

No matter what type of computing environment that you use (Windows, Mac, Linux, Chrome), always lead with security in mind first.  Its a computer, it CAN be hacked. There is nothing on this world that isn’t hackable, given time, money and resources.

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Sticky Notes – You need to use this

Posted on January 14, 2017 by Mike Clemmons

I haven’t always been a list maker. Up until a couple of years ago, I rarely used lists to remember things. But running a business and trying to keep track of what I am needing to do with genealogy has lead me to use Sticky Notes. These notes are built right into your Microsoft operating system.Sticky Note Example

I normally have a few Sticky Notes on my desktop at all times to track my personal to-dos or reminders. But you can use the Sticky Notes to write a to-do list, jot down a phone number, or anything else that you would use a pad of paper for. The best thing about using them? They wont fall off of your monitor!

  1. To start Sticky Notes, click on the Start Button and type Sticky Notes in the search box and then click on the Sticky Notes in the search results. This will launch the Sticky Notes Program. Sticky Notes can also be found under All Programs and then under Accessories.
  2. You can create new notes by clicking on the new notes button (the + at the top left) or by pressing Ctrl+N.
  3. You can remove a note by clicking on the x at the top right of the note You can resize the note by placing your cursor on the edge of the note, then click and drag it to the size you would like.
  4. You can also change the color of the Sticky Note by right clicking on the note and selecting the color that you would like.
  5. There are a few options to use to format the text of your Sticky Note. To format your text highlight the text in your note and use one of the keyboard shortcuts below.

Bold Text – Ctrl + B
Italic Text – Ctrl + I
Underlined Text – Ctrl + U
Increase Font Size – Ctrl + Shift + >
Decrease Font Size – Ctrl + Shift + <
Bulleted list – Ctrl + Shift + L (do it again to get a numbered list)
Capitalize Highlighted Text – Ctrl + Shift + A
Right Align – Ctrl + R
Center Align – Ctrl + E
Left Align – Ctrl + L
Single Space Line – Ctrl + 1
Double Space Line – Ctrl + 2
1.5 Line Space – Ctrl + 5
Strike Through – Ctrl + T

The Sticky Notes is a great little tool to use if you only need to track information for a short amount of time. At some point, I will introduce you to Trello that will take things to the next level and even let you collaborate with others.

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Lucile Clemmons Reich – Obituary

Posted on January 14, 2017 by Mike Clemmons

Originally Posted on June 17, 2012

From the Lebanon Democrat – Oct 19, 2011

Lucile Clemmons Reich

Funeral services fro Mrs. Reich will be 11 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 20, at Ligon & Bobo Funeral Home with the Rev. DonMcElroy officiating. Interment will be in the Cedar Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. (today) Wednesday, Oct. 19, and after 9 a.m. until the service on Thursday.

Mrs. Reich, 96, of Lebanon passed away Monday, Oct. 17, 2011, at the Pavilion. She was born in December 1914, in Wilson County, Tenn., the daughter of the late Joe A. Clemmons and Lou Effie Eskew Clemmons. She graduated from Lebanon High School in 1934. She was a member of First Baptist Church and LLL. She was a homemaker.

She was preceded in death by her husband of over 70 years, Joe Hale Reich; two brothers: Ernest and Hubert Clemmons Sr.; two sisters: Anna Belle Clemmons and Katherine Clark. Survivors include: two sons, B.J. (Geraldine) Reich of Flat Rock and Kenny (Donna) Reich of Lebanon; five grandchildren, Venessa (Mike) Denney, Denise (Joe) Hackett, Tiffany (Chip) Bevis, Kendra (Brian) Shaffer, Jeremy (Chastity) Reich; and 14 great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Logan, Spencer and Joe Hackett, Grant, Caleb, and Mike Denney, Jeremy Reich, Chip Bevis and Brian Shaffer.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Lebanon-Wilson County Library.

Ligon & Bobo Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

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Dolores Elba (Vest) Clemmons – Obituary

Posted on January 14, 2017 by Mike Clemmons

Originally Posted on June 17, 2012

Dolores was my uncle Tom Clemmons’ wife. She was a very sweet woman and she will be greatly missed.


78-year-old Fairfield resident, Dolores Elba (Vest) Clemmons died at 8:40 p.m. Saturday, May 5 at Way-Fair in Fairfield. She had worked for GTE as a telephone operator.

Survivors include a daughter, Gina Thomason of Keenes; a grandson, Tyler Nolan Lowell Thomason of Keenes; her mother, M. Margaret Vest of Fairfield; a step-daughter, Debbie Reese of Mims, OH; two step-sons, Randy Clemmons of San Diego,CA and Robert Clemmons of Fairfield; four step-grandchildren; three step-great-grandchildren and a brother, Gordon Vest of Henderson, KY.

Services for Dolores Elba Clemmons will be 11 a.m. Friday, May 11 at the Johnson & Vaughn Funeral Home in Fairfield with burial in Maple Hill Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5 – 7 Thursday evening, May 10 at the Johnson & Vaughn Funeral Home in Fairfield.

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