Hardwood Floors April/May 2024

By Libby White Johnston

When he took over the company, the sander was moved into his own garage. From then on, they always used Clarke 504 drum sanders. “At the time I thought, ‘Why did I let him bring this thing over here?’ 50 years later, I am saying this thing is an antique, I have to do something with it,” says Longwell. “I could have cleaned it up a little bit, but it’s kind of rustic that way. What’s really funny is how unsafe it looks to work with.” Thanks to Longwell, the big machine has a new home at the NWFA’s headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri, where wood flooring professionals will be able to see the relic for themselves.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF LONGWELL FLOOR AND SANDING COMPANY

Pictured are Jim Longwell, left, Denny Baxter, center, and Chuck Ebel with the Longwell Floor and Sanding company in the summer of 2004 in Iraq as army truck drivers in the 172nd Transportation company out of Omaha, Nebraska.

FEB/MAR 2024

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