Conklin Metal Industries is a distributor of all types of sheet metal, HVAC and duct fabrication supplies. Our founding dates back to 1874, and is now in its fourth generation as a family owned and operated business.
We service the entire southeastern U.S. out of seventeen (17) warehouses. Our customers include sheet metal contractors, mechanical contractors, duct fabricators, residential\multi-family new construction contractors, and HVAC contractors who specialize in service and replacements.
We are a one stop shop for every component used in the construction and installation of a commercial or residential HVAC Duct system. This includes the sheet metal for the rectangular or spiral/round duct, plus all of the materials to connect, fasten, insulate, attenuate sound, control vibration, reinforce, direct air flow, provide access, and ultimately hang and seal. We also stock the most wide array of sheet metal forming machinery in the southeast.
Our new Plan & Spec Division is based in Memphis and provides quotations directly from prints on commercial projects.
Former location at 236 Moore St in Atlanta 2017
What We Do…
Our core customers/partners are Sheet Metal Contractors, Mechanical Contractors and Duct Fabricators that specialize in designing and building HVAC Duct plans for Office Buildings and Commercial offices, tenant space build-outs, Schools and Universities, Military bases, VA Hospitals, Prisons, and other Federal Buildings; Churches, Stadiums and Arenas, Aquariums, Theaters, Hotels and Condominiums.
Conklin’s primary business is as a one stop shop for every component used in the construction and installation of a commercial HVAC Duct system. This includes the steel that, when formed, becomes the rectangular or spiral/round duct; it also includes all of the materials to connect, fasten, insulate, attenuate sound, control vibration, reinforce, direct air flow, provide access, and ultimately hang and seal.
Our History…
Atlanta Skyline circa late 1800’s, with the original Conklin site in the background.
Our Past Presidents
Charles A. Conklin
1874-1929
John N. Goddard
1929-1949
Harry B. Thompson, Sr.
1949-1953
Harry B. Thompson Jr.
1953-1971
Harry B. Thompson III
1971-2003
Timeline
Click on a year below to jump to that timeline year.
Conklin originally operated as a stove, tin ware and house furnishing business on Whitehall Street in Atlanta, GA, under the name A.P. Stewart & Co. …
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Charles A. Conklin begins employment with Lyon Conklin & Co. in Baltimore, MD, eventually becoming a partner. ...
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1879
1879: Stewart & Fain
Stewart & Wood is operating under the name Stewart & Fain located at 69 Whitehall St. in a 3‐story warehouse that extended to Whitehall and Broad St (200’). The second story is devoted to manufacturing of tin ware and straw brooms.
1888
1888: Conklin moves to Atlanta and buys A.P. Stewart & Co.
Mr. Conklin moves to Atlanta and buys AP Stewart & Co., operating under the name Charles A. Conklin Mfg. Co. The nature of the business is “Tin Plate, Metals, Tinner’s Stock, Stoves, Etc.” He continues to operate the Whitehall store as the retail department.
The Atlanta Constitution Article — September 2nd, 1888
1888: Conklin considers that some materials could be imported to keep up with manufacturing
1889
1889: Wire Gauze Oven Door from AJC
Conklin ad from the Atlanta Constitution from March 1889 promoting the Wire Gauze Oven Door for your stove or oven.
1890
1890: Conklin "Tinners Wanted" Ad
1891
1891: Conklin builds 40,000 sq. ft. warehouse on Marietta Street
Conklin builds four‐story, 40,000 sq. ft. warehouse on Marietta Street, Atlanta, for $24,000 (60¢/ft.). At the time, it was one of the largest factories in the U.S. for tinware manufacturing.
1893
1893-1894: Conklin Opens Savannah, GA, Branch For Importing Steel From Europe
1893
1895
1895: Harry B. Thompson Sr. begins employment with Conklin
1900
1900s: Tin Plate
Having sold the largest segment of the company, the focus shifts to that of the wholesale trade of “Tin Plate, Metals, Solder, Sheet Copper, Sheet Iron, Conductor Pipe, Tinmen’s Machines and Tools."
The tinware manufacturing portion of the business is sold to the American Can Company. The business continues out of the same warehouse under the new name of Conklin Tin Plate…
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1911
1911: “Sweet’s” Catalogue of Building Construction Listing
Conklin buys property at the corner of the Georgia Railroad and Moore Street with eventual plans to relocate the warehouse…
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1920 Correspondence
Even over 100 years ago, it was about reaching out to specific customers in hopes of selling specific products. Though our product offering has changed over time, the fundamentals of our customer service have remained the same.
1923
1923: Sheet Metal Contractors Association of Florida — Annual Meeting, Miami
The Miami News — October 8th, 1923
1924
1924: Local Atlanta businesses commerce exchange
The Atlanta Constitution — February 3rd, 1924
1925
1925: Moore Street Warehouse
Conklin builds a 40,000 sq ft. warehouse located at what is now 236 Moore Street, Atlanta.
1928
1928: Harry B. Thompson, Jr.
Harry B. Thompson Jr. comes to Conklin upon graduating from Georgia Tech.
1929
1929: Charles Ashmore Conklin Gravesite — Westview Cemetery, Atlanta
John N. Goddard is named president after Charles Conklin passes away. By the 1930s, the product offering is all types of sheet metal…
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1929: Harry Thompson, Sr. elected director of Armco Steel’s Distributor Association of America
1930
1930s
Product offering includes all types of sheet metal, with a heavy emphasis on roofing – including gutters and downspouts. The company has ongoing expansion discussions about whether to open a warehouse in North Florida.
1938
1938 Photo of Harry B. Thompson, Jr.
1939
LATE 1930s
With the advent of HVAC, sheet metal is used to fabricate round and rectangular ductwork.
1940
1940s
The Savannah warehouse closes due to difficulties in getting materials during the war.
1941
1941: Conklin President John Goddard elected to the Board of Coca-Cola
1942
1942: Atlanta Journal Constitution — Distinguished Atlanta Pioneers
After more than 50 years with the company, Harry B. Thompson, Sr. is named president. Originally, Harry Sr. had started at Conklin in 1898 as a teenage office clerk…
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1949: "Best Wishes from Conklin" Ad
1950
1950s
Conklin adds more machines to fabricate round pipe for both HVAC and rain downspouts. (Photo: Conklin Warehouse workers in 1955 running 4″ Conductor Pipe.)
“This company since its organization has shown a remarkable and continuous growth. Much of this success must be attributed to Mr. Thompson…" Read More
1955
1955
Sales Meeting circa 1955 (Left to Right) Paul McKenney - Executive Vice President, Ned Murphy - Sales Manager, Harry B Thompson, Jr. - President, Delmar Brinkley - Controller
Harry B. Thompson III starts with the company on September 20, 1962. Also a graduate of Georgia Tech, Harry III…
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1964
1964
Conklin now offers “Complete Line of sheet metal, roofing products, heating products and machine tools.” Heating products include snaplocks and elbows, fittings, boots and rectangular ductwork. Also VR2, MFN canvas connector, damper hardware, solder, screws and pop rivets.
1964: John Skogstad starts with Conklin in what would be over 40 years as Vice President of the company
Vice President, March 21, 1964 to July 1, 2004
1966
1966
The company purchases new brake and shear to go after “heavy gauge steel users instead of HVAC & roofing."
1967
1967: Greenville, SC, Location Opens
Conklin opens a new branch in Greenville, SC. The Thompson family begins negotiation for the stock purchase from Conklin and Goddard estate.
1970
1970s
Conklin adds more product lines, including weld pins, vane & rail, slip & drives, access doors, angle rings, flex duct, and duct board. Company also adds a 2nd branch — in Greenville, SC.
1971
1971: Harry Thompson III Presidency Congratulatory Letter
1973
1973: Harry’s "Secret" Diary
In the days before Evernote, companies used to hand out small 3″x 5″ notepads like this one from Bethlehem Steel. They must have been great for note taking! A young Harry Thompson IV must have liked them too, as evidenced by this picture from the early 1970’s!
1980
1980s
Conklin invests in an Iowa Precision Coil Line and adds Ductmate and Certainteed product lines.
1985
1985
The company name changes to Conklin Metal Industries.
1986
1986
Moore Street, 1986
1989
LATE 1980s / EARLY 1990s
(Photo: Harry Thompson IV, Atlanta office in 1991.) Note the map of Georgia only; this is before Conklin expanded into other markets.This era is marked by a continued investment in manufacturing including production of hollow vane & punch rail, spiral pipe, gored elbows and spiral fittings.
1992
1992: Three Generations of Owners
Pictured from left to right: Harry Thompson IV, Harry Thompson III, and Robbie Thompson
1995
1995: Harry and Robbie Thompson in Coil room of former Atlanta downtown location
1995: James Bradford retires after 44 years at Conklin
James Bradford retires in June 1995 after 44 years at Conklin. He was buried wearing his Conklin uniform after his death in February 2002.
1996
1996: Birmingham, AL, Branch Opens
From Left to Right: Johnny Hines (Manager), Greg Little (Outside Sales), Mike Burleson (Inside Sales), Iva Baumann Hines (Inside Sales), Mark Miller (Driver), Zane Fleck (Driver). 1997 moving in to branch Robbie Thompson (left) with Johnny Hines (right).
1999
1999: Orlando, FL, Branch Opens
2003
2003: conklinmetal.com Website Launches
2004
2004: Mobile, AL, Branch Opens
2008
2008: Conestoga Trailers introduced at Orlando branch to speed up offloading on our South Florida truck runs
Present day – we use flatbeds throughout our branches.
2011
2011: New Orleans, LA, Branch Opens
2011: Memphis, TN, Branch Opens
January 14, 2011. "Conklin Metal Industries is expanding its operations into Memphis…" Read More
2012
2012: Nashville, TN, Branch Opens
2012: Website throwback
2013
2013: Jackson, MS, Branch Opens
2014
2014
Conklin consolidates and relocates cut-to-length processing to Birmingham, AL.
A 10th branch (the 2nd in Metro Atlanta) is opened in the Norcross area, while the Greenville branch moves from its home of 40 years to a larger, more suitable warehouse.
2016
2016: ACHR News Article
2018
2018: Logo Redesign
Logo redesign is a throwback, implementing Conklin’s retro script used in marketing decades prior. Also added are four stars symbolizing the four generations of Thompson family ownership and our four core values.
2018: Robbie Thompson at Red Bud Factory
“Our new Red Bud coil line has arrived into Birmingham and should be operation in several weeks. Capable of 14 ga Galvanized…" Read More
2018: Miami, FL, Branch Opens
2018: Atlanta Warehouse Moves to Austell Location
2019
2019: Little Rock, AR, Branch Opens
2018: Corporate Office Relocates to Antone Street in Atlanta
Conklin remains a strong, growth-oriented company with the goal of being a world class distributor and a company where people enjoy and find satisfaction in their work.
2019: "Historic Rural Churches, The Blessings of Tin" — Article by Clayton H. Ramsey
"Conklin Tin Plate and Metal Co. dominated the tin industry in Georgia at the turn of the 20th century. In 1886, Charles A. Conklin, a Baltimore businessman, moved to Atlanta..." Read More
